January 2026: Essential Updates to Environmental Protection and Safety Standards

Staying abreast of international standards is fundamental for organizations dedicated to Environmental Protection and Safety. January 2026 ushers in five significant updates that affect how industries measure carbon footprints, test fire safety, assess sustainable practices, ensure smoke control, and detect hazardous substances. Whether you're ensuring product safety or environmental stewardship, these standards provide critical frameworks to comply with evolving regulations and best practices.

Overview / Introduction

The Environmental Protection and Safety sector is constantly evolving, with standards shaping best practices for risk mitigation, sustainability, and regulatory compliance. International standards not only underpin safe product development and responsible business operations but also foster innovation, resilience, and global recognition. This article explores five newly published standards for January 2026, guiding quality managers, compliance professionals, engineers, and industry leaders through their essential requirements, practical applications, and strategic benefits.

In this third installment for January 2026, you’ll discover:

• How updated standards impact environmental footprint reporting
• Testing protocols for product safety and hazardous material analysis
• Innovations in sustainable tourism and building fire safety

Detailed Standards Coverage

IEC 63372:2026 - Quantification and Communication of Carbon Footprint, GHG Emission Reductions and Avoided Emissions from Electric and Electronic Products and Systems

Quantification and communication of carbon footprint, GHG emission reductions and avoided emissions from electric and electronic products and systems – Principles, methodologies, requirements and guidance

Scope and Purpose: IEC 63372:2026 details principles, methodologies, requirements, and guidance for quantifying and communicating the carbon footprint of products (CFP), greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, and avoided emissions in electric and electronic (EE) products and systems. Built on robust life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques, this standard is critical for organizations quantifying the environmental impact of their products and related GHG reduction projects. It applies broadly—from manufacturers and environmental consultants to certification bodies charged with product analyses.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Lifecycle thinking (LCT), relevance, completeness, consistency, and accuracy as foundational principles
• Step-by-step GHG quantification procedures: goal/scope, system boundaries, data quality, emission calculations
• New emphasis on avoided emissions (including detailed case studies)
• Alignment with current reference standards and expanded application to both products and systems
• Guidance for communicating results and preventing double counting

Who Needs to Comply? Committees preparing EE product publications, manufacturers, sustainability managers, and organizations involved in environmental product verification.

Implementation Implications:

• Direct application when specialized standards are lacking
• Supports development of eco-friendly products, transparency, and claims validation
• Enables compliance with buyer, investor, and regulatory demands for carbon accounting

Notable Changes:

• Merges and supersedes IEC TR 62725:2013 and IEC TR 62726:2014
• Updates on CFP calculation, now covering both products and systems, with enhanced guidance on avoided emissions
• Annexes with real-world examples: electric vehicles, insulation, power systems, virtual services

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive LCA-based approach to GHG accounting in electronics
• Adds robust guidance on avoided emissions and use case reporting
• Aligned with global protocols for carbon disclosure

Access the full standard:View IEC 63372:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 11925-2:2026 - Reaction to Fire Tests — Ignitability of Products Subjected to Direct Impingement of Flame — Part 2: Single-Flame Source Test

Reaction to fire tests — Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of flame — Part 2: Single-flame source test

Scope and Purpose: ISO 11925-2:2026 standardizes a method for determining the ignitability of building and industrial products by exposure to a small flame, mimicking real-world ignition scenarios. This test is fundamental for fire classification and regulatory approval across the construction, transportation, and manufacturing sectors.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Vertically oriented product specimens; exposure to a standardized small flame with zero impressed irradiance
• Clearly defined apparatus (combustion chamber, burner, fuel, specimen holder)
• Protocol for specimen preparation, including substrate selection and conditioning
• Evaluation based on flame spread, ignition, and production of flaming droplets or particles
• Comprehensive annexes for specialized products (multi-layer, non-flat, perforated)

Who Needs to Comply? Manufacturers and testers of construction materials, transportation interiors, and any products requiring fire safety assessment for market access or code compliance.

Implementation Implications:

• Enables clear, repeatable fire performance classification
• Supports product improvement and regulatory evidence
• Integral to building code and transport sector fire safety certification

Notable Changes:

• Updated evaluation for flame tip observations
• Revised figures and improved procedural clarity

Key highlights:

• Repeatable laboratory fire test for material ignitability
• Directly feeds regulatory fire classification schemes
• Modernized procedural requirements and illustrations

Access the full standard:View ISO 11925-2:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 18060:2026 - Sustainable Tourism — Indicators for Organizations in the Tourism Value Chain — Requirements and Guidance for Use

Sustainable tourism — Indicators for organizations in the tourism value chain — Requirements and guidance for use

Scope and Purpose: ISO 18060:2026 provides a comprehensive set of sustainability indicators for organizations operating within the tourism value chain. This standard enables systematic measurement, analysis, and evaluation of sustainability performance—spanning environmental, social, and economic aspects. Applicable globally, it informs strategic planning and impact reporting for hospitality providers, tour operators, destination managers, and supporting service organizations.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Clear methodologies for selecting and applying sustainability indicators
• Categories spanning water, energy, waste, biodiversity, geodiversity, emissions, noise, investment in restoration, and climate schemes
• Social indicators: community engagement, worker welfare, supplier expectations, satisfaction surveys
• Economic indicators: financial health, profitability, satisfaction, investment
• Guidance for continual monitoring and improvement

Who Needs to Comply? Hotels, resorts, tour operators, tourism boards, hospitality suppliers, regulators, and consultancy firms focused on sustainability performance.

