Construction Materials and Building Standards: September 2025 Monthly Overview (Part 1 of 3)

Looking back at September 2025, the Construction Materials and Building sector saw the publication of five influential standards that touch on critical aspects of modern buildings—from energy performance and heating systems to structural resilience, utility metering, and material durability. This overview distills the essential features, applications, and industry impact of each standard, supporting quality managers, compliance officers, engineers, and procurement specialists who want to stay informed on the evolving regulatory and technical landscape.

For professionals who may have missed some of these publications or need to prioritize implementation, this summary not only recounts what was published, but also highlights recurring trends, compliance implications, and recommended actions. Each standard is explored in depth, with direct resource links for those seeking the full specification.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 brought a productive wave of standardization focused on both the technical core and the regulatory periphery of construction and building operations. The five publications spanned:

• Energy performance and system efficiency methodologies for buildings (EN 15316-5:2025),
• Testing and performance assessment for heating boilers (FprEN 304),
• Guidance on assessment and retrofitting of structures for earthquake resistance (EN 1998-3:2025),
• Installation requirements for water meters (ISO 4064-5:2025),
• Durability assessment procedure for construction sealants under interface stresses (EN ISO 11431:2025).

A strong focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience emerges from these standards, reflecting persistent industry pressures due to regulatory evolution, climate adaptation, and technological innovation. Compared to prior months (typically dominated by product-level specifications or focused niche updates), September’s standards set addressed broader, cross-disciplinary requirements—from building services, through structural safety, to the finer points of installation and material performance.

This pattern suggests an industry moving steadily toward holistic, system-level thinking—aligning construction practices not only with compliance, but also with the larger imperatives of lifecycle performance and user protection.

Standards Published This Month

EN 15316-5:2025 – Energy Performance of Buildings: Space Heating and DHW Storage Systems

Full Title: Energy performance of buildings - Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies - Part 5: Space heating and DHW storage systems (not cooling), Module M3-7, M8-7

EN 15316-5:2025 is a cornerstone in the suite of EU Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) standards. It specifies methods for calculating the energy performance of water-based space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) storage systems, excluding systems intended for cooling. The primary aim is to provide harmonized procedures for quantifying system energy needs and efficiencies across diverse storage configurations and control technologies.

Key requirements include:

• Hourly (or finer) calculation intervals for energy demand and efficiency,
• Distinct computational pathways for stratified (Method A) and homogeneous (Method B) storage systems,
• Templates for requisite input data, product parameters, operating conditions, and system design choices,
• Consideration of simultaneous heating, layered volume selection, heat losses due to internal circulation, and recoverable system losses,
• Annexes offering default values, national annex options, and compliance templates.

This standard is aimed at building designers, energy assessors, HVAC engineers, and regulatory bodies responsible for code compliance and energy certificates, especially within the European context. EN 15316-5:2025 fits centrally within the regulatory push for high-performance, low-emission buildings—supporting alignment with the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and related climate action goals.

Notable features compared to the previous edition include: simultaneous heating inclusion, more flexible modeling of stratification, explicit consideration of additional losses, and updated calculation methodologies reflecting the latest technical consensus.

Key highlights:

• Applicable to both DHW and space heating storage subsystems (excluding cooling)
• Promotes consistency in EPB compliance across the EU
• Supports integration with national and international energy performance regulations

Access the full standard:View EN 15316-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

FprEN 304 – Test Code for Heating Boilers for Atomizing Oil Burners

Full Title: Heating boilers - Test code for heating boilers for atomizing oil burners

The FprEN 304 standard provides a comprehensive framework for performance testing of heating boilers and combi-boilers utilizing atomizing oil burners. It defines the testing methodology, required measurement accuracies, test rig setup, and evaluation criteria for determining thermal efficiency, heat output, standby losses, and emissions.

Key requirements include:

• Mandatory adherence to defined measurement uncertainties for parameters such as pressure, flow rates, temperatures, and gas concentrations,
• Specific procedures for nominal heat output, efficiency determination (including part-load operation at 30%), waterside resistance, and condensing output,
• Test conditions for multifunction systems (e.g., combi-boilers also producing sanitary hot water), with cross-references to relevant parts of EN 303,
• Integration guidance for compliance with EU Ecodesign and energy labeling requirements,
• Updated calculation clarity (Annex F), stricter accuracy thresholds, and revisions to test setup procedures compared to its previous edition.

