Monthly Roundup: Rubber and Plastics Industries Standards from October 2025 (Part 1)

Looking back at October 2025, the Rubber and Plastics Industries experienced a wave of significant standardization activity, with five major standards released that addressed evolving technical, safety, and quality demands across the sector. The month’s publications focused on advanced testing methodologies for plastics and rubber materials, enhanced machinery safety, and critical product performance traits such as thermal stability, low-temperature resistance, and adhesion. This comprehensive retrospective highlights each standard’s purpose, the practical challenges they address, and provides valuable direction for industry professionals striving to maintain or elevate their quality, safety, and compliance regimes.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 distinguished itself as a month marked by thoughtful standardization within the Rubber and Plastics Industries sphere. The five standards published reflect an industry attentive to both material innovation and process reliability. Notable themes included:

• Advancements in measurement methods for both plastics (PVC stability and thermoset brittleness) and tyre reinforcements (adhesion), supporting the industry’s move toward more quantifiable, reliable quality metrics.
• A renewed focus on machinery safety, evident in the upgraded requirements for tyre curing machines, mirroring an industry-wide drive to harmonize with current EU Directives and mitigate occupational hazards.
• Incremental harmonization of test methods between ISO and CEN, particularly for PVC compounds, reducing ambiguity and supporting global trade across materials supply chains.

Compared to typical months, October 2025 showcased a diversity of standards, ranging from fundamental material evaluation to capital equipment safety, signaling a sector responsive to both operational needs and regulatory expectations. These standards collectively suggest an industry trending toward tighter quality verification, stringent safety measures, and improved product longevity—a boon for those managing risk, ensuring compliance, and innovating in product development.

Standards Published This Month

EN ISO 182-3:2025 – Plastics – Determining Acidic Evolution in PVC – Conductometric Method

Plastics - Determination of the tendency of compounds and products based on vinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers to evolve hydrogen chloride and any other acidic products at elevated temperatures – Part 3: Conductometric method (ISO 182-3:2025)

This European standard, mirroring ISO 182-3:2025, specifies a conductometric method for evaluating the thermal stability of PVC compounds and products, including copolymers, by quantifying their propensity to release hydrogen chloride (HCl) and other acidic byproducts under heat. The test is particularly crucial for colored PVC compounds or when visual discolouration metrics are unreliable, allowing for direct, quantifiable stability measurement using conductivity change in water as an indicator of HCl evolution.

Target organizations include PVC processors, compounders, product manufacturers, and those responsible for regulatory compliance or product certification. Notably, this method excludes non-homogeneous dry blends and is not suited for PVC variants generating additional decomposition products affecting water conductivity—ISO 182-4 is the relevant standard in such cases.

Key highlights:

• Specify conductometric test setup with controlled temperature and nitrogen atmosphere
• Enables direct comparison of heat stabilization in various PVC recipes and products
• Harmonized between CEN and ISO, facilitating mutual recognition across markets

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 182-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TS 25336:2025 – Plastics – Thermosetting Resin-Based Materials – Low-Temperature Cracking Index

Plastics - Thermosetting resin-based materials - Low-temperature cracking index test by embedded metal block method

This Technical Specification (TS) introduces a rigorous, laboratory-friendly method for quantifying the low-temperature cracking resistance of thermosetting resin materials, a property increasingly vital in power electronics, automotive, and industrial encapsulation. The method employs an embedded metal block within a sample to simulate stress conditions and determines the "cracking index"—the temperature at which initial material failure is observed.

Particularly relevant for R&D labs, material engineers, and quality assurance teams, this method supports comparative benchmarking and innovation in resin formulation, driving durability and reliability in end-use applications. The specification does not apply to compounds that may fail at temperatures above 0°C, focusing instead on those for sub-zero stress exposure.

Key highlights:

• Implements a standardized, reproducible cracking index quantification technique
• Supports pre-qualification and selection of resins for cold climate use or electronic encapsulation
• Encourages material innovation by establishing clear, quantifiable performance metrics

Access the full standard:View ISO/TS 25336:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 182-3:2025 – Plastics – Tendency of PVC Compounds to Evolve Acids (Conductometric Method)

Plastics - Determination of the tendency of compounds and products based on vinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers to evolve hydrogen chloride and any other acidic products at elevated temperatures – Part 3: Conductometric method

The ISO edition of the conductometric PVC stability test is technically equivalent to the EN ISO 182-3:2025, aligning international and European requirements for PVC heat resistance evaluation. It details the apparatus, sampling, sample conditioning, precise test temperatures, and interpretation of results. Minor editorial updates clarify references and tabulated variables for improved reproducibility.

Applicable to raw compounders, PVC manufacturers, and testing laboratories, this standard is pivotal for ensuring compliance with global market requirements and maintaining product integrity where thermal degradation can affect performance or safety.

