Metrology and Measurement Standards Summary - September 2025

Looking back at September 2025, the Metrology and Measurement of Physical Phenomena sector witnessed the publication of two strategically significant standards. These developments addressed both predictive maintenance for machine systems and robust protocols for the measurement of underwater acoustic emissions. For professionals responsible for quality, compliance, engineering, or procurement, understanding these standards is crucial for driving reliability and ensuring regulatory adherence. This retrospective overview distills their technical content, broader industrial context, and practical implications, serving as an essential catch-up for those who seek to remain current.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 shaped up as a noteworthy month for standardization within the Metrology and Measurement of Physical Phenomena domain (ICS 17). The release focused on two domains that epitomize modern measurement science’s intersection with applied engineering:

• Predictive diagnostics in machine condition monitoring, responding to the increased industrial reliance on proactive maintenance.
• Underwater acoustics for maritime vessels in shallow waters, addressing stricter maritime regulations and environmental impact scrutiny.

This period reflected a consolidation of prior research and a pivot towards enhanced data integration and real-world measurement complexity. Compared with typical publication phases, September 2025 emphasized both increased standard clarity—simplifying complex prognostic workflows—and bridging gaps in acoustic measurement procedures for environments not addressed thoroughly in earlier standards. These publications underscore a maturing sector increasingly driven by data, analytics, and systematized measurement protocols, indicating that the industry is reinforcing both reliability engineering and environmental stewardship.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 13381-1:2025 - Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machine systems – Prognostics – Part 1: General guidelines and requirements

Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machine systems – Prognostics – Part 1: General guidelines and requirements

This third edition of ISO 13381-1:2025 stands as the primary reference for organizations seeking to implement or refine predictive maintenance strategies. It provides a comprehensive framework for prognosis—the science of estimating time to failure and risk for incipient machine faults. Covering both conceptual foundations and practical implementation requirements, the standard is targeted at developers, machine operators, maintenance providers, and manufacturers.

Scope and Requirements

ISO 13381-1:2025 sets out:

• Shared definitions and concepts for machine prognostics
• The data, parameters, and historical information required for accurate prognosis
• Generic processes for data collection, modelling (including AI/ML techniques), and the establishment of confidence levels
• Guidance for reporting, trending, and the development of alert/alarm/trip thresholds

The document stresses the importance of comprehensive datasets, ranging from original design and component baselines to operational, maintenance, and environmental histories. It details the premise that prediction is probabilistic, relying on robust statistical and computational modelling. Crucially, it prescribes how to delineate confidence levels and manage uncertainty in prognosis, recognizing the limits of analytical prediction in complex mechanical systems.

Target Audience & Regulatory Context

This standard is essential for:

• Asset integrity teams in manufacturing, energy, and processing industries
• Maintenance planners and reliability engineers
• Equipment manufacturers integrating condition monitoring into their designs
• Training and development coordinators introducing prognostics

Given its alignment with standards such as ISO 2041 and ISO 17359, ISO 13381-1:2025 provides an interoperable vocabulary and methodology across international compliance regimes. The revision updates key definitions, expands data requirements, and harmonizes advanced modelling techniques, including those based on artificial intelligence.

Key Highlights

• Broadened modelling types: now includes explicit coverage of AI and ML approaches for failure prediction
• Enhanced reporting and decision thresholds: clear processes for alert, alarm, and trip settings
• Focus on confidence levels and uncertainty management in prognostic reporting

Access the full standard:View ISO 13381-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 17208-3:2025 - Underwater acoustics – Quantities and procedures for description and measurement of underwater sound from ships – Part 3: Requirements for measurements in shallow water

Underwater acoustics – Quantities and procedures for description and measurement of underwater sound from ships – Part 3: Requirements for measurements in shallow water

ISO 17208-3:2025 marks a critical extension to the ISO 17208 series, providing the first standardized set of procedures for measuring ship-generated underwater noise in shallow water—defined as less than 150 m deep or less than 1.5 times the ship's overall length. Previously, international standards focused solely on deep-water measurements, leaving a gap for regulatory compliance, research, and impact assessment in coastal and regional waters.

