May 2025 in Review: Noteworthy Environment, Health Protection & Safety Standards

Looking back at May 2025, the Environment, Health Protection, and Safety sector experienced a notable surge in standardization activity, reflecting urgent priorities in sustainable materials management, water services, and fire safety engineering. This installment summarizes five recently published standards that span plastic waste quality management, on-site wastewater solutions, and advanced fire protection practices. For professionals responsible for compliance, procurement, or operational risk management, understanding these developments is crucial for long-term organizational success and alignment with regulatory and market demands.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 stood out for its concentration of standards addressing both circular economy principles and robust health and safety governance. Two major European standards dissected quality grades and testing methods for critical plastic waste streams (poly(ethylene terephthalate, PET, and polystyrene, PS)), reinforcing the continent’s commitment to advanced recycling frameworks. Meanwhile, international efforts focused on holistic management of domestic wastewater systems—as well as the practical application of fire reaction data to optimize fire safety engineering. Building safety was addressed through refined procedures for evaluating the fire resistance of timber structures, a timely response to the growing popularity of engineered wood in sustainable construction.

Comparing to earlier months, May’s standards were distinguished by their operational detail and by providing implementable guidance for diverse environments—from municipal waste operators to construction product specifiers. The overlapping focus areas—waste quality, fire safety, and water management—suggest a period in which regulatory rigor and technical clarity were prioritized in response to sectoral needs and sustainability targets.

Standards Published This Month

EN 15347-4:2025 – Quality Grades of Sorted Poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) Wastes

Plastics – Sorted plastics wastes – Part 4: Quality grades of sorted poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET) wastes and specific test methods

EN 15347-4:2025 delineates the quality criteria and explicit test methods for batches of sorted PET wastes, providing a harmonized framework for suppliers and recyclers. The standard divides information requirements into “Required Data” (essential for all batches) and “Optional Data” (agreed by the trading parties), covering origins, composition, color specifics, impurity thresholds (including metals, paper, other polymers), and treatment history. The standard is structured around application-specific streams: PET bottles, trays, and mixed PET waste, reflecting the diversity of feedstocks entering recycling streams in Europe.

Key specifications address both general sectorial requirements and particularities of each PET product type. Required tests cover parameters like total PET content, color distribution, and content of foreign materials. The document aligns with broader directives—including the Basel Convention for transboundary waste movement—ensuring its use supports both internal market harmonization and international obligations.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive, batch-specific reporting on PET waste origin, type, and characteristics
• Harmonized impurity thresholds to minimize downstream recycling contamination
• Structured into required and optional data for flexible but robust quality assurance

Access the full standard:View EN 15347-4:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 15347-6:2025 – Quality Grades of Sorted Polystyrene (PS) Wastes

Plastics – Sorted plastics wastes – Part 6: Quality grades of sorted polystyrene (PS) wastes and specific test methods

EN 15347-6:2025 delivers detailed quality assessment paradigms and testing requirements for sorted polystyrene (PS) waste streams. Covering standard and specialized forms of PS, such as expanded (EPS) and extruded (XPS) variants used in both packaging and construction, the standard is tailored to the complexity of modern waste flows. Suppliers must provide a spectrum of required data (batch origin, polymer content, moisture content, impurities like PET, PP, PE, PVC, flexible plastics, and foams) and can supplement with optional metrics (color, food contact status, metal and mineral impurities, and packaging specifications).

This standard’s nuanced classification accommodates sector-specific recycling challenges, such as the need to separately quantify contamination and distinguish between PS intended for packaging, EPS for food boxes, and XPS used in insulation. The reference to supporting documents (including EN 15347-1 and CEN/TR 15353) ensures methodological coherence within the European plastics recycling framework.

Key highlights:

• Applies to multiple PS applications (packaging and building/construction waste)
• Specifies sectoral and process-driven quality requirements for PS, EPS, and XPS
• Enhances transparency, enabling clearer transactions and minimized contamination risk

Access the full standard:View EN 15347-6:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 24521:2025 – Management of On-site Domestic Wastewater Services

Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services – Management of on-site domestic wastewater services

ISO 24521:2025 offers a globally relevant reference for the management of on-site domestic wastewater solutions, covering both traditional and advanced system configurations. It specifies guidance for operations, maintenance, personnel training, and risk management for on-site domestic wastewater systems (ODWS), which include black and grey water management across single and multiple dwellings. The standard bridges the operational perspectives of both professional operators and owner-users, accommodating the variety of service providers from public utilities to private landlords, especially in developing or rural contexts.

Notably, ISO 24521:2025 links with other key ISO standards (e.g., ISO 24511, ISO 24525) and aligns with international sustainable development frameworks, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It focuses on achieving public and occupational health protections, ensuring environmental sustainability, and providing for resilience in both standard and emergency situations.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive guidance for the lifecycle (planning, operation, maintenance) of ODWS
• Focus on stakeholder training, health and safety protocols, and environmental management
• Emphasis on both self-service and professionally managed systems for global applicability

Access the full standard:View ISO 24521:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TR 22099:2025 – Application of Reaction-to-Fire Test Data for Fire Safety Engineering

Application examples for using reaction-to-fire test data for fire safety engineering

ISO/TR 22099:2025 serves as a technical report illustrating practical use cases for integrating reaction-to-fire (RTF) test data into fire safety engineering (FSE) calculations. Through three detailed examples, it demonstrates how data derived from tests such as open calorimetry, cone calorimeter, and LIFT (Lateral Ignition and Flame Transport) can be input for sophisticated engineering models—ranging from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to flame spread and zone modeling.

