December 2025: New Measurement Equipment and Noise Control Standards Released

The measurement and process industries are experiencing a significant evolution in standards, with two key publications—IEC 61326-2-7:2025 and ISO 15664:2025—released in December 2025. These advancements bolster compliance and best practices across process automation equipment and open plant noise management. This update spotlights crucial electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for Ethernet-APL devices and comprehensive noise control procedures for open plants, helping industry professionals navigate compliance and achieve operational excellence.

Overview / Introduction

Accurate measurement and effective control are pillars of success in industries ranging from chemical plants to energy production. As measurement instruments and open plant environments grow in complexity, adhering to the latest standards is essential for ensuring equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and safe working conditions.

This article covers two newly released standards from December 2025 in the field of measurement, instrumentation, and physical phenomena management:

• IEC 61326-2-7:2025 – EMC requirements for measurement and control equipment with Ethernet-APL interfaces.
• ISO 15664:2025 – Procedures and requirements for open plant noise control and equipment noise reporting/testing.

Industrial professionals, compliance officers, engineers, and procurement specialists will find detailed breakdowns, technical insights, and actionable steps to implement these standards.

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 61326-2-7:2025 – EMC Requirements for Ethernet-APL Measurement and Control Devices

Full Standard Title: Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC requirements – Part 2-7: Particular requirements – Test configurations, operational conditions, test levels and performance criteria for devices with Ethernet-APL interfaces

Scope:

IEC 61326-2-7:2025 sets out detailed EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) test requirements for process automation equipment equipped with Ethernet-APL (Advanced Physical Layer, per IEC TS 63444) ports. Covered equipment includes infrastructure devices (such as field and power switches) and process measurement and control devices operating in industrial environments, especially where robust, reliable communication is needed.

This standard addresses:

• EMC test setups and requirements specific to Ethernet-APL network interfaces used in industrial process environments
• Shielding, grounding, and cable configuration recommendations for high-reliability installations
• Performance criteria and pass/fail requirements for immunity and emission tests
• Differentiated test levels for general industrial and specialized process control environments (including chemical and pharmaceutical plants)
• Guidance for both infrastructure devices (switches) and field devices

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Test Plan: Mandates a documented EMC test plan including configuration, operational condition, and test description
• Immunity and Emission: Specifies detailed immunity and emission tests, leveraging harmonized IEC 61000 series standards (e.g., for ESD, electromagnetic field, voltage dips, surge, conducted RF)
• Performance Criteria: Establishes clear performance levels (A, B, C) for functional assessment during and after EMC stress
• Cable and Port Configurations: Defines required cable types (e.g., CAT 6A, IEC TS 63444 AWG 18), lengths, and shielding options for various port classes
• Test Setups: Provides detailed schematic setups for field and infrastructure devices, ensuring uniform assessment across labs
• Process Industry Environments: Additional higher test thresholds for environments demanding extreme reliability (chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical)
• Reporting: Rigorous documentation and traceability required for all test results

Who Needs to Comply:

• Manufacturers and integrators of measurement, control, and laboratory equipment featuring Ethernet-APL interfaces for process automation
• Operators of process plants and industrial networks with advanced digital infrastructure
• Testing laboratories, EMC specialists, and certification bodies

Practical Implications:

• Ensures that Ethernet-APL devices meet industrial EMC requirements, reducing downtime and interference
• Facilitates network reliability for time-critical process measurements
• Streamlines conformance assessment for both new equipment and plant retrofits

Notable Changes:

• Introduction of test requirements specifically tailored for Ethernet-APL, reflecting advances in process automation technology
• Enhanced focus on shield connection practices and redundant topology scenarios
• Harmonization with IEC 61326 series and alignment with latest IEEE and IEC network standards

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive EMC test procedures for Ethernet-APL networked devices
• Detailed guidance for both field devices and infrastructure components
• Stricter test levels for specialized process control environments

Access the full standard:View IEC 61326-2-7:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15664:2025 – Acoustics: Noise Control Design Procedures for Open Plant

Full Standard Title: Acoustics – Noise control design procedures for open plant

Scope:

ISO 15664:2025 provides a unified framework for the management of noise in open industrial plants, covering design, equipment selection, reporting, and acceptance testing. The standard is highly relevant to industries such as oil & gas, chemical processing, refineries, steelworks, cement plants, and any large-scale operation with open equipment layouts or continuous/batch process environments.

