Monthly Roundup: September 2025 Standards in Environment, Health Protection, and Safety

Looking back at September 2025, the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety (EHS) sector witnessed a wave of significant standardization activity. This monthly overview brings together analytical insights, contextual trends, and detailed summaries of five crucial standards published during this period. These documents reflect advances in areas as diverse as fire suppression technologies, structural fire resistance for timber, soil contaminant detection, human comfort in indoor environments, and the digitization of water systems in smart cities. For industry leaders, compliance officers, quality managers, engineers, and EHS professionals, this review offers a retrospective exploration of influential releases—ensuring organizations stay attuned to shifts in regulation, technology, and best practice.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 was marked by a robust cross-section of publications in Environment, Health Protection, and Safety, reflecting a dynamic alignment with global challenges surrounding sustainability, resilience, and digital transformation. Notably, there was a strong focus on:

• Fire safety through both active (gas extinguishing systems) and passive (timber structure design) approaches
• Precise environmental analytics for hazardous substances in soils and wastes
• Occupant-centric standards, particularly in indoor environment ergonomics
• Digital transformation and smart infrastructure management in water systems

Compared to previous cycles, this month’s releases embodied a higher degree of integration between traditional EHS topics and emerging priorities such as smart cities and environmental analytics. Patterns suggest an industry moving towards risk-informed, data-driven, and holistic approaches to safety, sustainability, and public health protection.

Standards Published This Month

EN 15004-2:2025 – Fixed Firefighting Systems: FK-5-1-12 Extinguishing Gas

Fixed firefighting systems - Gas extinguishing systems - Part 2: Physical properties and system design of gas extinguishing systems for FK-5-1-12 extinguishant (ISO 14520-5:2024, modified)

This standard details the requirements for gaseous fire-extinguishing systems using FK-5-1-12 (a modern, environmentally preferred extinguishing agent), focusing heavily on physical properties, system specification, application, and personnel safety. EN 15004-2:2025 is applicable to systems operating at nominal pressures of 25, 34.5, 42, 50, and 70 bar with nitrogen propellant and may extend to other system types pending compliance.

The document undergoes a thorough analysis of FK-5-1-12 specifications—including purity, residue, acidity, and dimer content—as well as system design for effective, safe, and environmentally conscious firefighting. It supersedes the 2020 edition, introducing new requirements for high-pressure systems and greater clarity on efficacy and safety at the upper pressure ranges.

This standard is essential for:

• Designers, integrators, and maintainers of fixed firefighting systems
• Fire engineers specifying suppression for high-value assets, data centers, and critical infrastructure
• Regulatory compliance professionals

EN 15004-2:2025 advances the move away from legacy halocarbons toward green, high-performance alternatives and aligns with ongoing legislative trends restricting substances with high global warming potential.

Key highlights:

• Expanded pressure ranges (including 50 and 70 bar systems)
• Revised purity and physical property requirements for FK-5-1-12
• Detailed safety and environmental protection considerations

Access the full standard:View EN 15004-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 1995-1-2:2025 – Eurocode 5: Structural Fire Design for Timber Structures

Eurocode 5 - Design of timber structures - Part 1-2: Structural fire design

EN 1995-1-2:2025 lays out comprehensive principles, application rules, and performance criteria for the fire design of timber and wood-based structures. Used in conjunction with EN 1995-1-1 (general structural design) and EN 1991-1-2 (actions on structures exposed to fire), this part addresses the specifics of timber under accidental fire exposure—including member and connection behavior, charring, loadbearing, and separating functions.

This revision introduces updated calculation models for charring, cross-section performance, and advanced member analyses, directly supporting risk-informed and resilient building practices. With the increasing prominence of mass timber construction, this standard is now foundational across:

• Structural and fire protection engineering firms
• Timber construction contractors and designers
• Building code authorities

Its provisions are synchronized with product technical specifications for timber elements, adhesives, and composite assemblies, creating a harmonized framework for regulatory approval and insurance.

Key highlights:

• Expanded tabulated design data and simplified calculation methods
• Enhanced charring and performance criteria for modern engineered wood
• Updated guidance for protected/unprotected connections and advanced analyses

Access the full standard:View EN 1995-1-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15192:2025 – Chromium(VI) Detection in Soil and Waste

Soil and waste - Determination of chromium(VI) in solid material by alkaline digestion and ion chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (ISO 15192:2025)

EN ISO 15192:2025 provides an authoritative procedure for determining hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) mass fractions above 0.1 mg/kg in soil and solid waste using alkaline digestion followed by ion chromatography and spectrophotometric analysis. In light of global regulatory mandates addressing toxic metals in soils and waste streams, this method ensures reliable differentiation and quantification—minimizing Cr(VI) ↔ Cr(III) interconversion during preparation.

The standard protects public health and informs site remediation, land use, and regulatory monitoring. It is pivotal for:

• Environmental testing laboratories
• Site assessment and remediation consultants
• Waste management facilities
• Regulatory and compliance auditors

The 2025 update reflects alignment with technical advances in digestate analysis, method validation (including alternative check materials), and harmonization with international references.

