Looking Back: Construction Standards Published in September 2025

September 2025 marked a pivotal phase for the Construction Materials and Building sector, with the publication of several meticulously developed standards. This monthly overview examines five significant standards that were released, providing context, analysis, and practical guidance for professionals dedicated to compliance and quality in this fast-evolving industry. Covering foundational safety in low-voltage installations, advances in screed testing methodologies, and the increasing adoption of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement, this overview helps decision-makers stay informed about changes and opportunities they might have missed during a busy period.

Whether you're a quality manager, compliance officer, engineer, or procurement specialist, these standards represent both a roadmap and a benchmark for current best practices in construction materials and building projects.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

Looking back, standardization activity in September 2025 brought renewed focus to both traditional and emerging areas within Construction Materials and Building. Notably, two revised standards—IEC 60364-1:2025 and EN 13892-9:2025—were published in updated forms, reflecting shifts toward safety, energy efficiency, and new material technologies. Their revisions indicate both the industry’s attention to legacy infrastructure and its readiness to address new functional demands.

Additionally, the publication of ISO 10406-1:2025 demonstrates growing interest in high-performance reinforcement materials, echoing global trends in sustainability and advanced construction methods.

Compared to previous months, September 2025 was characterized by:

• Significant technical revisions to core safety and performance testing standards
• Emphasis on accommodating new technologies and material innovations
• Greater alignment with international best practices and market expectations

For industry professionals, the landscape highlighted by these releases suggests an ongoing dual emphasis on robust safety frameworks and adaptation to innovative construction materials.

Standards Published This Month

IEC 60364-1:2025 – Low-voltage Electrical Installations – Part 1: Fundamental Principles, Assessment of General Characteristics, and Definitions

Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, and definitions

The sixth edition of IEC 60364-1:2025 marked a comprehensive revision of this foundational standard for low-voltage electrical installations. It defines the scope and objectives of the IEC 60364 series, establishing the fundamental safety requirements for electrical installations in residential, commercial, and public buildings, as well as industrial settings.

Scope and Key Requirements

The document outlines safety objectives for the protection of human beings, livestock, and property. With its major restructuring, this revision covers:

• Fundamental principles and general safety concepts
• Clear definitions and assessment of installation characteristics
• Updated design rules, selection, and erection of equipment
• Guidelines for ongoing verification and periodic inspection to maintain safety across the installation lifecycle

Noteworthy updates in this edition include:

• Expanded scope: Now covers new areas of application and revised use cases
• Energy efficiency: Explicit inclusion of efficiency measures for modern installations
• Prosumer systems: Guidance for electrical installations that can operate both as consumers and suppliers of electricity
• Standby and safety services: New requirements for backup supply systems
• Acceptance of material innovation: Provisions for equivalent safety with materials and technologies for which product standards may not yet exist
• Periodic verification: Stronger recommendations for life-cycle safety assurance

Professionals working in building design, construction, facility management, and safety compliance—particularly those developing complex or innovative projects—should reference this revision to ensure alignment with the latest international expectations.

Key highlights:

• Complete restructuring and renumbering for clarity and usability
• Inclusion of energy efficiency and backup power systems
• Broadened application to emerging technologies and prosumer scenarios

Access the full standard:View IEC 60364-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 13892-9:2025 – Methods of Test for Screed Materials – Part 9: Dimensional Stability

Methods of test for screed materials – Part 9: Dimensional stability

EN 13892-9:2025 provides rigorously defined test methods for assessing the dimensional stability of screed materials. This encompasses both shrinkage and swelling behaviors of various screeds, including cementitious, calcium sulphate, magnesite, and synthetic resin compositions, paving the way for more durable and reliable floor systems in diverse buildings.

Scope and Key Requirements

This revised standard specifies procedures for:

• Measuring linear dimensional change using a 1,000 mm curling profile
• Monitoring unrestrained material movement immediately after molding
• Recording shrinkage and swelling until a stable state is achieved

Enhancements over previous editions include:

• Introduction of a 10-minute interval for monitoring length changes
• Requirements for the minimum duration of measurement, particularly for cement-based and calcium sulphate-based screeds
• Tightened reporting obligations and harmonization with referenced foundational standards such as EN 13892-1

The standard is crucial for testing laboratories, QA/QC professionals, screed manufacturers, specifiers, and building contractors seeking to prevent flooring defects due to dimensional instability—thereby supporting warranties, performance guarantees, and compliance with building regulations.

Key highlights:

• Precise, early-stage measurement of shrinkage and swelling
• Standardized testing apparatus and detailed reporting procedures
• Applicable to both traditional and synthetic screed materials

Access the full standard:View EN 13892-9:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 10406-1:2025 – Fibre-reinforced Polymer (FRP) Reinforcement of Concrete – Test Methods – Part 1: FRP Bars

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement of concrete – Test methods – Part 1: FRP bars

ISO 10406-1:2025 provides up-to-date, detailed procedures for testing the physical, mechanical, and long-term properties of FRP bars used in concrete reinforcement. Its coverage extends to a broad range of fibre materials—including aramid, basalt, carbon, and glass—and both thermosetting and thermoplastic resin matrices.

