FprEN 16087-2
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self-heating test for compost
- Abstract
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials.
NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 20-Jan-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 223/WG 4 - Analytical methods
- Current Stage
- 5020 - Submission to Vote - Formal Approval
- Start Date
- 01-Oct-2026
- Due Date
- 21-Dec-2024
- Completion Date
- 01-Oct-2026
- Mandate
- M/XXX - M/XXX
FprEN 16087-2 is a draft European Standard from CEN for soil improvers and growing media. It specifies a self-heating test for composted materials to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter. Laboratories and quality teams use it to measure the maximum temperature reached by a sample and relate that result to compost maturity.
What does FprEN 16087-2 specify?
FprEN 16087-2 specifies one laboratory method: a self-heating test applied only to composted material. The method links the temperature rise in a sample to its aerobic biological activity, so the result is a practical indicator of how far the compost has decomposed.
The document is organized into:
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Principle
- Apparatus
- Sampling
- Procedure
- Expression of results
- Test report
- Validation of the method
- Annex A with performance characteristics
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | Performance characteristics of the method, based on an interlaboratory study |
What are the key requirements of FprEN 16087-2?
Clause 4 states that the method works by measuring self-heating in a Dewar vessel and recording the maximum temperature. In practice, the test does not measure chemistry directly - it uses heat development as the indicator of aerobic biological activity.
Clause 5 sets the basic test equipment: a 1.5 l Dewar vessel, a temperature measurement device accurate to ± 2 °C, a 10 mm sieve, and a room or climate cabinet at 20 °C ± 2 °C. This matters because the result depends on keeping the sample insulated and the surrounding temperature controlled.
Clause 6 links sampling to EN 12579:2024 and requires a representative sample that has not been damaged or changed during transport or storage. For the lab, this means the test is only meaningful if the sample still reflects the product being checked.
Clauses 7.1 and 7.2 require the test to be started as soon as possible after sampling, with limited storage allowed at 3 °C ± 2 °C for up to five days. The sample is sieved to 10 mm, and the method is not suitable if more than 30 % remains on the sieve. Moisture must be adjusted before testing, because too dry or too wet compost can distort microbial activity.
Clause 7.2.2 describes the “fist test” for moisture adjustment. In practice, this is a quick hand test that tells the operator whether the compost is too dry, too moist, or in a suitable range for the test.
Clause 7.3 gives the measurement setup: loosely fill the Dewar vessel, place the sensor in the centre with the tip in the lower third, leave the vessel uncovered, and keep the room at 20 °C ± 2 °C. The test ends when the temperature peak has passed, or after ten days at the latest. If no continuous recorder is available, duplicate measurements are required.
Clause 8 reports the result as the maximum temperature T in °C and the corresponding Rottegrad. This gives users both a numerical value and a decomposition class they can use for reporting and comparison.
Clause 9 requires the test report to identify the sample, state the maximum temperature, include the temperature profile if needed, and note any optional or non-standard work cycles. That supports traceability and makes the result easier to review later.
What terms does FprEN 16087-2 define?
- Self-heating test - the measurement of temperature rise in a compost sample to judge its aerobic biological activity.
- Rottegrad - the decomposition degree assigned from the measured maximum temperature.
- Dewar vessel - the insulated vessel used to hold the sample during the test.
- Fist test - the hand-based moisture check used to judge whether compost is too dry, too moist, or suitable.
- Repeatability standard deviation (sr) - the spread of results when the method is repeated under the same laboratory conditions.
- Reproducibility standard deviation (sR) - the spread of results when different laboratories perform the same method.
Who uses FprEN 16087-2?
FprEN 16087-2 is used by laboratories testing composted materials such as composted bark, biowaste compost, and green compost. It is also relevant to producers, quality managers, and conformity assessment bodies that need a comparable maturity result for soil improvers and growing media.
What changed in FprEN 16087-2 from the previous edition?
FprEN 16087-2 will supersede EN 16087-2:2011. The main technical change stated in the document is a more precise description of the fist test.
Which standards are used with FprEN 16087-2?
- CEN/TS 17732:2022 - provides the terminology used for the terms and definitions in this document.
- EN 12579:2024 - gives the sampling method that Clause 6 refers to.
- ISO 5725-2 - is used for the validation work and the calculation of repeatability and reproducibility in Annex A.
What does the FprEN 16087-2 document contain?
The document contains the test principle, equipment list, sampling link, sample preparation, test setup, result expression, reporting rules, and validation summary. It also includes a result table that maps maximum temperature to Rottegrad, so users can turn a temperature reading into a maturity class.
Figure 1 shows the measurement setup with the open Dewar vessel and temperature probe. Annex A gives performance characteristics from an interlaboratory study and identifies the compost materials used to validate the method.
The validation section explains that the method was checked against ISO 5725-2 principles and reports repeatability and reproducibility data for three compost materials. That information is useful when comparing results between laboratories or when setting up internal quality control.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 16087-2 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self-heating test for compost". This standard covers: This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials. NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials. NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
FprEN 16087-2 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 16087-2 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16087-2:2011. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 16087-2 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2, M/XXX. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
FprEN 16087-2 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določanje aerobne biološke razgradljivosti
organskih snovi - 2.del: Preskus samodejnega segrevanja komposta
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation
rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self heating test for compost
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen
Abbaurate organischer Substanz - Teil 2: Selbsterhitzungstest für Kompost
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de la cinétique de
dégradation biologique aérobie de la matière organique - Partie 2 : Test d’auto-
échauffement pour compost
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16087-2
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 16087-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede EN 16087-2:2011
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the
aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part
2: Self heating test for compost
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Détermination de la cinétique de dégradation Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen Abbaurate
biologique aérobie de la matière organique - Partie 2 : organischer Substanz - Teil 2: Selbsterhitzungstest für
Test d'auto-échauffement pour compost Kompost
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 16087-2:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 16087-2:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
5 Apparatus . 4
6 Sampling . 4
7 Procedure . 4
7.1 General. 4
7.2 Sample preparation . 5
7.2.1 General. 5
7.2.2 Fist test . 5
7.3 Determination of self-heating . 5
8 Expression of results . 6
9 Test report . 6
10 Validation of the method . 7
10.1 Validation in accordance with ISO 5725-2. 7
10.2 Performance characteristics. 7
Annex A (informative) Performance characteristics of the method . 8
Bibliography . 10
prEN 16087-2:2025
European foreword
This document (prEN 16087-2:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 16087-2:2011.
prEN 16087-2:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
EN 16087-2:2011:
— A more precise description of the fist test was added.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request given to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
prEN 16087-2:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological activity using a self-heating test.
This method is only applicable to composted material.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
CEN/TS 17732:2022, Soil improvers and growing media — Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media — Sampling
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732:2022 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Principle
Measurement of self-heating in a Dewar vessel and measurement of the maximum temperature, where
the temperature is an indicator of the state of aerobic biological activity.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Dewar vessel, with a volume of 1,5 l and an internal diameter of 100 mm ± 3 mm.
5.2 Temperature measurement device, capable of recording a maximum temperature with an
accuracy of ± 2 °C.
5.3 Sieve, square aperture with a 10 mm mesh size.
5.4 Temperature controlled room or climate cabinet, with a temperature of 20 °C ± 2 °C.
6 Sampling
Sampling is not part
...