February 2026: New Standards for Smoke Emissions in Plastics and Sustainable Cork Forest Management

In February 2026, new international standards have been published that bring substantial advancements in environmental protection, fire safety, and the sustainable management of natural resources. This update features two new standards: one targeting the crucial area of smoke generation in plastics for fire safety engineering, and the other focusing on the sustainable management of cork oak forests. Both offer actionable guidance and robust requirements with far-reaching implications for materials manufacturers, fire safety engineers, forestry professionals, compliance managers, and anyone responsible for environmental stewardship or occupational safety.

Overview

The category of Environmental Protection, Health, and Safety continues to be critical to global industries that rely on safe materials and sustainable resource management. Standards in this sector help address threats to human health, the environment, and workplace safety—offering frameworks for testing, risk mitigation, and best practices.

In this article, you'll learn:

• What the latest standards require and how they set new benchmarks
• How these specifications impact product testing, forest management, and regulatory compliance
• Practical steps for implementation and sourcing the official documents from iTeh Standards

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN ISO 5659:2026 - Plastics Smoke Generation

Plastics – Smoke generation – Determination of optical density by a single-chamber test (ISO 5659:2026)

Scope and Application: EN ISO 5659:2026 defines a rigorous method for measuring smoke production from flat specimens of plastics and composite materials. The standard applies to samples up to 25 mm thick, subjected to controlled levels of thermal irradiance in a closed test chamber—with or without a pilot flame. While designed primarily for plastics, its methodology is referenced in research across construction, transportation (trains, ships), and fire safety engineering.

Key Requirements:

• Specifies the conditioning, preparation, and testing of specimens for smoke density measurement.
• Tests involve exposure to radiant heat at either 25 kW/m² or 50 kW/m² using a cone heater in a sealed cabinet.
• Results are expressed as specific optical density—a critical metric for loss of visibility due to smoke in fire scenarios.
• Requires photometric measurement of light attenuation by smoke in real time within the chamber.
• Includes detailed requirements for specimen handling, wrapping, and mounting to avoid test artifacts.

Who Needs to Comply:

• Fire and safety engineers
• Plastics and composites manufacturers
• Research and development labs in building materials, rolling stock, maritime safety
• Procurement and quality managers overseeing material compliance

Practical Implications:

• Results are valuable in fire risk assessment, product development, and comparative material studies.
• Note: This standard is not intended as a basis for code-based compliance or certification for building use—its data is for R&D and engineering evaluation.
• Supersedes previous version (EN ISO 5659-2:2017), refining test references and apparatus construction, and providing new background information (see Annex G).

Key highlights:

• Defines single-chamber method for evaluating smoke generation from plastics
• Introduces new apparatus calibration, test chamber protocol, and sample preparation updates
• Offers guidance specifically for R&D and fire engineering—not for certification rating

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 5659:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TS 24972:2026 – Sustainable Management of Cork Oak Forests

Cork — Sustainable management in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests

Scope and Application: ISO/TS 24972:2026 delivers a comprehensive framework for sustainable management in cork oak forests, primarily targeting landowners, forest managers, and stakeholders along the cork value chain. The guidance focuses on safeguarding natural resources while supporting cork production, ecosystem health, and adaptation to global change.

Key Requirements and Guidance:

• Recommends practices for regeneration, harvesting, thinning, pruning, and disease management specifically in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) ecosystems
• Outlines legal and policy context across leading cork-producing countries (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy), including specifics on cork harvesting rotations, minimum tree sizes, and prohibited operations
• Provides ecological and technical best practices for:
  • Silvicultural treatments (even-aged/uneven-aged stands, agroforestry systems)
  • Regeneration support (soil scarification, fencing, protection for seedlings, reforestation)
  • Intermediate treatments (formative pruning, thinning, vegetation management)
• Addresses climate change impacts and the contribution of cork oak forests to carbon sequestration and rural development
• Lists practices to avoid, such as damaging root systems, pruned-tree debarking, and unregulated mechanical interventions

