December 2025: Key Updates to Standards for Glass and Ceramics Industries

December 2025 marks a critical moment for the glass and ceramics sector, with the publication of four new international standards. These updates address advanced technical ceramics, dense and insulating refractories, and materials testing protocols—impacting product design, quality management, and compliance processes across manufacturing and supply chains. Professionals must understand these changes to maintain competitive edge, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver high-performance products.

Overview

The glass and ceramics industry underpins vital sectors including construction, automotive, energy, and advanced manufacturing. Precision and reliability are central to this field, and international standards help guarantee the safety, quality, and performance of materials and finished products. Adhering to the latest standards is essential for:

• Assuring design and testing consistency
• Meeting legal and contractual requirements
• Enhancing market confidence and customer trust
• Driving global compatibility and performance

This article explores the four newly published standards, detailing their scope, primary requirements, and practical implications for compliance and implementation.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN 15365:2025 – Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Fibres at High Temperature

Advanced technical ceramics – Mechanical properties of ceramic fibres at high temperature in a non-reactive environment – Determination of creep behaviour by the cold grip method

This standard defines the procedure for determining tensile creep deformation and failure behavior in single ceramic fibre filaments at elevated temperatures while avoiding reactions with the test environment. The focus is on continuous ceramic filaments extracted from tows, yarns, braids, or knittings with strains to fracture ≤ 5%.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Details specimen preparation, test set-up with temperature zoning, and the use of an inert environment to mitigate chemical alteration.
• Specifies apparatus calibration (e.g., thermocouples per EN 60584) and accurate temperature control.
• Requires careful documentation, including a full temperature profile and mechanical stress-strain data.

Practical implications:

Industries relying on high-temperature ceramic fibres—such as aerospace, power generation, and electronics—must adopt this standard for rigorous material validation and improved predictability of product lifetime and mechanical behavior.

Notable changes versus EN 15365:2010:

• Updated title and normative references
• Bibliography revision and editorial updates

Key highlights:

• Defines creep strain, rupture time, and creep strain rate in controlled environments
• Applies to a wide range of fibre forms and dimensions
• Supports development of next-generation technical ceramic components

Access the full standard:View EN 15365:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 10059-1:2025 – Cold Compressive Strength of Dense Shaped Refractory Products

Dense shaped refractory products – Determination of cold compressive strength – Part 1: Referee test without packing (ISO 10059-1:2025)

This standard outlines a referee method for measuring the cold compressive strength (CCS) of dense, shaped refractory products—including standard, special, and precast bricks—without packing materials.

Key requirements and specifications:

• Describes mandatory mechanical/hydraulic compression test machine accuracy (ISO 7500-1 Grade 2 or better).
• Outlines specimen sampling and preparation per geometric and porosity criteria.
• Provides calculation methods for expressing CCS based on maximum load and mean cross-sectional area at failure.

Target audience:

Essential for quality control labs, refractory manufacturers, engineering consultants, and procurement specialists verifying compliance for refractory installations in kilns, furnaces, and high-temperature process equipment.

What’s new:

• Permits cube-shaped specimens; adds informative annex on test precision and bias
• Replaces EN 993-5:2018

Key highlights:

• Universal method for product evaluation and specification assurance
• Eliminates variability from packing materials in test results
• Clear guidance for product conformity and reporting

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 10059-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 5014:2025 – Determination of Modulus of Rupture at Ambient Temperature

Dense and insulating shaped refractory products – Determination of modulus of rupture at ambient temperature (ISO 5014:2025)

Specifying a method to determine the modulus of rupture (MOR) for both dense and insulating shaped refractories, this standard ensures reliable measurement of flexural strength under controlled laboratory conditions. It is also applicable to unshaped refractories upon specimen preparation as per ISO 1927-5/6.

Scope and methodology:

• Applies to bricks and precast refractories with established geometry, covering a range of porosities and densities.
• Uses the three-point bending test to calculate MOR, based on stress endurance until failure.
• Includes statistical treatment of data (mean, standard deviation) for robust product evaluation.

Practical applications:

Both producers and end-users—particularly in furnace linings, thermal shielding, chemical processing, and metals—benefit from consistent measurement for performance classification and product selection.

