July 2025 in Review: Key Environment, Health Protection, and Safety Standards

Looking back at July 2025, the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety sector saw the release of several important standards shaping the landscape of recycling, occupational safety, process risk management, and fire performance in building products. This second part of the monthly overview focuses on five standards—two advancing plastic recyclate quality, one revising explosion isolation protocols, one enhancing protective glove requirements for hairdressers, and another clarifying fire testing for glass in construction. These standards collectively address pressing industry priorities: sustainable materials management, workplace safety, hazard containment, and consistent performance validation. For professionals navigating evolving compliance and quality expectations, catching up on these developments provides actionable insights for long-term competitiveness and public trust.

Monthly Overview: July 2025

July 2025 was marked by a strong emphasis on the quality and traceability of recycled plastics, the refinement of standards for hazard prevention in industrial processes, and updated requirements for protective and construction products. Compared to previous months, there appeared to be an elevated focus on harmonizing technical guidance with both European sustainability policy (notably around plastics in a circular economy) and real-world implementation challenges in occupational and building safety. The expansion of the EN 18064 series, new guidance for explosion isolation, and the tailored extension of glove and glass testing requirements together signal a growing desire for standards that deliver both environmental and health protection outcomes.

By analyzing these publications, we see a transition from solely materials-based standards toward comprehensive frameworks that support the safe integration of recycled inputs, robust risk controls in hazardous environments, and context-specific product requirements. This indicates a maturing sector responsive to both legislative drivers and market needs for documented product performance, traceability, and risk reduction.

Standards Published This Month

EN 18064-5:2025 – Plastics - Quality Recommendations for PVC Recyclates

Plastics – Quality recommendations and basis for specifications for application of plastic recyclates in products – Part 5: Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

EN 18064-5:2025 is a significant addition to the evolving series on plastic recyclates, providing detailed guidance for the characterization and selection of recycled poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for use across defined application families. The standard aims to bridge the gap between recyclers and converters by outlining the specific properties, typical values, and designation methods necessary for effective material selection—supporting consistent quality, comparability with virgin PVC, and predictable product performance.

Key requirements include categorizing recycled PVC by intended application and production technology, specifying mandatory material characteristics (e.g., Vicat softening temperature, impact strength, tensile modulus), and using a standardized system for labeling recyclates. The standard is intended for use alongside EN 18064-1, with links to supporting test standards like EN 15346 (characterization of recycled PVC). It empowers manufacturers to source recyclates that meet precise use-case demands, while offering recyclers a clearer specification landscape for their output.

Target users include plastics recyclers, converters, product designers, and regulatory compliance professionals in sectors consuming recycled PVC.

Key highlights:

• Establishes quality benchmarks and designation systems specific to PVC recyclates
• Aligns with EU circular economy goals and harmonizes with related EN and ISO material standards
• Assists buyers and sellers in the transparent communication of recyclate properties

Access the full standard:View EN 18064-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 18064-6:2025 – Plastics - Quality Recommendations for Polystyrene Recyclates

Plastics – Quality recommendations and basis for specifications for application of plastic recyclates in products – Part 6: Polystyrene (PS)

EN 18064-6:2025 continues the series’ approach for another vital polymer: polystyrene (PS), including its expanded (EPS) and extruded (XPS) forms. Like the PVC-focused Part 5, this standard details designatory properties, quality recommendations, and specification foundations for PS recyclates. It outlines the typical values for application-targeted product families, reflects the performance demands for various PS products (e.g., containers, sheets, technical parts), and promotes transparency in recyclate sourcing.

The document mandates referencing specific testing standards (notably EN 15342) for properties determination, and recommends close coordination between recyclers and converters to ensure suitability for end use. Its robust designation and classification systems improve the traceability and confidence in recycled PS, which is critical for both compliance and greater recycled content uptake in manufacturing.

Primary users are plastic product manufacturers, material procurement teams, and recyclers aiming to supply or use recycled PS with verifiable quality characteristics.

Key highlights:

• Defines essential and optional designatory properties for PS recyclates, such as Vicat softening point and melt mass-flow rate (MFR)
• Promotes harmonized communication and specification between supply chain actors
• Provides application-specific guidance, enhancing the circular use of PS materials

Access the full standard:View EN 18064-6:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN 15089 – Explosion Isolation Systems

Explosion isolation systems

prEN 15089 comprises a comprehensive update to the requirements for explosion isolation systems used to prevent the propagation of explosion pressure waves and flames within interconnected plant equipment. This standard addresses both active and passive protective systems, offering technical clarity on system selection, performance evaluation, design validation, and marking. By specifying rigorous methodologies for functional and efficacy testing, including criteria for alternative or supplementary validation methods, prEN 15089 supports enhanced safety in industries handling dust, gas, or vapor mixtures (e.g., process industries, food, chemicals).

The scope excludes devices such as flame arresters, diverters, and isolation flap valves (covered elsewhere). It particularly focuses on autonomous systems installed in ducting and connections where explosion propagation is a significant risk. The draft standard also provides detailed instructions on component requirements, environmental considerations, and system identification, with impactful updates over the previous EN 15089:2009 edition highlighted in an annex.

prEN 15089 is relevant for plant safety engineers, design assessment bodies, equipment manufacturers, as well as those responsible for process hazard analysis and regulatory compliance.