Intended users include test laboratories, manufacturers of oil-fired boilers, regulatory compliance officers, and certification bodies. It is essential for proving conformity with energy performance regulations and eco-directives across the EU, and for supporting transparent market access for new boiler models.

Key highlights:

• Rigorous test procedures ensuring repeatable and comparable results
• Supports both heating and hot water functions (for combi units)
• Alignment with EU Ecodesign and energy labeling frameworks

Access the full standard:View FprEN 304 on iTeh Standards

EN 1998-3:2025 – Eurocode 8: Assessment and Retrofitting of Buildings and Bridges

Full Title: Eurocode 8 - Design of structures for earthquake resistance - Part 3: Assessment and retrofitting of buildings and bridges

EN 1998-3:2025 stands as a pivotal reference for seismic risk mitigation through the assessment and retrofitting of existing buildings and bridges. As part of the Eurocode 8 suite, this standard gives engineers and asset owners clear performance-based procedures to evaluate seismic vulnerability and devise retrofit strategies. It covers the assessment of all major structural materials (concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and composites) and incorporates contemporary retrofit technologies.

Key requirements and features include:

• Structured assessment procedures to evaluate seismic performance levels against defined limit states,
• Criteria for selecting and designing appropriate retrofitting interventions (structural strengthening, passive systems, and repair of damage post-event),
• Material-specific rules for assessment and upgrade, including detailed treatment for concrete, steel, timber, and masonry,
• Dedicated guidance on the assessment of structures in consequence classes CC1, CC2, and CC3 per EN 1990:2023,
• Emphasis on documentation, qualified personnel, and data integrity during assessment and intervention design,
• Explicit exclusion of vulnerability assessment for groups of structures (i.e., only applies to individual buildings or bridges),
• Flowcharts (Annex D) detailing process application, and annexed guidance for heritage/monumental structures.

Targeted at structural engineers, building owners in seismic regions, regulators, and insurance professionals, this standard is central for compliance with public safety mandates and risk minimization in earthquake-prone areas.

Notable updates over the previous edition include extended rules for retrofitting methods, harmonization with the 2024 edition of EN 1998-1-1, and enhanced clarity in documentation and assessment protocols.

Key highlights:

• Covers the full retrofit lifecycle: assessment, design, verification, and documentation
• Material-agnostic—applicable to most common construction materials
• Foundation for public safety and resilience in seismic zones

Access the full standard:View EN 1998-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 4064-5:2025 – Water Meters for Cold Potable Water and Hot Water – Installation Requirements

Full Title: Water meters for cold potable water and hot water - Part 5: Installation requirements

ISO 4064-5:2025 standardizes installation practices for water meters used in metering the volume of potable cold and hot water in closed conduits. Applicable to both mechanical and (hybrid) electronic measuring principles, the standard establishes robust criteria for:

• Selecting appropriate meter types/sizes based on installation environments and flow characteristics,
• Ensuring compatibility between meters and associated fittings (including installations with multiple or parallel meters),
• Installation and operational startup procedures for new or repaired meters,
• Protection against hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical disturbances (including guidance to prevent fraud or measurement bias),
• Operator safety—especially for access, manhole installations, larger pipes (DN40+), and electrical hazards,
• Compliance with national and international legal regulations regarding mandatory features and documentation.

Water utilities, building service engineers, meter manufacturers, installation contractors, and regulatory inspectors are the primary users. The standard supports both accuracy and reliability in metering, essential for fair billing, water conservation, and infrastructure resilience.

Key advances in this edition incorporate updated technical requirements for electromagnetic and electronic meters, expanded information on parallel systems, and extended operator protection provisions.

