November 2025: New Civil Engineering Standards Enhance Road and Rail Safety

The civil engineering industry marks a significant advancement in infrastructure performance and safety with four newly published international standards in November 2025. Covering vital domains such as railway operations, temporary road marking materials, and road surface dressing, these updates address evolving operational needs, regulatory compliance, and the growing importance of high-performing, safe transportation networks. For civil engineering professionals, these standards introduce fresh requirements and best practices that can transform how organizations manage safety, durability, and lifecycle efficiency across road and rail projects.

Overview / Introduction

Civil engineering forms the backbone of global infrastructure, encompassing railways, highways, urban mobility systems, and critical transport services. As urban densities grow and safety expectations rise, the industry's reliance on up-to-date standards becomes paramount. International standards serve as the benchmark for quality, safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship. They guide everything from materials selection and on-site procedures to compliance frameworks and performance testing.

In this article, we examine four newly released standards that will shape procurement, project management, and operations in the civil engineering sector:

• ISO/TR 18155:2025 — Principles of train detection for operations and services
• EN 18124:2025 — Requirements for temporary road markings
• EN 12272-1:2025 — Test methods for the rate and accuracy of spread of binder and chippings
• EN 12272-3:2025 — Adhesivity determination using the Vialit plate shock test method

Professionals, compliance managers, engineers, and researchers will find actionable guidance on adoption, operational impacts, and technical implementation throughout this comprehensive update.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO/TR 18155:2025 - Principles of Train Detection for Operations and Services

Railway applications - Principles of train detection for operations and services

ISO/TR 18155:2025 outlines the foundational principles for train detection across any railway system, firmly positioning train detection as a critical pillar in operational safety and service availability. While deliberately non-technical, the report provides essential guidance for selecting appropriate train detection methods when planning new lines or updating existing detection systems.

Scope and Requirements

• Coverage: General operational and environmental factors influencing train detection; links between detection technologies and operational management.
• Requirements: Emphasizes the safe recognition of train presence/absence, the impact on signaling, schedule management, and real-time operational decisions (e.g., degraded modes after failure).
• Target Users: Railway infrastructure managers, operating bodies, equipment specifiers, and safety officers involved in procurement, upgrades, or regulatory compliance.

Practical Implications

• Selection Guidance: Helps choose between signal block detection and single point detection based on operational context (passenger vs. freight, shunting yards, high-speed lines, etc.).
• Degraded Operation: Details protocols for maintaining safety and service continuity during equipment faults or environmental challenges.
• Lifecycle Considerations: Promotes holistic selection criteria emphasizing maintainability, cost, environment, and interoperability with signaling and control systems.

Key highlights:

• Integrates train detection principles with broader operational management for enhanced safety
• Provides clarity on adaptation during normal and degraded operations
• Equips decision-makers with non-technical selection criteria for future-proofed systems

Access the full standard: View ISO/TR 18155:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 18124:2025 - Road Marking Materials: Temporary Road Markings

Road marking materials - Temporary road markings

EN 18124:2025 defines the critical performance attributes and control procedures for temporary road markings used in traffic circulation areas. Reflecting increased demand for safe, effective delineation during construction and maintenance, this standard emphasizes both product quality and operational flexibility.

Scope and Requirements

• Coverage: Applies to white, yellow, and orange temporary road markings—both removable and non-removable—including assemblies or preformed products.
• Requirements: Stipulates day-time and night-time visibility (reflection, retroreflection), chromaticity, skid resistance, removability, and durability both in lab and on-road (road trials and simulators).
• Conformity Assessment: Sets detailed requirements for type testing, product identification, and Factory Production Control (FPC), linking with EN 13212 for ongoing quality.
• Exclusions: Does not address other colors or products intended for temporary marking.

Practical Implications

• For Contractors: Mandates selection of markings with proven performance, durability, and safe removability—minimizing confusion and improving worker and roadway user safety.
• For Authorities & Procurement: Establishes objective benchmarks for specification, sourcing, and acceptance during construction and maintenance contracts.
• Risk Reduction: Emphasizes high visibility and superior skid resistance to reduce accident risk in and around work zones.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive performance classes for visibility, reflection, and skid resistance
• Includes conformity assessment, minimum inspection/test frequencies, and removability protocols
• Addresses durability using both road trials and simulator-based methods for real-world validation

Access the full standard: View EN 18124:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 12272-1:2025 - Surface Dressing Test Methods, Part 1: Rate and Accuracy of Spread

Surface dressing - Test methods - Part 1: Rate of spread and accuracy of spread of binder and chippings

EN 12272-1:2025 introduces advanced test methods for measuring the rate and transverse accuracy of binder and chippings in surface dressing. The revision places new emphasis on site-based verification, equipment calibration, and production control—a reflection of the critical influence that correct spreading exerts on surface durability and safety.

Scope and Requirements

• Coverage: Methods apply to determining the quantity (kg/m² or l/m²) and distribution of binder and chippings used in road surface dressing.
• Requirements: Detailed procedures for site-based sample collection, weighing, and calculation of rates and proportional range; defines thresholds for functional sprayer/spreader performance.
• Intended Use: Essential for construction site teams, asphalt contractors, and laboratory testing bodies overseeing works acceptance, equipment qualification, and product certification.
• Safety Note: Highlights the importance of adopting appropriate safety practices during potentially hazardous operations (hot binder handling, machinery use).