Who Needs to Comply:

• Forest managers and landowners in Mediterranean regions
• Cork producers and processors
• Policy makers, sustainability officers, and ecosystem services consultants
• Environmental stewardship professionals in the cork and forestry sector

Practical Implications:

• Helps organizations align management operations with best sustainability and biodiversity standards
• Supports assessments of trade-offs between cork production, conservation, and rural economic benefits
• Useful reference for companies seeking environmental certification, such as FSC or PEFC

Key highlights:

• Provides step-by-step silvicultural and harvesting guidance
• Details national requirements for major European cork producers
• Addresses forest health, regeneration, and adaptation to climate risks

Access the full standard:View ISO/TS 24972:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These two new standards significantly impact how organizations approach both fire safety engineering (for manufactured materials) and sustainable forest management (for natural resource sectors).

For EN ISO 5659:2026 (Plastics Smoke Generation)

• Impact: Products evaluated with updated test protocols gain more reliable R&D data on smoke emission, critical for public/occupant safety risk analysis in transport, marine, and building interiors.
• Compliance: While not a building code certification, adherence demonstrates proactive fire risk management—valuable for engineering, procurement, and investor risk assurances.
• Timelines: Supersedes the previous edition; companies are recommended to update internal specifications and lab procedures by Q3 2026.
• Benefits: Supports due diligence in material selection and strengthens safety case dossiers for public infrastructure, transport, and high-occupancy environments. Enhances market trust through transparent material performance data.
• Risks of Non-Compliance: Using outdated data or methods can result in unreliable fire safety engineering, exposing organizations to litigation or public safety failures.

For ISO/TS 24972:2026 (Sustainable Cork Forest Management)

• Impact: Forest managers and cork producers are better equipped to balance production with conservation, access emerging green markets, and support ecosystem services.
• Compliance: Aligns with national regulations and international best practices, supporting accreditation and improved stewardship reporting.
• Timelines: Effective immediately; recommended integration into forest management plans within the current planning cycle (2026–2027).
• Benefits: Enhances eligibility for environmental certification, improves long-term yield and forest health, and demonstrates climate-conscious business practices.
• Risks of Non-Compliance: May result in ecological degradation, regulatory fines, reduced market access, or failure to meet certification standards.

Technical Insights

Both standards share core principles of risk assessment, data quality, and harmonized protocols.

Common Technical Requirements

• Data Integrity: Both require rigorous sample preparation, process controls, and evidence-based documentation. This underpins credible test data or sustainable forest outcomes.
• Best Practices for Implementation:
  • For EN ISO 5659:2026: Laboratories should update apparatus calibration routines, thoroughly train staff, and review sample tracking to comply with new validation procedures.
  • For ISO/TS 24972:2026: Forest operators should document compartment boundaries, regeneration methods, and monitoring routines to align with the guidance and facilitate third-party audits.
• Testing and Certification:
  • EN ISO 5659:2026 can complement fire safety assessments and may be referenced in product certification for marine, rail, and other sectors (often alongside ISO, IEC, or IMO standards).
  • ISO/TS 24972:2026 offers a recognized framework to prepare for forestry certification (FSC, PEFC) and inform environmental reporting and sustainable procurement.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The release of EN ISO 5659:2026 and ISO/TS 24972:2026 marks a significant step forward for both fire safety engineering and sustainable forestry. Organizations in plastics manufacturing, construction, transportation, and forest management should:

• Review and update internal protocols to conform to the new requirements
• Consider staff training and laboratory recalibration (for EN ISO 5659:2026)
• Integrate guidance into forest management plans and broader sustainability strategies (for ISO/TS 24972:2026)
• Leverage iTeh Standards for immediate access to the full standards and supporting resources

By adopting these standards, professionals safeguard their operations, support public safety, demonstrate environmental leadership, and maintain compliance in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Explore these and related standards at iTeh Standards to ensure your business stays ahead in environmental protection, health, and safety best practices.