Key highlights:

• Applies to all technologies—mechanical, electronic, and hybrid meters
• Sets out comprehensive safety and fraud-prevention measures
• Emphasizes meter performance and lifecycle reliability

Access the full standard:View ISO 4064-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 11431:2025 – Determination of Adhesion/Cohesion of Building Sealants after Heat, Water, and Light Exposure

Full Title: Building and civil engineering sealants - Determination of adhesion and cohesion properties of sealants after exposure to heat, water and artificial light through glass (ISO 11431:2025)

EN ISO 11431:2025 provides a standardized laboratory method to evaluate the effects of cyclic heat, water, and artificial light exposure on the adhesion and cohesion performance of building sealants. The procedure simulates, in accelerated form, the weathering stresses encountered in service—vital for ensuring durability and performance of joint sealing materials in construction.

Key requirements and procedures include:

• Preparation of test specimens using prescribed glass support geometries in line with ISO 13640,
• Automated or manual cycling regimes for heat exposure and ultraviolet light irradiation (filtered as per ISO 4892-2), followed by a defined period in water at controlled temperature,
• Measurement of elongation properties and visual assessment for loss of adhesion/cohesion post-exposure,
• Comprehensive documentation and reporting of test setup, cycles, failure modes, and specimen performance,
• Reference to updated material and exposure standards, as well as tighter tolerances (e.g., relative humidity, device calibration) versus earlier editions.

The main audience includes manufacturers of sealants, quality assurance laboratories, R&D teams developing new high-performance sealant systems, and project engineers needing to prove durability in specifications.

Key highlights:

• Simulates real-world weathering for minimum performance assurance in glazing and façade applications
• Incorporates advanced light-source and environmental control protocols
• Now includes improved guidance on specimen handling, measurement, and results interpretation

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 11431:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Systems-level integration, performance, and reliability stand out prominently from the September 2025 standards. Rather than isolated product requirements, most publications emphasize:

• Accurate, standardized measurement and calculation frameworks (EN 15316-5, ISO 4064-5),
• Holistic structural resilience and retrofit strategies (EN 1998-3),
• Laboratory test protocols that simulate real-world operational and environmental conditions (FprEN 304, EN ISO 11431),
• Explicit consideration of operator and installation safety,
• Adoption of flexibility and default value templates to bridge international standardization with national regulation.

The industry's technical advancements—such as expanded use of electronics in metering, increased attention to system-wide losses and interactions, and focus on energy and environmental performance—shape both compliance requirements and innovations within materials, systems, and best practices.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations impacted by these standards, priority steps include:

1. Gap Assessment: Conduct a thorough comparison of existing practices, calculation models, testing protocols, and installation methods against new or revised standard requirements. Use templates and checklists provided in the norms’ annexes.

2. Update Procedures and Training: Update internal documentation, staff training modules, and third-party supplier requirements to reflect the newest calculation methodologies, test conditions, and installation criteria. Train staff in system-level compliance, especially for energy, seismic, and metering domains.

3. Project Planning for Retrofit and Testing: For seismic or energy performance upgrades (EN 1998-3, EN 15316-5), phase implementation to prioritize high-risk or high-consequence assets. For sealant or boiler testing, ensure laboratory equipment and methods align with new measurement uncertainties and process demands.

4. Legal and Regulatory Alignment: Monitor national annexes and regulatory updates that may modify default values or methods within the standards, especially for energy and water performance metrics that may affect certification and legal compliance.

5. Access Up-to-Date Standards: Utilize reliable platforms such as iTeh Standards to access the complete documents, supplementary materials, and ongoing amendments.

Compliance Timeline: Most standards offer national adoption periods (often by March 2026, per CEN/ISO regulations); early implementation is recommended to avoid gaps or project delays.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

The five standards published in September 2025 mark a significant progression in the Construction Materials and Building sector toward integrated lifecycle performance, resilience, and regulatory alignment. For professionals in the industry, this overview underscores:

• The centrality of harmonized methodologies (energy, seismic, installation, and testing) in meeting modern building and infrastructure demands
• The need to proactively embed these requirements in both design and operational stages
• The value of staying current—both for competitive advantage and regulatory assurance

As construction advances in complexity and expectations rise for sustainability and public safety, leveraging the latest standards provides the insight and assurance needed to deliver on statutory, performance, and market commitments.

Explore each standard in detail via the linked resources above, and set your organization’s course for compliance, efficiency, and excellence.