January 2026: New Standards Enhance Terminology and Documentation Across Industries

In January 2026, a suite of five influential international standards was published, shaping the future of terminology, documentation, and standardization across diverse industries. From updates in geosynthetics vocabulary that impact civil engineering to new transliteration rules supporting global information exchange, these developments reflect the growing need for harmonized and precise professional language. The newly released standards will have far-reaching implications for quality management, compliance, engineering, and global communication—all crucial for organizations operating in regulated and internationally connected sectors.

Overview

The field of terminology and documentation underpins virtually every professional sector, influencing how organizations communicate, comply, and innovate. Standardization ensures that terms, definitions, and document structures support clarity, prevent misunderstandings, and streamline operations for global compatibility. The January 2026 standards release introduces critical updates:

• A refreshed vocabulary for geosynthetics, clarifying product and functional terms for construction and environmental projects
• A revised international vocabulary for graphical symbols, aiding clearer public information and equipment labeling
• An updated lexicon for safety glazing in road vehicles, supporting enhanced safety and technical specificity
• Modernized systems for the transliteration of Georgian and Armenian scripts, facilitating accurate international data exchange

By reading this article, industry professionals will gain a comprehensive understanding of each new standard, its requirements, practical implications, and strategies for effective implementation.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN ISO 10318-1:2026 – Geosynthetics: Part 1 Vocabulary

Geosynthetics — Part 1: Vocabulary (ISO 10318-1:2026)

This pivotal standard provides the foundational vocabulary for geosynthetics, essential for civil engineering, environmental protection, and construction domains. EN ISO 10318-1:2026 presents clear definitions of terms relating to the functions (such as drainage, filtration, and reinforcement), products (including geotextiles, geomembranes, and geofoams), and properties of geosynthetics. It ensures industry-wide consistency and is referenced in related international standards for geotechnical applications.

Key requirements include:

• Updated definitions of key functions like stabilization, stress relief, and surface erosion control
• Expanded terminology to include new product types such as geomats, geospacers, and bituminous geomembranes
• Clarified terms for technical properties, including energy absorption and mechanical behaviors

Professionals in civil engineering, environmental engineering, and construction must ensure that project documentation, procurement, and product selection use these harmonized definitions to avoid costly errors and ensure regulatory compliance.

Key highlights:

• Major updates on definitions for reinforcement and stress relief
• Inclusion of terms for emerging geosynthetic products
• Alignment with current best practices and regulatory language

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 10318-1:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 17724:2026 – Graphical Symbols Vocabulary

Graphical symbols — Vocabulary

ISO 17724:2026 establishes globally accepted terminology for graphical symbols, focusing primarily on those utilized for public information, safety signs, and equipment markings. The updated vocabulary now streamlines definitions, adds a useful introduction, and links directly to other ISO deliverables and series (such as ISO 3864 for safety signage and ISO 9186 for symbol testing).

Key elements include:

• Consolidated, updated terms to serve the needs of those creating, revising, or interpreting graphical symbols standards
• Deletion of outdated or duplicate definitions, ensuring relevance and clarity
• Reference to the ISO Online Browsing Platform for authoritative, always-up-to-date definitions

This standard supports safety officers, industrial designers, and communication teams in developing visual documentation consistent with international norms, crucial for occupational safety, product labeling, and cross-border operations.

Key highlights:

• Enhanced alignment with the ISO Online Browsing Platform
• Clearer and more globally relevant definitions
• Maintains interoperability across public information and safety communication

Access the full standard:View ISO 17724:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 3536:2026 – Road Vehicles: Safety Glazing Materials Vocabulary

Road vehicles — Safety glazing materials — Vocabulary

The fourth edition of ISO 3536:2026 details the precise terminology for safety glazing materials used in automotive and road vehicle applications. This robust vocabulary is indispensable for automotive engineers, regulatory bodies, and safety certifiers.

The revised standard introduces:

• New and revised definitions, such as updated entries for security glazing and bullet-resistant glazing
• Expanded descriptions for laminated safety glass, toughened glass, interlayer materials, and newly recognized types (such as opaque obscuration)
• Reorganizational improvements for easier reference and legal compliance

Manufacturers, test labs, and quality assurance managers involved with vehicle glass must reference this standard when developing documentation, testing protocols, or communicating with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance and safety.

