Environment, Health Protection, and Safety Standards Summary – July 2025 (Part 6 of 7)

Looking back at July 2025, the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety sector saw a diverse set of standards published that impact everything from construction and manufacturing to public health and sustainability. This part of our monthly series covers a cross-section of five key standards—from wood product emissions to fire safety in railways, flooring, and wall systems, as well as advanced testing methods for sludge valorization. These publications reflect growing regulatory alignment, scientific rigor, and an increased focus on sustainable materials, fire safety, and environmental impact assessment. For professionals spanning operations, compliance, engineering, and procurement, this overview provides essential retrospective analysis to support informed decision-making and ongoing standards compliance.

Monthly Overview: July 2025

July 2025 brought a robust blend of standards activity in the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety field, covering laboratory testing methods, fire safety classification, environmental emissions, and performance vocabulary essential for harmonized regulation and global trade.

This month's collection emphasized:

• Methodological advancements for measuring environmental impact and fire risks
• Enhanced vocabulary and consistency for railway fire safety communication
• New or revised test protocols responding to stricter regulatory and insurance-driven expectations

Compared to previous months, July maintained the trend of addressing both legacy infrastructure (e.g., wood and floorings) and modern, sustainability-driven needs (e.g., sludge valorization and wall system fire performance). Persistent themes include fire risk mitigation, ecological sustainability, and technical harmonization, signifying a steady progression towards safer, greener, and more consistent international practice.

Standards Published This Month

EN 15119-1:2025 – Biological Durability of Wood: Emissions Determination – Part 1

Biological durability of wood and wood-based products – Determination of emissions from preservative treated wood to the environment – Part 1: Wood held in the storage yard after treatment and wooden commodities exposed in Use Class 3 (not covered, not in contact with the ground) – Laboratory method

This standard details a laboratory method for quantifying emissions from preservative-treated wood exposed to simulated outdoor, non-ground contact conditions (Use Class 3). The focus is on water-based leaching from stored or exposed wood, enabling the assessment of potential environmental risks prior to or after installation.

Key requirements include:

• Simulating rainfall events through controlled immersion cycles
• Sampling and analyzing leachate from preservative-treated wood
• Linking emissions data to both surface area and exposure duration
• Enabling environmental risk assessments for various treatment and exposure scenarios

Primary users include wood treatment facilities, environmental compliance officers, product developers, and regulators overseeing wood products in construction, infrastructure, or outdoor environments. The standard is especially relevant given heightened scrutiny on wood preservatives and their environmental fate. The 2025 edition moves the previous technical specification to full standard status, reflecting the maturity and importance of this laboratory method in regulatory and market requirements.

Key highlights:

• Quantifies environmental emissions from external wood storage and installation
• Supports compliance with EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) and similar frameworks
• Incorporates eco-toxicological testing for leachate

Access the full standard:View EN 15119-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 9239-1:2025 – Reaction to Fire Tests for Floorings

Reaction to fire tests for floorings – Part 1: Determination of the burning behaviour using a radiant heat source (ISO 9239‑1:2025)

EN ISO 9239-1:2025 sets out a method for assessing the wind-opposed burning behavior and flame spread of floor coverings under a radiant heat source, mimicking real fire conditions. It is broadly applicable to all flooring types, including textiles, cork, wood, rubber, plastics, and composites.

Key specifications include:

• Standardized horizontal mounting of floor specimens for consistent testing
• Use of a controlled radiant heat gradient and pilot flame ignition
• Assessment of critical flux at extinguishment, maximum flame spread, and optional smoke development
• Applicability to flooring systems with underlays, adhesives, substrates, or specialist finishes

The standard is essential for flooring manufacturers, fire safety engineers, building code authorities, and certification bodies, forming the basis for regulatory fire classification of floor materials in buildings. This 2025 revision reflects updates in definitions, test conditions, and data reporting, aligning with evolving fire safety legislation and insurance expectations.

Key highlights:

• Harmonizes with EU/ISO fire classification systems for flooring
• Clarifies procedures for edge-securing, loose-laid flooring, and substrate selection
• Provides improved methodology for precise reproducibility and smoke measurement

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 9239-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 13610:2025 – Calorific Value of Sludge for Recovery and Disposal

Sludge recovery, recycling, treatment and disposal – Determination of calorific value of sludge

ISO 13610:2025 introduces a comprehensive method for establishing the gross calorific value of all kinds of sludge at 25 °C, utilizing a bomb calorimeter. This testing is central to evaluating the energy potential of various sludges destined for recovery, recycling, or safe disposal.

Core features:

• Specifies procedures for preparing, weighing, and combusting sludge in oxygen
• Determines both gross and net calorific values, with calculation formulas based on hydrogen content and test conditions
• Recognizes moisture and ash content effects, supporting versatile application across different sludge types (municipal, industrial, agricultural)

Intended mainly for environmental laboratories, waste management entities, energy recovery operators, and regulatory bodies, this standard strengthens the scientific foundation for sustainable sludge management and energy resource optimization. Its uptake supports compliance with circular economy and resource efficiency legislation worldwide.

Key highlights:

• Enables assessment of sludge as a thermal energy resource or waste-to-energy input
• Promotes standardized data for sludge management strategy
• Complements regulatory requirements for environmental impact and recovery

Access the full standard:View ISO 13610:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 25711:2025 – Railway Applications: Fire Safety Vocabulary

Railway applications – Vocabulary for fire safety of rolling stocks

This standard defines key terms related to fire safety in railway rolling stock, encompassing equipment, infrastructure, and operational contexts. A harmonized vocabulary is instrumental for manufacturers, operators, regulators, and certification agencies active in railway safety and product conformity.