Key highlights:

• Mirrors EN ISO 182-3:2025 for technical equivalence
• Clarifies values, units, and experimental controls for high-precision testing
• Directs laboratories toward harmonized cross-border protocols

Access the full standard:View ISO 182-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 16474:2025 – Plastics and Rubber Machines – Tyre Curing Machines – Safety Requirements

Plastics and rubber machines - Tyre curing machines - Safety requirements

This comprehensive European standard sets forth safety, design, and performance criteria for tyre curing machines—vital equipment in the rubber sector, used to vulcanize tyres from bicycles to heavy trucks. The standard encompasses both single- and multi-cavity machines with varied automation setups, and covers integral components such as loading/unloading devices, conveyors, and integrated post-cure inflators (PCI). Notably, it sharply delineates which machinery elements and ancillary equipment are within its scope, excluding exhaust systems and fully manual operation stations.

Target users are manufacturers of tyre curing machines, machinery integrators, end-user factories, safety compliance managers, and machinery auditors. Updates include expanded machine types (now explicitly includes cycle and motorcycle tyres), additional safeguarding requirements, fire risk considerations, and alignment with the latest EU Machinery Directive and harmonized machinery safety standards.

Key highlights:

• Addresses all significant hazards and provides mitigation protocols for foreseeable misuse
• Introduces detailed emergency stop, rescue, and fire safety requirements
• Raises the bar on ergonomic and access considerations for operators

Access the full standard:View EN 16474:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 23475-2:2025 – Testing Method for Steel Tyre Cord – Adhesion Test

Testing method for steel tyre cord – Part 2: Adhesion test

This standard advances the verification of steel cord adhesion—a critical property for tyres’ safety, reliability, and endurance. It describes the process of embedding steel cords in rubber blocks, vulcanizing them under specified pressure and temperature, and quantitatively measuring the force required to separate the cord from the rubber matrix. By establishing a common, reproducible adhesion test, the standard enables consistent product validation across tyre makers and raw material suppliers.

Essential for tyre manufacturers, steel cord suppliers, R&D labs, and quality control teams, this standard facilitates communication across supply chains and underpins performance claims for reinforced tyres, particularly for high-duty, commercial, or high-performance sectors. It references the ISO 17832 for core terminology and sets forth detailed apparatus and block holder requirements to guarantee result comparability.

Key highlights:

• Defines a robust method for steel-to-rubber adhesion measurement
• Supports process control and quality assurance for high-performance tyres
• Enhances comparability and traceability of adhesion tests across industry borders

Access the full standard:View ISO 23475-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

October 2025’s Rubber and Plastics Industries standards reveal several clear patterns:

• Emphasis on measurable, reproducible material properties: Both the conductometric PVC stability and low-temperature cracking index tests arm technical professionals with standardized, comparative data critical to product selection and innovation.
• Parsing of responsibilities in machinery safety: EN 16474:2025’s deep attention to scope, boundary setting, and hazard analysis signals an industry maturing in its approach to occupational risk and operational safety.
• Cross-validation and harmonization: Parallel publications of ISO and EN ISO standards point to a continued drive for international protocol alignment—minimizing trade frictions and streamlining compliance across jurisdictions.
• Support for lifecycle performance assurance: Adhesion and cracking tests target failure modes early, shifting the sector from reactive to proactive quality assurance.
• Broadening of applicability: Updates go beyond single product types, ensuring methods and protections apply to diverse machinery, materials, and use cases—reinforcing the sector’s adaptability and resilience.

Across all standards, organizations will find greater support for laboratory precision, safer working conditions, and more transparent communication throughout the supply chain.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For industry professionals and organizations, these October 2025 standards demand focused attention on several fronts:

1. Gap Analysis:

   • Map current practices against updated requirements—especially for tyre curing machinery safety and material testing methodologies.
   • Engage cross-departmental teams (R&D, production, HSE, compliance) for comprehensive review.

2. Prioritize Implementation:

   • Tyre manufacturers: Update machinery safety protocols and invest in operator training ASAP to reflect new EN 16474:2025 requirements.
   • PVC processors and compounders: Validate or upgrade laboratory conductometric methods for both EN ISO 182-3 and ISO 182-3 protocols.
   • Steel cord/tire reinforcement suppliers: Integrate ISO 23475-2:2025 directly into QC and product validation workflows.

3. Timeline Management:

   • Factor in the typical harmonization or transition periods (often 6-12 months post-publication) for EN standards replacing previous editions.
   • Initiate stakeholder communications and customer notifications for changes affecting product specs, certifications, or declarations of conformity.

4. Resources:

   • Reference the official standards (see above links to iTeh Standards) for authoritative text and Annexes for implementation clarifications.
   • Engage with sector technical committees or training workshops for standards that introduce complex or novel procedures.

By acting swiftly and systematically, organizations can ensure both compliance and competitive advantage.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

October 2025’s standardization output reflects a sector advancing on multiple critical fronts—testing precision, machinery safety, and robust quality assurance. The deployment of harmonized PVC stability methods, a modernized safety framework for tyre curing machines, and authoritative tests for resin and steel cord performance are not just regulatory milestones—they are enablers of operational excellence, innovation, and global competitiveness.

For professionals in the Rubber and Plastics Industries, monitoring and aligning with these standards underpins product quality, user safety, and market access. As industry complexity grows and regulatory expectations rise, staying current with best practices and new standards is not just due diligence—it is a strategic imperative.

Explore these standards in detail via iTeh Standards, and take decisive steps to strengthen quality, safety, and compliance across your organization.