Edition changes:

• Expands definitions and introduces significance/use clause
• Supersedes EN 993-6:2018 with annexes on precision and data interpretation

Key highlights:

• Applicable to both dense and insulating products
• Standardizes three-point bending procedure
• Informs engineering design and process optimization

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 5014:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 8894-2:2025 – Determination of Thermal Conductivity by the Hot-wire Method

Refractory materials – Determination of thermal conductivity – Part 2: Hot-wire method (parallel) (ISO 8894-2:2007)

This standard prescribes a hot-wire parallel method to measure the thermal conductivity of refractory materials—both dense and insulating products, as well as granular or powdered specimens, for values under 25 W/m·K.

Key requirements and test protocol:

• Detailed specification of apparatus: furnace, platinum hot-wire, measurement thermocouples, data acquisition systems
• Test set-up involves embedding an electrical hot-wire and thermocouple between two test pieces
• Accurate statistical treatment of data and strict temperature control
• Not applicable to electrically conducting materials or those with high water content without pretreatment

Implementation:

Critical for R&D, material qualifying, and quality assurance in sectors such as glass manufacture, energy, and petrochemicals where thermal management and insulation are vital.

Revision highlights:

• Revised scope and definitions; alignment with modern test equipment
• Simplified grooves and improved accuracy in measurement arrangement
• Supersedes EN 993-15:2005

Key highlights:

• Enables precise determination of low-to-moderate thermal conductivities
• Supports optimization of refractory material selection and design
• Comprehensive instructions for specimen preparation and apparatus setup

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 8894-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These standards bring far-reaching implications for organizations engaged in the glass and ceramics industries:

• Material Qualification: Streamlined, standardized testing ensures product integrity and long-term performance under demanding operational conditions.
• Regulatory and Commercial Compliance: Facilities must adopt these benchmarks by mid-2026, in line with CEN transition timelines. Non-compliance can lead to product recalls, liability claims, or loss of market access.
• Operational Efficiency: Clearly defined procedures reduce ambivalence in evaluation, saving time and costs in quality control and dispute resolution.
• Competitive Differentiation: Early adopters improve credibility and customer confidence, vital in global supply chains.

Key compliance considerations:

• Conduct a gap analysis to identify where current practices diverge from new standards
• Integrate updated test methods into factory laboratories and procurement specifications
• Train technical and QA teams on new protocols and reporting requirements
• Ensure documentation and test traceability to support audits and certification

Technical Insights

Common Themes Across the 2025 Standards

• Emphasis on reliability and repeatability: All methods focus on minimizing variable factors—temperature uniformity, equipment accuracy, environmental control.
• Specimen preparation and metadata: Clear procedures for sample size, shape, and data recording are central for valid results.
• Data reporting and traceability: Each standard stipulates detailed record-keeping—test conditions, apparatus used, and result calculations—to facilitate auditability and cross-lab comparisons.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Evaluate Lab Capabilities: Ensure your labs have up-to-date apparatus as per standard requirements (e.g., properly calibrated furnaces, thermocouples, mechanical testers).
2. Standardize Procedures: Develop SOPs aligned to the latest standards to drive process consistency across teams and facilities.
3. Invest in Training: Upskill technical staff in specimen handling, machine operation, and new calculation/reporting methods.
4. Regularly Audit and Update: Reassess procedures as new standards emerge and as existing ones are updated or superseded.

Certification Considerations

• Partner with accredited testing labs for third-party validation, or invest in laboratory accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025.
• Maintain comprehensive test records to expedite product certification and market entry for regulated products.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The December 2025 release of these four pivotal standards positions the glass and ceramics industries for improved performance, safety, and market alignment. By adopting these standards, organizations demonstrate their commitment to best practices, compliance, and product excellence—from fibre components in aerospace to insulation in energy systems.

Key takeaways:

• Immediate action is needed to adapt to new testing and compliance demands
• Thorough review and integration of these standards are critical by June 2026
• Investment in staff training, equipment, and documentation will yield long-term benefits

Recommendations for organizations:

• Download and review each full standard via the provided iTeh Standards links
• Integrate the new requirements into your quality and procurement workflows
• Monitor iTeh Standards for further updates to stay ahead in this fast-evolving sector

Ready to enhance compliance and innovation? Explore the latest glass and ceramics standards on iTeh Standards and empower your organization with world-class best practices.