Scope and Key Requirements

The standard sets forth methodologies for:

• Assessing cross-sectional area, fibre volume, and coefficient of thermal expansion
• Determining mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural strength, bond strength, and shear resistance
• Conducting durability assessments, notably alkali resistance and aging
• Evaluating long-term mechanical behaviors like relaxation, fatigue, and creep rupture

Reinforcement producers, structural engineers, materials scientists, and QA/QC teams in both precast and cast-in-situ construction will benefit from referencing ISO 10406-1:2025. Its rigor supports lifecycle optimization and resilience in demanding environments—from bridges and marine applications to high-performance buildings vulnerable to corrosion and chemical attack.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive coverage of short-term and long-term test methods for FRP reinforcement
• Wide applicability across multiple fibre and matrix types
• Direct support for innovative, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant construction technologies

Access the full standard:View ISO 10406-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Analyzing the standards from September 2025 reveals several cross-cutting trends:

• Technical Revision and Modernization: Major revisions like IEC 60364-1:2025 and EN 13892-9:2025 reflect a clear industry momentum toward updating legacy standards to better accommodate new material technologies, system architectures, and performance expectations.
• Performance and Lifecycle Considerations: There is consistent recognition of durability, maintainability, and efficiency as central to modern construction practice. Test methods are more robust, while recommendations emphasize ongoing verification.
• Innovation Enablement: The explicit inclusion of novel systems (e.g., prosumer installations in IEC 60364-1:2025) and materials (FRP in ISO 10406-1:2025) demonstrates active support for the adoption of disruptive, sustainable solutions.
• Harmonization and Global Best Practices: Harmonized approaches in testing, reporting, and lifecycle management align with broader industry and regulatory priorities for consistent, transferable benchmarks across jurisdictions and markets.

Industries that garnered particular attention this month include:

• Electrical installation and energy management
• Flooring and screed manufacturing
• Structural concrete and high-performance engineering

Emerging focus areas are clearly evident in the attention paid to prosumer energy systems, energy efficiency mandates, and the adoption of composite reinforcement.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Organizations operating in the Construction Materials and Building environment should consider the following priorities based on September 2025’s standards releases:

1. Immediate Assessment of Revised Standards: Teams should compare current practice to the new requirements in IEC 60364-1:2025 and EN 13892-9:2025, particularly with respect to safety, energy management, and test procedures.
2. Training and Procurement Adjustments: Staff involved in design, installation, and testing may require upskilling to implement the new or revised standards. Procurement teams must ensure that supplied products and materials are tested and certified accordingly.
3. Lifecycle Planning: With increased emphasis on periodic verification and long-term durability, asset managers should schedule routine inspections in line with the new guidance to ensure ongoing safety and functionality.
4. Adoption of Innovative Materials: Those looking to specify or deploy FRP reinforcement should take advantage of ISO 10406-1:2025’s detailed test methods to validate supplier performance and ensure consistent quality.
5. Timeline and Resource Allocation: As the revised EN and ISO standards may become mandatory under national legislation, organizations should anticipate compliance deadlines and allocate resources for transitioning documentation, training, and quality processes.

Recommended resources for compliance and implementation:

• Testing laboratories and certification bodies accredited for the latest standards
• Manufacturer and supplier documentation cross-referenced to current standards
• Industry training and technical webinars focused on standard transitions
• Regulatory bulletins from local and national authorities highlighting changes and mandatory dates

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

Looking back at September 2025, the publication of revised and technically advanced standards in the Construction Materials and Building sector underscored a period of meaningful progress. The updates to core documents like IEC 60364-1:2025 and EN 13892-9:2025 reflect both the industry’s responsiveness to new demands—such as sustainability, safety, and lifecycle asset management—and its commitment to harmonized best practices.

Meanwhile, the comprehensive nature of ISO 10406-1:2025 highlights a forward-thinking orientation toward composite materials and innovation within reinforced concrete construction.

Recommendations for Professionals:

• Regularly review and update internal documentation and testing protocols to conform to the latest standards
• Prioritize ongoing professional development to ensure team readiness for new requirements
• Use these standards to drive procurement, project planning, and risk management
• Leverage resources like iTeh Standards for easy access to official standards and implementation guidance

Why Staying Current Matters: Staying abreast of published standards is not only a regulatory necessity but also a strategic advantage—enabling organizations to maximize quality, reduce risks, and deliver value in competitive markets. Those who adopt this month’s standards early will be best positioned to lead on safety, performance, and innovation.

Explore detailed standard documents, implementation resources, and further analysis at iTeh Standards