Key highlights:

• Clarifies important distinctions between types of glazing
• Updates terminology reflecting advances in glazing technologies and safety requirements
• Supports regulatory alignment across markets

Access the full standard:View ISO 3536:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 9984:2026 – Transliteration of Georgian Characters

Information and documentation — Transliteration of Georgian characters into Latin characters

This significant update provides a robust and fully reversible system for transliterating Georgian script into Latin script, a critical requirement for information management, cataloging, international databases, and electronic communication. Based on the Georgian national system and modified in line with ISO conventions, ISO 9984:2026 improves reversibility and precision, particularly for use in global academic, archival, and IT contexts.

Notable provisions include:

• Comprehensive transliteration tables for Georgian characters, consonants, and punctuation
• Nuanced handling of glottalized and aspirated consonants to eliminate ambiguity
• Clear guidance for use in information systems with explicit limits for application (not suitable for pronunciation)

Archivists, librarians, IT managers, linguists, and any organization handling cross-script data exchanges will find this standard essential for ensuring data consistency and integrity in international exchanges.

Key highlights:

• Enhanced reversibility and precision in the transliteration scheme
• Alignment with current Georgian national and ISO standards
• Expanded support for electronic and bibliographic information systems

Access the full standard:View ISO 9984:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 9985:2026 – Transliteration of Armenian Characters

Information and documentation — Transliteration of Armenian characters into Latin characters

ISO 9985:2026 delivers a revised and harmonized system for transliterating Armenian script to Latin script, enhancing international interoperability in documentation, databases, research, and electronic communications. The 2026 revision notably standardizes symbols for aspirated consonants and improves the visual and technical consistency of transliteration tables.

Main updates include:

• Comprehensive, logically structured tables for Armenian characters and punctuation
• Standardized use of apostrophes for aspirated consonants, ensuring uniform representation
• Guidelines to avoid ambiguity and ensure reversibility of written information

The standard is crucial for librarians, system integrators, academic publishers, and governmental agencies handling international records or participating in global information exchanges.

Key highlights:

• Harmonized and consistent marking for aspirated and unaspirated consonants
• Improved clarity and ease of implementation for system architects
• Supports digital and bibliographic record integrity for Armenian textual content

Access the full standard:View ISO 9985:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The newly published standards offer more than just updated terminology—they provide a framework for ensuring consistency, regulatory alignment, and operational efficiency across industries. For businesses, the main impacts include:

• Enhanced clarity in documentation, contracts, and product specifications, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or legal disputes
• Improved ability to meet international regulatory requirements and accelerate entry into new markets
• Tools for quality assurance managers and compliance officers to update manuals, training materials, and procurement guidelines in line with current best practices

Organizations must examine implementation timelines and update internal processes accordingly. Early adoption strengthens their position in audits and reduces costs associated with future rework or corrective action.

Benefits include:

• Greater interoperability in international projects and electronic communications
• Streamlined communication with suppliers, regulators, and customers
• Risk mitigation relating to safety, mislabeling, and information loss

Non-compliance, conversely, can lead to product recalls, regulatory penalties, and damaged reputation in competitive markets.

Technical Insights

Across these new standards, several technical requirements appear consistently:

• Emphasis on full reversibility and clarity (especially in transliteration systems and graphical vocabularies)
• Expanded and harmonized definitions reflecting advances in materials science (e.g., geosynthetics, vehicle glazing)
• Leaner, better-structured standards documents to support digital implementation and quick referencing

Implementation best practices:

1. Conduct a terminology audit for all technical documentation and communications
2. Update procurement specifications and quality manuals to align with revised and new vocabularies
3. Train staff in affected departments—especially engineering, compliance, and documentation—in new terms and processes
4. Where transliteration is involved, validate electronic systems for correct conversion and data integrity

Testing and Certification:

• For safety glazing, ensure lab reports and certificates reference updated terms
• For geosynthetics, align product datasheets and compliance certificates with new definitions to avoid customs or regulatory delays
• Verify software handling transliteration (for Georgian and Armenian) adheres strictly to the updated ISO guidelines to prevent data corruption in international archives

Conclusion & Next Steps

The January 2026 release of these five international standards marks a significant step forward in improving the clarity, safety, and interoperability of technical documentation worldwide. Organizations across construction, automotive, information management, and global communication will benefit from adopting these standards.

Recommendations:

• Review and purchase the full standards relevant to your industry through iTeh Standards for detailed requirements and implementation guidance
• Schedule internal reviews to update affected documentation, IT systems, and training programs
• Monitor ongoing updates and participate in standardization forums to influence future revisions

Staying current with international standards is not just a compliance mandate—it is a strategic advantage. For complete details, always reference the official documents available on iTeh Standards and consult with industry or regulatory experts as needed.

Explore these new standards on iTeh Standards for authoritative guidance and ensure your business is built on the latest technical and regulatory foundations.