Key highlights:

• Sets out criteria for explosion isolation across multiple system types (valves, extinguishing barriers, rotary valves)
• Introduces updated functional testing, safety, and marking protocols
• Reflects increased focus on system validation and harmonization with EU directives for explosive atmospheres

Access the full standard:View prEN 15089 on iTeh Standards

ISO 374-6:2025 – Protective Gloves for Hairdressers

Protective gloves against dangerous chemicals and micro-organisms – Part 6: Protective gloves for hairdressers

ISO 374-6:2025 responds to the growing necessity for tailored occupational protection in the beauty and personal care sector by specifying requirements for protective gloves designed for hairdressers. These gloves address unique risks encountered during cosmetic procedures, such as repeated exposure to water, colorants, and harsh chemicals, as well as threats from micro-organisms. The standard defines technical terms, outlines general and performance requirements, sets acceptable permeation and powder levels, details mechanical strength and length specifications, and mandates resistance to biohazards.

Key users include glove manufacturers and suppliers to the professional cosmetology and hairdressing market, as well as occupational health and safety officers ensuring personnel protection in environments with complex chemical exposure risks.

Key highlights:

• Establishes minimum protective criteria against chemicals and infectious agents for hairdressing gloves
• Incorporates harmonized test methods and marking requirements based on the ISO 374 series
• Promotes workplace health and compliance in personal services sectors

Access the full standard:View ISO 374-6:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 18080:2025 – Glass in Building: Fire Reaction, Mounting, and Testing Guidance

Glass in building – Reaction to fire – Mounting and fixing instructions for glass products and extended application of test results

EN 18080:2025 delivers essential clarity for the fire classification testing of glass products in the construction industry, addressing mounting and fixing procedures and the extended application of test results. With glass products increasingly featuring diverse constructions—e.g., laminated, coated, or insulated units—standardized testing and result interpretation are vital for consistent fire risk mitigation and adherence to building regulations.

The standard provides detailed rules for mounting and test configuration, referencing relevant EN and ISO test standards (EN ISO 1716, EN ISO 11925-2, EN 13823), and prescribes calculation-based rules for the extended use of fire test data across product families. It distinguishes between product types and clarifies that some laminated glass types (e.g., with plastic glazing) fall outside its scope. Manufacturers, testing laboratories, specifiers, and enforcement authorities are the primary audience, ensuring proper support for design, product approval, and safety verification processes.

Key highlights:

• Clarifies mounting and fixing rules for standardized fire reaction testing of building glass
• Enables extended application of test results, reducing testing burden across multiple glass product variants
• Ensures compliance with EN 13501-1 classification and fire safety regulations in construction

Access the full standard:View EN 18080:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Analysis of July 2025’s publications reveals several prominent themes for the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety sector:

• Sustainability and Circular Economy: The dual additions to the EN 18064 series (PVC and PS) emphasize not just increased recycling rates, but also the traceability, quality assurance, and market confidence required for mainstream adoption of recycled resins in demanding applications. This aligns with European sustainability policy—signaling that recycled plastics are being elevated to a higher standard for technical equivalence with virgin materials.

• Integrated Safety and Risk Management: prEN 15089’s enhancements in explosion isolation reflect mounting regulatory and industry demand for robust incident prevention in hazardous-processing sectors. Coupled with the expanded ISO 374 series (for protective gloves), these standards highlight a sector-wide drive to formalize risk controls against both catastrophic and chronic occupational exposures.

• Testing, Classification, and Extended Application: EN 18080 clarifies fire testing and classification for glass, supporting innovation in building products while maintaining safety consistency. Similar attention to harmonized, application-specific testing is visible in all the standards reviewed.

• Cross-sector Relevance: The breadth of topics—spanning process safety, construction, personal safety, and sustainable manufacturing—demonstrates an integrated regulatory and quality assurance environment where developments in one field shape best practice in others.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations in the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety arena, adapting to these new standards means:

• Immediate Review of Material Specifications: Companies using or producing recycled PVC or PS should align their quality management and procurement processes with the EN 18064-5 and EN 18064-6 frameworks to remain market-compliant and competitive. Evaluate supplier documentation, traceability systems, and ensure use of the new designation codes when specifying material.

• Process and Safety Upgrades: Operators of equipment at risk of explosion propagation should audit current containment and isolation measures against the draft prEN 15089. Updating risk assessments and design documentation is recommended, with special attention paid to the expanded validation and marking requirements.

• Occupational Safety Product Compliance: For conforming to ISO 374-6, glove manufacturers must update their test protocols and labeling systems. Employers in the cosmetics sector should refresh their PPE purchasing criteria, ensuring that supplied gloves meet the latest standard.

• Construction Material Testing: Glass product manufacturers and laboratories need to adapt fire reaction testing and classification workflows to integrate EN 18080 guidance, ensuring appropriate mounting and correct data extrapolation.

Implementation priorities:

1. Schedule standards review with quality and compliance teams
2. Update or introduce supplier contracts, process documentation, and testing protocols
3. Provide training for affected staff on the interpretation of new designation, marking, and classification systems
4. Map timelines for transition—including end dates for legacy standards where applicable

Access resources like the iTeh Standards platform for the complete, up-to-date text and supporting materials for each new standard.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from July 2025

July 2025 delivered pivotal standards across recyclate quality, explosion risk management, PPE, and fire safety in construction. The EN 18064 additions for PVC and PS are particularly influential for manufacturers prioritizing recycled content, while prEN 15089 and ISO 374-6 are instrumental for safety engineers and PPE specifiers. EN 18080 raises the bar for consistent performance evaluation of glass products in buildings.

Professionals should prioritize:

• Early assessment of compliance requirements, especially where new standards align with updated regulatory expectations
• Leveraging harmonized systems for specification, labeling, and testing, to support transparent sourcing, effective risk management, and product approval
• Continuous professional development to stay abreast of multidisciplinary impacts and cross-sector best practices

Staying up to date with standards such as these is not only a compliance obligation but a foundation for sustainable business, reliable product performance, and workplace safety. For a complete view of the latest standards and access to full documents, explore the iTeh Standards catalog.