Key topics addressed:

• Procedures for noise control during plant engineering and for modifications/extensions to existing plants
• Responsibilities of stakeholders: end-users, engineering contractors, and equipment suppliers
• Methods for deriving and assigning overall and equipment-specific noise limits
• Outlined reporting, testing, and documentation requirements
• Equipment noise data sheets and guarantees for supplier tendering and project acceptance

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Noise Limits: Defines general noise (immission) limits for different plant areas (work, restricted, emergency), including both sound pressure and power levels
• Equipment Emission Requirements: Mandates that equipment suppliers provide standardized data (sound levels, octaves, guarantees), and perform acceptance tests as per contract
• Flowcharts and Documentation: Includes normative and informative annexes for workflow, supplier requirements, action items, and example templates (data sheets, reports)
• Stakeholder Responsibilities: Clearly allocates tasks and reporting accountability between end-users, contractors, and suppliers for noise control
• Noise Abatement Techniques: Guidance on silencers, acoustic enclosures, and absorption strategies
• Regulatory Alignment: Integrates requirements from international standards (ISO 11690-1, ISO 1996-2, ISO/TS 20065), regulatory authorities, and best practices

Who Needs to Comply:

• Operators, environmental and safety managers, and engineering contractors responsible for new or modified open industrial facilities
• Equipment suppliers—required to report, test, and warranty noise emissions
• Acoustic consultants and plant designers

Practical Implications:

• Ensures plant designs meet legal/regulatory and contractual noise limits
• Reduces liability for both occupational health and environmental noise exposure
• Streamlines procurement and vendor selection through standardized test and reporting procedures
• Supports proactive abatement measures during design phase, minimizing retrofit costs

Notable Changes:

• Revised structure with expanded requirements for supplier reporting and noise testing
• New annexes with templates for data sheets, action summaries, and report formats
• Inclusion of practical acoustic engineering updates, reflecting current digital modeling tools and international best practices

Key highlights:

• End-to-end procedures for noise management in plant design and procurement
• Normative annexes for supplier reporting and action item allocation
• Standardized flowcharts for project-phase and noise mitigation control

Access the full standard:View ISO 15664:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

How These Standards Affect Businesses

Modern industrial environments are increasingly digital, interconnected, and scrutinized for workplace safety and environmental impact. The new IEC 61326-2-7:2025 and ISO 15664:2025 provide up-to-date benchmarks for:

• Ensuring process automation devices are immune to EMC disturbances, which can otherwise jeopardize product quality and operational uptime
• Fostering safer, quieter, and regulation-compliant plant environments via proven noise control methodology and accountability
• Streamlining the selection and validation of equipment based on internationally recognized criteria

Compliance Considerations and Timelines

• Immediate action: All new procurement and upgrades of measurement, control, and laboratory equipment with Ethernet-APL ports should reference IEC 61326-2-7:2025 for EMC compliance testing.
• Design phase: Open plant construction or significant retrofit projects must integrate ISO 15664:2025 into engineering and bid specifications for noise control.
• Supplier obligations: Equipment vendors and integrators should be prepared to provide detailed test data and guarantees as per ISO 15664:2025’s annexes.
• Documentation: Facilities must maintain clear records of EMC and acoustic testing for ongoing compliance and regulatory audits.

Benefits of Adopting These Standards:

• Reduced operational risk from electromagnetic or acoustic interference
• Compliance with evolving regulations and contractual requirements
• Enhanced workplace safety and community relations
• More competitive procurement through standardized noise performance and EMC test data

Risks of Non-Compliance:

• Equipment malfunction or communication failures due to unmanaged EMC hazards
• Fines or operational shutdowns for exceeding occupational or environmental noise limits
• Rejection of bid proposals or project delays due to insufficient documentation

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements

Both standards emphasize:

• Rigorous, scenario-specific test plans and documentation
• Detailed attention to physical installation (cabling, grounding, shielding, enclosures)
• Quantitative performance metrics (EMC immunity, noise levels, functional criteria)

Implementation Best Practices:

1. Integrate Standards Early: Engage EMC and acoustic assessments in the system design and procurement stages, not post-installation.
2. Document Everything: Maintain comprehensive test plans, reports, and supplier data sheets as part of your project files.
3. Vendor Collaboration: Work closely with suppliers to clarify test method compatibility, guarantee compliance, and specify acceptable noise/EMC limits in contracts.
4. Continuous Monitoring: Equip plants with ongoing verification tools (e.g., portable sound meters, network analyzers) to ensure continued conformity.
5. Training: Provide awareness and training for installation, maintenance, and compliance teams on updated requirements.

Testing and Certification Considerations:

• Use accredited test labs and follow detailed setups (as illustrated in IEC 61326-2-7 figures and tables)
• For noise control, apply acoustic modeling and measurement per ISO and regional norms
• Include all relevant operating modes and installation scenarios during certification

Conclusion / Next Steps

The December 2025 standards in measurement technology and open plant acoustics mark an important step forward for industrial safety and equipment robustness.

Key Takeaways:

• IEC 61326-2-7:2025 ensures high-reliability Ethernet-APL devices for process control with robust EMC performance
• ISO 15664:2025 offers a systematic, accountable framework for open plant noise management, benefiting both worker safety and environmental compliance

Recommendations:

• Begin referencing these standards in upcoming procurement and design documentation
• Review current plant assets to identify any upgrade or testing needs
• Train internal teams and inform suppliers of new requirements
• Explore the standards in detail and use provided annexes/templates to enhance your compliance strategies

Explore and access the full suite of international measurement and noise management standards at iTeh Standards. Stay informed and competitive by integrating these best practices into your facility today.