This report aids fire engineers and researchers in interpreting mass loss rates, temperature development, smoke generation, and ignition dynamics for more accurate risk assessments and fire resistance calculations. The guidance complements background standards such as ISO/TR 17252 and ISO/TS 3814, supporting a data-driven approach to fire safety.

Key highlights:

• Real-world examples on using RTF test data for advanced FSE modelling
• Addresses both single burning item analyses and full-scale zone fire predictions
• Facilitates science-based fire safety design and regulatory compliance

Access the full standard:View ISO/TR 22099:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN 13381-7 – Test Methods for Fire Resistance of Timber Structural Members

Test methods for determining the contribution to the fire resistance of structural members – Part 7: Applied protection to timber members

prEN 13381-7 specifies comprehensive fire test methodologies for evaluating the efficacy of protection kits applied to loadbearing timber structures (including beams, columns, floors, and walls). The document describes procedures to assess the ability of various protection systems (cladding, sprayed materials, reactive coatings) to delay temperature rise, remain coherent, and limit charring when exposed to standardized fire exposures.

The standard details specimen preparation, instrumentation, and assessment criteria, ensuring thorough, repeatable testing aligned with calculation procedures in EN 1995-1-2. It further instructs on evaluating charring rates, adherence of applied protection, and data interpolation for broader design applications. prEN 13381-7 is especially relevant as timber construction gains traction for sustainable building projects, requiring evidence-based fire safety measures to meet regulatory and insurance mandates.

Key highlights:

• Defines standardized fire testing for a range of timber structural configurations
• Supports optimized specification of fire protection materials and assemblies
• Ensures test data compatibility with calculation methods in structural Eurocodes

Access the full standard:View prEN 13381-7 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Several key trends emerged from the standards published in May 2025:

• Circular Economy and Waste Quality: Both EN 15347-4 and EN 15347-6 highlight an industry-wide push for reliable, harmonized quality assurance in plastics recycling. By clarifying required and optional data, these standards strengthen transparency across the value chain and support compliance with broader environmental policy, such as the European Green Deal and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
• Operationalization of Safety: Documents like ISO 24521:2025 and prEN 13381-7 translate high-level goals (public health, safe structures) into actionable protocols. Practicality extends from training guidance for wastewater operations to precise laboratory tests for fire resistance, reflecting growing expectations for demonstrable safety outcomes.
• Fire Data in Engineering: ISO/TR 22099:2025 responds to the increased use of simulation-driven design and facility risk analysis by providing concrete examples for FSE workflows. This underlines a transition toward performance-based, rather than prescriptive, fire safety regimes.
• Integration of Sustainability and Health: The intersection of environmental protection and health—seen in standards on wastewater management and plastics contamination limits—reflects cohesive regulatory evolution. Both themes are driven by international commitments and public expectation for sustainable, safe living and working spaces.

The recurring focus on transparent data, holistic risk management, and cross-disciplinary applicability signals a sector adapting to both regulatory and market innovation.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations, the May 2025 standards raise several implementation points:

• Prioritization: Waste management organizations and recycling operations should prioritize aligning their quality grading, batch reporting, and contamination tracking systems with the new plastics standards to ensure market access and regulatory compliance.
• Technical Training: Facilities managers and water utility operators will need to review personnel qualifications and update maintenance and safety programs in line with ISO 24521:2025, especially as operational oversight responsibilities shift or expand.
• Data-Driven Safety: Fire safety consultants and designers should familiarize themselves with the methodologies in ISO/TR 22099:2025 and prEN 13381-7 to support simulations, regulatory submissions, and client advice.
• Early Planning: For new construction projects using innovative materials (particularly engineered timber), engagement with fire test standards early in the design phase is recommended to avoid downstream rework.
• Timeline: Many of these standards will become reference documents in procurement, certification, and regulatory processes within 6–12 months. Early adoption can offer advantages in competitive tendering and audit-readiness.
• Resources: Accessing the full standards via iTeh Standards ensures the latest guidance and potential amendments are considered. Internal procedures should be updated and staff trained accordingly.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

May 2025’s Environment, Health Protection, and Safety standards reinforce the sector’s ongoing evolution towards transparency, operational excellence, and sustainable best practices. Standout publications on plastics waste quality (EN 15347-4, EN 15347-6), water and wastewater system governance (ISO 24521:2025), fire safety data integration (ISO/TR 22099:2025), and resilient timber construction (prEN 13381-7) set new benchmarks for compliance and technical diligence.

Professionals in waste management, construction, building safety, and utility operations should review these standards, update their compliance roadmaps, and leverage the guidance for risk reduction, operational improvement, and market advantage. By staying informed and adaptable, organizations can anticipate regulatory change and drive continuous improvement throughout the value chain.

For comprehensive access to all referenced standards and further implementation resources, explore iTeh Standards—your gateway to expert-driven compliance in Environment, Health Protection, and Safety.