November 2025: Essential New Standards for the Rubber and Plastics Industry

November 2025 marks a significant milestone for the rubber and plastics industries, with four key international standards newly published. These standards address advanced product requirements, technical guidelines, and best practices—targeted at improving product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Covering plastics sheets, O-ring housings for fluid power systems, and advanced gas-transmission rate testing for films, these updates will impact manufacturers, engineers, quality managers, and compliance officers across diverse sectors.

Overview / Introduction

The rubber and plastics industries are central to countless global supply chains, from packaging and construction to automotive, consumer goods, and medical devices. Standards in this sector shape manufacturing practices, product performance, and legal compliance, providing frameworks for quality assurance and innovation.

In this article, you’ll find:

• Detailed breakdowns of four newly published international standards (November 2025)
• Key requirements, testing methods, and technical updates
• Guidance on compliance and industry impact
• Practical insights for implementation and certification

These standards reflect the industry’s drive toward safer, more efficient, and higher-performance materials for a wide range of applications. Staying abreast of such developments is crucial for quality managers, engineers, procurement professionals, and leaders aiming to ensure competitive advantage and regulatory compliance.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN ISO 15015:2025 – Impact-Modified Acrylonitrile-Styrene Copolymer Sheets (CEN Version)

Plastics - Extruded sheets of impact-modified acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers (ABS, AEPDS and ASA) - Requirements and test methods (ISO 15015:2025)

This European Standard, approved by CEN, sets out the requirements and testing procedures for solid flat extruded sheets made from three key types of impact-modified acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer plastics:

• Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
• Acrylonitrile-(ethylene-propylene-diene)-styrene (AEPDS/AES)
• Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA)

Scope and Requirements

• Covers both flat and rolled sheet forms, with thicknesses ranging 0.25 mm to 20.0 mm
• Applies only to sheets without fillers or reinforcing materials, but allows for additives such as colorants or flame retardants

Key Provisions:

• Appearance: Sheets must be free of major defects and surface irregularities; colorants must be evenly distributed
• Dimensional tolerances: Strict limits on variation in thickness, length, width, rectangularity, and bow, with testing protocols specified
• Mechanical & Thermal Properties: Specifies minimum requirements and testing for tensile strength, elasticity, impact resistance (Charpy), hardness, and Vicat softening temperature
• Testing methods: Spells out specimen preparation, conditioning, and testing per ISO and EN test methods—ensuring industry alignment

Notable Changes (vs. Previous Editions):

• Revised formulas for tolerances, improved mechanical property benchmarks
• Clarified guidance on material composition and legal requirements

Industries / Organizations:

• Sheet, film, and extrusion material manufacturers
• Automotive, construction, appliance, and consumer product makers

Practical implications include streamlined procurement, better material traceability, and harmonized quality checks across borders.

Key highlights:

• Covers ABS, AEPDS/AES, and ASA sheets from 0.25 mm to 20 mm
• Unified test methods for appearance and mechanical/thermal properties
• Harmonized European and international requirements

Access the full standard: View EN ISO 15015:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 3601-2:2025 – Fluid Power O-Ring Housing Dimensions

Fluid power systems - O-rings - Part 2: Housing dimensions for general applications

This updated standard provides comprehensive requirements for the design and dimensioning of housings (grooves/cavities) for class A and class B O-rings used in industrial fluid power systems. It supports both new equipment design and retrofitting/replacement activities, ensuring reliable sealing and component longevity.

Scope and Requirements

• Specifies detailed groove dimensions for O-rings in both hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Covers both dynamic (rods, pistons) and static (face/axial) applications, with/without back-up (anti-extrusion) rings
• Provides two core design routes:
  • Hardware-first: Selecting optimal O-ring based on fixed bore/rod sizes
  • O-ring-first: Designing hardware dimensions based on chosen O-ring
• Includes tolerances, surface finish requirements, and recommended edge/chamfer details
• Guidance on housing fill, compression rates, and design for temperature variations

Revision Highlights:

• Extended tables for metric bore sizes
• Shift to volumetric housing fill calculation (from cross-sectional)
• Updated formulas for O-ring cross-sectional reduction
• Technical corrections for more robust designs, especially under dynamic loads

Industries / Organizations:

• Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder/system manufacturers
• OEMs producing or maintaining industrial equipment, process lines, and automation systems
• O-ring suppliers, sealing device designers

Implementation improves reliability, interchangeability, and precision in sealing system manufacture and maintenance. Agreement between O-ring suppliers and manufacturers is encouraged for special cases.

Key highlights:

• Defines O-ring groove dimensions for all primary fluid power applications
• New tables support modern metric hardware
• Updated guidance for compression, housing fill, and surface roughness

Access the full standard: View ISO 3601-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15105-2:2025 – Gas-Transmission Rate in Plastics Films (Equal-Pressure Method)

Plastics film and sheeting - Determination of gas-transmission rate - Part 2: Equal-pressure method

This revision details a robust method for measuring the rate at which gases permeate through plastic films, sheets, laminates, and flexible plastic-coated materials—crucial for high-performance packaging and industrial applications where gas permeability dictates shelf-life, product safety, or material selection.