Key highlights:

• Prescriptive digestion and analytical steps to prevent redox interference
• Quality assurance protocols (spiked samples, blanks, duplicate testing)
• Applicability to a wide range of soils and solid waste, barring extreme matrices

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15192:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 7730:2025 – Thermal Comfort Analytics for Indoor Environments

Ergonomics of the thermal environment - Analytical determination and interpretation of thermal comfort using calculation of the PMV and PPD indices and local thermal comfort criteria (ISO 7730:2025)

EN ISO 7730:2025 details a standardized approach for evaluating perceived thermal comfort in indoor spaces using analytical indices: Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD). It also includes criteria for mitigating local discomfort (draughts, temperature asymmetry, floors, etc.). Applicable to commercial, institutional, and residential buildings, this revision refines modeling of occupant responses, local effects, and acceptable variances.

While rooted in ergonomics, this standard is integral for:

• HVAC system designers and building engineers
• Occupant health and productivity consultants
• Green building certifiers and auditors

The update aligns closely with evolving human-centric design and healthy building initiatives, as well as regulatory guidance on indoor environmental quality.

Key highlights:

• Formalized method for PMV/PPD calculation and interpretation
• Updated local discomfort criteria (vertical temperature, floors, draughts)
• Guidance for steady and non-steady state environments

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 7730:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC SRD 63301-2:2025 – Smart City Use Case Analysis: Water Systems

Smart city use case collection and analysis - Water systems in smart cities - Part 2: Use case analysis

IEC SRD 63301-2:2025 represents a landmark in the application of electrotechnical standardization to urban water management, offering a structured process for use case analysis driven by smart city requirements. By cataloging user stories and transforming them into standardized use cases, the document empowers policymakers, city planners, utilities, and solution providers to map technology requirements, integrate ICT/electrotechnology, and benchmark progress toward goals such as urban water resilience, resource optimization, flood control, and safety.

This part is particularly salient for:

• Municipal agencies leading smart water projects
• Technology providers and integrators
• Standards developers in water systems and smart infrastructure

Noting its grounding in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, the standard provides both a general analytical approach and specific application to high-level and specialized use cases, supporting actionable roadmaps for future electrotechnical standards development and solution deployment.

Key highlights:

• Hierarchical use case modeling: from business case to high-level/specialized use cases
• Structured analysis supporting gap identification and standards recommendations
• Alignment with international sustainability objectives

Access the full standard:View IEC SRD 63301-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Reviewing September 2025’s EHS standards, several consistent themes emerge:

• Holistic risk management: From detailed fire safety design to precise hazardous materials quantification, a multi-layered approach to risk is evident.
• Sustainability and Green Transitions: Both EN 15004-2:2025 and IEC SRD 63301-2:2025 align with global sustainability frameworks—phasing out environmentally harmful substances and advancing smart, water-resilient infrastructure.
• Digital and Analytical Transformation: Analytics (in soil testing, thermal comfort, or urban water systems) support informed decision-making and promote occupant and community health.
• People-centric environments: Ergonomics and occupant safety feature strongly; standards no longer focus solely on asset protection but on holistic well-being and societal benefit.

Industries most affected this cycle include the construction (especially timber engineering), facilities management, environmental monitoring, municipal infrastructure, and public health sectors. The rising intersection of IT/OT (information/operational technologies) points to a future where EHS and digital systems are deeply intertwined.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Professionals in the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety sector should consider the following practical steps:

1. Gap Assessment: Review current systems, procedures, and designs against the new and revised requirements. Pay close attention to fire suppression specifications, analytical protocols for hazardous materials, comfort criteria in building projects, and readiness for smart infrastructure initiatives.
2. Priority Planning: For standards such as EN 15004-2:2025 and EN 1995-1-2:2025, immediate focus should be on updating system designs, procurement specifications, and design documentation to align with new requirements.
3. Testing and Staff Training: For analytical standards (EN ISO 15192:2025), laboratories should recalibrate and revalidate processes. For application-focused standards (EN ISO 7730:2025, IEC SRD 63301-2:2025), relevant staff should be briefed and upskilled.
4. Compliance Timeline: Many EHS standards typically allow for a transition period (as indicated in CEN/IEC guidance). Organizations should develop a staged compliance plan and communicate with regulatory authorities as needed.
5. Leverage Resources: Access detailed documents and implementation guides via iTeh Standards to support compliance, training, and project delivery.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

The standards published in September 2025 embody vital advancements in Environment, Health Protection, and Safety. From pioneering fire protection mediums (EN 15004-2:2025) to nuanced structural guidance for timber (EN 1995-1-2:2025), actionable analytics for environmental contaminants (EN ISO 15192:2025), refined ergonomics for occupant comfort (EN ISO 7730:2025), and digital transformation in urban water systems (IEC SRD 63301-2:2025), the trajectory is clearly towards a safer, healthier, and smarter future.

For EHS professionals, staying engaged with these evolving standards is not just a regulatory necessity but a pathway to operational excellence, reduced risk, and societal value creation. Now is the time to:

• Revisit internal policies and technical documentation
• Engage with cross-disciplinary teams (engineering, IT, compliance)
• Explore the full texts of these influential standards for detailed requirements and best practices

Explore all recent EHS standards:Visit iTeh Standards

By proactively aligning with these new and updated standards, organizations can ensure safety, market relevance, and a positive impact on people and the environment.