Practical Implications

• Quality Assurance: Supports repeatable, traceable inspection of binder and aggregate distribution during road works—vital to pavement quality and lifespan.
• FPC Integration: Enables systematic calibration and production monitoring, with results documentation for regulatory and contractual compliance.
• Process Improvement: Identifies spreader malfunctions early by flagging proportional ranges above acceptable thresholds (>0.20).

Key highlights:

• Step-by-step methods for field testing and result calculation
• Integrated with Factory Production Control (FPC) quality systems
• Defines pass/fail tolerances for real-world production settings

Access the full standard: View EN 12272-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 12272-3:2025 - Surface Dressing Test Methods, Part 3: Binder Aggregate Adhesivity

Surface dressing - Test methods - Part 3: Determination of binder aggregate adhesivity by the Vialit plate shock test method

EN 12272-3:2025 details the test protocols for determining binder-to-aggregate adhesivity—a determinant factor in the long-term durability of surface dressing. This is achieved using the renowned Vialit plate shock test, which assesses both mechanical adhesion and adhesive performance in variable temperature and humidity scenarios.

Scope and Requirements

• Coverage: Applies to anhydrous bituminous and fluxed binders, including polymer-modified binders and bitumen emulsions; covers a wide range of aggregate sizes and combinations.
• Requirements: Outlines apparatus specifications (e.g., steel plates, ball weights, temperature controls), preparation procedures, and result interpretation for measuring active adhesivity, mechanical adhesion, wetting temperature, and fragility temperature.
• Exclusions: Not meant for on-site quality control; designed for lab-based testing environments.
• Documentation: Includes detailed test reporting regimen, from sample selection to result calculation and compliance declaration.

Practical Implications

• Material Selection: Equips laboratories and specification teams to evaluate binder suitability before deployment, reducing early-life failures and maximizing surface longevity.
• Design Optimization: Enables adjustment of materials and additives (e.g., adhesion agents) to achieve required performance in local climates or challenging aggregate sources.
• Risk Management: Minimizes risk of aggregate loss, surface stripping, and premature wear—critical in high-traffic or temperature-variant environments.

Key highlights:

• Introduces improved aggregate size ranges and procedures, aligned with the latest research
• Supports polymer-modified and conventional binder systems for flexible application
• Directly linked to optimization of surface dressing lifetime and cost-effectiveness

Access the full standard: View EN 12272-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The November 2025 release of these civil engineering standards has cascading effects across planning, supply chain management, project execution, and maintenance.

• Business Impact: Mandates active review and upgrade of procurement rules, vendor qualifications, and inspection protocols by asset owners and contractors. Project managers must ensure upskilling of site staff and laboratory personnel on new test methods and criteria.
• Compliance Considerations: Organizations must incorporate enhanced inspection, documentation, and reporting protocols for adherence to both safety rules (especially for hazardous operations) and product conformity (per Factory Production Control).
• Adoption Benefits:
  • Improved worker and road user safety through measurable, repeatable performance criteria
  • Higher quality deliverables, reducing claims, defects, and lifecycle maintenance costs
  • Demonstrable conformity for regulatory or funding audits, enhancing project eligibility and reputation
• Non-compliance Risks: Increased liability for incidents, regulatory penalties, and lost contracts due to quality shortfalls or unsafe practices.

Technical Insights

While the four standards address diverse aspects of civil engineering, several technical requirements and best practices recur across documents:

• Performance-Based Specifications: Emphasis on measurable, class-based outcomes for visibility, reflectivity, adhesion, and spread—enabling data-driven selection of products and methods.
• Comprehensive Testing Protocols:
  • Field and laboratory test methods specified down to equipment types, calibration steps, sample numbers, and documentation
  • Clear acceptance criteria for FPC and on-site inspections
• Safety and Environmental Controls:
  • Procedures designed to mitigate exposure to hazardous operations (e.g., handling of hot binders, chemical adhesives, or complex machinery)
  • Environmental conditioning of samples/tests to simulate real-world use
• Certification and Ongoing Quality:
  • Mandates for product type/test certification and continuous Factory Production Control
  • Regular calibration intervals for spreading and test equipment
• Recordkeeping and Traceability:
  • Detailed reporting and result tracking for auditability and regulatory compliance

Implementation Best Practices:

1. Procurement Specifications: Update tender documents to reference new standard editions and relevant performance/test classes.
2. Training: Organize briefings for project managers, lab staff, and quality assurance teams on new procedures and safety requirements.
3. Calibration and Maintenance: Implement routine checks for binders/chipping spreaders and test lab apparatus, in alignment with test method tolerances.
4. Quality Review: Conduct mock trials or pilot production runs to ensure internal procedures and documentation meet updated expectations.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The November 2025 rollout of new standards for train detection, temporary road markings, and surface dressing represents a pivotal step toward safer, more reliable, and efficient civil infrastructure. For industry professionals, proactive adoption is critical—not only to maintain regulatory compliance, but also to drive organizational value, reduce risk, and build public trust.

Key Takeaways:

• Enhanced safety and real-world durability are at the core of these standards
• Comprehensive, state-of-the-art methodologies demand robust adoption planning
• Proactive compliance delivers tangible benefits across your project lifecycle

Recommendations for Organizations:

• Review procurement and operational policies against the new standards
• Upskill and inform your technical and quality teams
• Engage with accredited testing providers and equipment suppliers to ensure compliance

Call to Action: Explore the full texts and implementation guides for each standard via iTeh Standards, and subscribe for timely updates on future revisions. Stay ahead of industry changes—your infrastructure’s performance and safety depend on it!