Scope and Requirements

The standard covers:

• Detailed test site selection criteria, including minimum water depth, uniformity of seabed properties, and background noise considerations
• Instrumentation and deployment, with requirements for hydrophone sensitivity, calibration, frequency range (10 Hz to 20 kHz), and system self-noise
• Measurement configurations (ship cooperation, repeated runs, hydrophone placements, and test course definitions)
• Data processing procedures—sound pressure level calculations, background noise adjustments, and uncertainty evaluation
• Calculation of source level and translation from shallow to deep water equivalence per standardized formulas

The approach is prescriptive, acknowledging the unique sound propagation physics in shallow environments (e.g., seabed interactions, variable sound speeds, and surface reflection). Following ISO 17208-3:2025 enables organizations to conduct credible, comparable, and auditable measurements of ship noise for contract compliance, monitoring, and environmental research.

Target Audience & Regulatory Context

The primary audiences include:

• Shipbuilders and designers
• Maritime compliance officers and environmental managers
• Research organizations studying anthropogenic noise impact on marine life
• Naval and governmental regulatory authorities

This part complements ISO 17208-1 and ISO 17208-2, integrating seamlessly into acoustic measurement strategies for both deep and shallow operational theatres. Notably, ISO 17208-3:2025 will support compliance with both local regulations on port entry and international initiatives to mitigate underwater noise pollution.

Key Highlights

• Fills a critical regulatory and best-practice gap for shallow water acoustic measurements
• Establishes rigorous instrumentation, calibration, and uncertainty quantification demands
• Supports environmental impact studies and vessel noise management policies

Access the full standard:View ISO 17208-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A comparative look at September 2025’s standards landscape reveals several recurring patterns:

• Data-Driven Predictive Maintenance: With the revised ISO 13381-1:2025, the industry is unambiguously pivoting towards deeper data integration, advanced analytics (including AI/ML), and robust uncertainty management. Asset-intensive sectors are clearly prioritizing forecasting capability to minimize downtime and costs.
• Environmental Measurement Sophistication: ISO 17208-3:2025 reflects mounting regulatory interest in quantifying human impacts on marine ecosystems. As port and marine spatial planning policy evolves, ship noise measurement (in both deep and shallow waters) becomes a compliance imperative.
• Metrics and Measurement Consistency: Both standards emphasize strict adherence to measurement traceability, calibration, and standardization—a sign of growing sectoral maturity and a guard against escalating litigation and reputational risks.
• Expanding Real-World Applicability: There’s a notable trend toward making methodologies more practical and adaptable for diverse operational environments—not just ideal laboratory or test-range settings.

These trends underscore a confluence between digital transformation, environmental stewardship, and regulatory harmonization as primary drivers within the Metrology and Measurement of Physical Phenomena sector.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations governed by these standards, several pragmatic steps and recommendations emerge:

1. Gap Analysis and Training:

   • Review current predictive maintenance and acoustic measurement processes against the new requirements.
   • Train internal teams (engineering, quality assurance, and maintenance) in updated terminology, data handling, and modelling techniques.

2. Data Infrastructure Readiness:

   • Assess and upgrade data acquisition systems for comprehensive, high-quality monitoring (e.g., sensors, instrumentation, storage, and analytic platforms).
   • Plan for regular calibration and traceability documentation as prescribed in both standards.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

   • Forecasting reliability or assessing ship noise emissions requires collaboration between engineering, environmental, IT, and compliance departments.
   • Engage quality management systems to ensure long-term conformity and audit readiness.

4. Timeline Considerations:

   • Implementation should be prioritized for assets or activities in regulated environments or subject to imminent contract or regulatory reviews.
   • Take advantage of industry guidance, training materials, and certified consultancies where internal expertise is limited.

5. Resource Access:

   • Leverage platforms like iTeh Standards for full-text access, guidance documents, and future updates.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

September 2025 saw impactful advances in both the predictive diagnostics/maintenance space and in methodologies for robustly measuring environmental impacts in marine contexts. ISO 13381-1:2025 lays a stronger foundation for prognostic maintenance, embracing digital analytics and uncertainty quantification. ISO 17208-3:2025 finally provides the navigational charts for measuring ship noise in shallow waters—an increasingly vital need as environmental scrutiny intensifies.

For professionals in Metrology and Measurement of Physical Phenomena:

• Prioritize reviewing and aligning processes with the new standards, particularly where compliance, reliability, or sustainability are critical success factors.
• Stay abreast of future developments in related series (ISO 13381, ISO 17208) to ensure a proactive rather than reactive compliance posture.
• Use resources like iTeh Standards for ongoing access and implementation support.

By closely tracking these trends—and acting on the best practices embedded in September 2025’s key publications—organizations will be well-positioned for technical excellence, regulatory compliance, and sustainable operational performance.