Coverage and benefits:

• Establishes definitions for physical components, safety concepts, detection equipment, fire barrier elements, materials properties, and operational measures
• Facilitates clear communication and regulatory compliance across the global rail sector
• Links concepts to aligned standards (notably ISO 13943) for cross-domain consistency

Users include railway OEMs, designers, regulatory auditors, safety engineers, and maintenance providers, all of whom rely on standardized terminology to meet fire protection, procurement, and incident reporting requirements. Adoption of ISO 25711:2025 helps ensure uniform understanding—reducing legal and technical ambiguity across international projects.

Key highlights:

• Provides unified language to support fire safety planning and compliance
• Encourages international interoperability in rolling stock engineering
• Supports education, training, and safety auditing

Access the full standard:View ISO 25711:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 3957:2025 – Fire Tests for Wall Systems: Parallel Panel Method

Reaction to fire tests – Parallel panel test method for wall systems – Measurement of heat release and smoke production

ISO 3957:2025 defines a large-scale test protocol for evaluating heat release rate (HRR) and smoke production rate (SPR) in wall systems exposed to severe fire scenarios—especially those relevant to urban, warehouse, industrial, and wildland-urban interface applications. The standard simulates intense external or internal fires (e.g., from dumpsters, balcony storage, or unsprinklered storage fires) using high heat flux conditions.

Key requirements and procedures cover:

• Construction and placement of two parallel wall assemblies
• Application of a calibrated propane sand burner to deliver consistent high heat exposure (about 100 kW/m²)
• Continuous measurement of HRR and SPR within a controlled test chamber (minimum calorimeter capacity of 3.5 MW)
• Risk evaluation benchmarks suited for insurance industry and regulatory assessment

This protocol is intended for testing laboratories, wall system manufacturers, risk engineers, fire safety consultants, and code officials. It is especially timely as insurers and regulators push for deeper understanding of façade fire performance and related occupancy risks.

Key highlights:

• Directly addresses modern fire risk scenarios in complex buildings and infrastructure
• Provides data for both regulatory compliance and insurance risk analyses
• Complements other ISO/CEN fire testing standards by extending coverage to large wall assemblies

Access the full standard:View ISO 3957:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Analyzing the July 2025 publications, several themes and trends emerge:

• Fire Safety Across Domains: From railway applications to floorings and multi-layer wall systems, there is a clear focus on harmonized, rigorous fire safety assessment methods—reflecting global concern over catastrophic fire losses, high-occupancy risks, and urbanization.

• Environmental Impact Quantification: The drive to precisely measure emissions (EN 15119-1:2025) and fuel value (ISO 13610:2025) signals broad adoption of lifecycle assessment concepts and circular economy principles, particularly for construction products and waste-to-energy sectors.

• Standardization of Terminology and Methods: The adoption of ISO 25711:2025 for railway fire safety vocabulary, in tandem with updated test procedures for materials, indicates a maturing regulatory environment demanding clarity, interoperability, and traceability.

• Insurance and Regulatory Demands: Several standards (especially ISO 3957:2025 and EN ISO 9239-1:2025) include explicit risk benchmarks for insurers and code authorities, suggesting strong collaboration between the private risk sector and technical standardization bodies.

• Material Sustainability and Safe Use: Revisions and new standards alike are underpinned by wider trends in sustainable materials, reuse, and recycling, while maintaining or enhancing health protection and safety margins.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations affected by these July 2025 standards, proactive engagement is vital:

• Evaluate Existing Products and Processes: Compare current products, materials, and risk assessments against new laboratory methods and terminology. Update internal documentation to reflect revised procedures (especially for fire testing and emissions assessment).

• Training and Communication: Educate staff on updated technical vocabulary (ISO 25711:2025), test protocols, and compliance requirements. Consistent terminology accelerates both implementation and regulatory approvals.

• Compliance Timelines: Many standards transition rapidly into local regulations or insurer requirements—early adoption or simulation of new test methods can prevent supply chain interruptions and non-compliance penalties.

• Prioritize Testing and Documentation: For manufacturers and procurement specialists, prioritize validated testing (using accredited labs and methods) and keep detailed records to demonstrate conformance under audit.

• Leverage Third-Party Resources: Platforms such as iTeh Standards provide authoritative access, cross-references, and technical support for standards implementation—leverage these for ongoing compliance and staff capacity building.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from July 2025

July 2025’s standards landscape in Environment, Health Protection, and Safety underscores the sector’s evolution toward measurable, risk-informed, and environmentally responsible practice. Noteworthy takeaways include:

• The transition of laboratory test methods to full standards (EN 15119-1:2025), indicating greater sectoral reliance on empirical data for environmental claims
• The publication of advanced fire safety tests (EN ISO 9239-1:2025, ISO 3957:2025) to reflect elevated performance requirements in building materials and wall systems
• The adoption of universal fire safety vocabulary for railways (ISO 25711:2025), aiding harmonization and cross-border safety assurance
• Support for circular economy ambitions through reliable calorific value testing (ISO 13610:2025), enabling energy recovery and waste minimization

For professionals in this sector, keeping pace with such standards is not just a matter of compliance—it’s a foundation for innovation, safety, and sustainability leadership. Readers are encouraged to explore each standard in detail via iTeh Standards for tailored implementation support, technical details, and regulatory cross-reference.