Scope and Requirements

• Applies to all plastic films/sheets, including multi-layer laminates and co-extruded materials
• Uses the equal-pressure method: the specimen separates two chambers at atmospheric pressure but with different gas partial pressures
• Method is compatible with various test gases (common: oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide)
• Procedures for specimen preparation, conditioning, and temperature control (default 23 °C)
• Compatible with two analytic approaches: coulometric sensor (Annex A, often for oxygen) and gas chromatographic sensor (Annex B)

Technical and Industry Impact:

• Ensures packaging films meet performance specs—essential for pharmaceuticals, food, electronics packaging
• Enables global suppliers and converters to compare and certify gas-permeability performance reliably
• Improved precision with revised formulas and expanded temperature/pressure conversion notes

Key highlights:

• Standardizes gas-transmission measurement for any plastic film/sheet
• Supports both common and specialty test gases, wide application scope
• Updated reporting for accurate, repeatable results

Access the full standard: View ISO 15105-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 15015:2025 – Impact-Modified Acrylonitrile-Styrene Copolymer Sheets (ISO Version)

Plastics - Extruded sheets of impact-modified acrylonitrile-styrene copolymers (ABS, AEPDS and ASA) - Requirements and test methods

This ISO international standard mirrors EN ISO 15015:2025, harmonizing requirements for impact-modified sheets made from ABS, AES (AEPDS), and ASA copolymers without fillers or reinforcement. It encapsulates:

• Material and additive composition guidelines (e.g., processing aids, stabilizers, legal restrictions)
• Appearance criteria: freedom from defects, surface uniformity, and homogeneity of coloration
• Tight dimensional tolerances for thickness, length, width, rectangularity, and bow (especially for rolled forms)
• Mechanical property benchmarks: Charpy impact strength, tensile properties, hardness, melt mass-flow rate (MFR), Vicat softening temperature, and shrinkage on heating
• Designation, marking, and delivery condition details to support traceability and supplier-customer communication

Revision Updates:

• Addition of a new ‘Terms and Definitions’ section
• Improved tolerance formulas
• Updated mechanical property tables and removal of obsolete properties
• Deleted outdated puncture impact tests for consistency

Applications:

• Material buyers and engineering quality teams
• Manufacturers of semi-finished or finished thermoplastic components

Enhances international alignment, enabling easier cross-border material specification, procurement, and compliance.

Key highlights:

• Unified global requirements for impact-resistant plastic sheets
• Covers both flat and rolled forms (0.25 mm to 20 mm thick)
• Specification of testing methods for mechanical/thermal properties

Access the full standard: View ISO 15015:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The November 2025 standards introduce more rigorous control and clearer guidance for key products and components in the rubber and plastics industries.

Business Implications

• Quality assurance: Clearer, standardized requirements improve product consistency, reduce batch rejection rates, and support certification
• International compliance: Harmonization between ISO and EN/ISO allows for smoother cross-border commerce and regulatory alignment
• Market access and competitiveness: Manufacturers meeting the latest standards can offer globally recognized, trusted products
• Customer confidence: Detailed properties and testing methods ensure downstream users can verify material performance and supply chain integrity

Compliance Considerations

• Transition timelines: European standards (EN ISO 15015:2025) require withdrawal of conflicting national standards by May 2026
• Supplier/customer communication: Explicit marking and designation guidance fosters traceability and compliance verification
• Documentation: Adherence to formalized test and reporting methods is vital for passing audits and regulatory scrutiny

Benefits of Adoption

• Reduced risk of non-conformance and recalls
• Greater efficiency in procurement and quality management workflows
• Increased trust and satisfaction among end-users and brand owners

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Legal exposure due to regulatory violations or breach of procurement contracts
• Potential market exclusion, especially in certified or regulated sectors (e.g., automotive, food packaging)
• Higher lifecycle and warranty costs from premature failures or inconsistent product performance

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements

• Strict control of appearance, dimensional tolerances, and mechanical/thermal properties for plastic sheets (ABS, AES/AEPDS, ASA)
• Robust groove dimensioning and surface finish for O-ring applications
• Standardized, repeatable test environments (temperature, humidity, specimen conditioning)
• Detailed marking and reporting for traceability

Implementation Best Practices

1. Thorough material validation: Check supplier documentation and perform in-house or third-party testing to verify compliance
2. Update procurement standards: Reference latest standard versions (2025) in RFQs and purchase orders
3. Employee training: Ensure quality, production, and design teams understand new requirements and test protocols
4. Calibration of equipment: Align testing and measuring devices with the specified ISO/EN methods
5. Supplier qualification: Vet and qualify material suppliers on their ability to meet updated standards

Testing & Certification

• Use of accredited labs: Ensure test data is recognized per ISO 17025 (where relevant)
• Consistent conditioning: Specimens must be prepped and conditioned as per the prescribed atmospheres for valid results
• Documentation trail: Retain full test reports, certificates, and marking information for traceability
• Certification renewal: Prepare for audits and continual improvement as standards evolve

Conclusion / Next Steps

The November 2025 slate of standards offers vital updates for the rubber and plastics sector, from raw materials to finished products and engineered systems. Organizations that proactively adopt and implement these standards will be well-positioned for regulatory compliance, market leadership, and end-user trust.

Key takeaways:

• Harmonized, precise requirements for impact-modified plastic sheets (EN ISO/ISO 15015:2025)
• State-of-the-art groove dimensioning for O-rings (ISO 3601-2:2025)
• Updated test protocols for gas permeability in films (ISO 15105-2:2025)
• Major improvements in repeatability, safety, and performance assurance

Recommendations:

• Audit your current standards references and update them to the November 2025 versions
• Collaborate with suppliers and customers to clarify material specifications and ensure alignment
• Invest in training and quality control upgrades to ensure continuous compliance

Stay at the forefront by reviewing the full texts of each standard, available through iTeh Standards. For ongoing updates and comprehensive coverage of international standards for rubber and plastics, bookmark iTeh Standards and subscribe for alerts.