Implementation Implications:

• Facilitates reporting for regulatory and certification requirements
• Drives operational efficiencies and cost reductions
• Enhances destination stewardship and reputation management

Notable Changes:

• First edition—introduces sector-wide robust indicators and harmonized methodologies
• Integrated approach to managing sustainability policy and compliance

Key highlights:

• Practical, dynamic sustainability indicator framework
• Balances environmental, social, and economic performance
• Supports legislative compliance and destination stewardship

Access the full standard:View ISO 18060:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 21927-6:2026 - Smoke and Heat Control Systems — Part 6: Specification for Pressure Differential Systems

Smoke and heat control systems — Part 6: Specification for pressure differential systems

Scope and Purpose: ISO 21927-6:2026 specifies requirements, characteristics, and test methods for components and kits of pressure differential systems. These systems play a vital role in building safety by preventing smoke spread between protected and unprotected areas through controlled airflow and pressure modulation, ensuring effective evacuation and minimizing fire hazards.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Performance parameters: activation sensitivity, response delay, operational reliability, and effectiveness in smoke/hot gas extraction
• Fire resistance: integrity, insulation, smoke leakage, mechanical stability, and maintenance of cross-section
• Durability standards and protocols for type testing, sample preparation, and compliance reporting

Who Needs to Comply? Designers, manufacturers, and installers of smoke and heat control systems; building engineers; safety auditors; and regulatory agencies overseeing fire safety in commercial, transport, and public buildings.

Implementation Implications:

• Ensures robust evacuation strategies and occupant protection
• Supports product innovation and system integration
• Essential for meeting international fire safety codes

Notable Changes:

• First-time consolidation of specifications for pressure differential systems
• Includes both kits and component-level certification

Key highlights:

• Exhaustive technical coverage of smoke control system requirements
• Rigorous testing protocols for fire resilience and operational performance
• Effective in reducing smoke-related hazards in buildings

Access the full standard:View ISO 21927-6:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 22262-2:2026 - Air Quality — Bulk Materials — Part 2: Quantitative Determination of Asbestos by Gravimetric and Microscopical Methods

Air quality — Bulk materials — Part 2: Quantitative determination of asbestos by gravimetric and microscopical methods

Scope and Purpose: ISO 22262-2:2026 describes precise laboratory procedures for quantifying low levels of asbestos (below ~5% by mass) in vermiculite, talc, floor tiles, industrial minerals, and other products. Techniques include gravimetric matrix reduction and advanced microscopy, addressing regulatory needs for accurate asbestos assessment and compliance.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Comprehensive guidance for sample preparation, matrix reduction, acid treatment, and ashing
• Appliable to matrix-bound and dispersed asbestos in a wide range of industrial and consumer products
• Microscopical analysis (PLM, SEM, TEM) and gravimetric methods for quantifying asbestos mass fraction
• Procedures for talc, mineral powders, vermiculite, and complex matrices
• Robust validation and reporting requirements

Who Needs to Comply? Analytical laboratories, manufacturers of bulk materials, asbestos removal and remediation consultants, construction and environmental safety professionals, and regulators.

Implementation Implications:

• Enables clear regulatory decision-making and product certification
• Supports compliance with workplace safety, consumer protection, and environmental laws
• Reduces liability and health risks in construction and manufacturing supply chains

Notable Changes:

• Revised procedures for talc and other mineral powders
• Enhanced detection techniques for trace asbestos

Key highlights:

• Applicable to a broad range of material types and matrices
• Guarantees accuracy at trace detection levels
• Supports compliance with global asbestos control regulations

Access the full standard:View ISO 22262-2:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The January 2026 updates reinforce the critical role of standards in protecting human health, ensuring workplace safety, safeguarding the built environment, and minimizing ecological harm. For businesses, these standards shape:

• Product design and labelling: Adhering to new carbon and fire safety specifications directly impacts product development and claims.
• Operational processes: Enhanced testing protocols for asbestos and fire contribute to workplace safety, legal defensibility, and customer trust.
• Sustainability reporting: New frameworks for environmental impact and sustainable tourism indicators streamline certification and regulatory filings.

Timelines: Organizations should prioritize a gap analysis against new requirements, update quality management systems, and train teams on implementation. Early adoption supports risk reduction and market leadership.

Benefits:

• Improved safety for end users and workers
• Enhanced environmental and social performance
• Streamlined compliance with local and international mandates

Risks of Non-compliance:

• Regulatory penalties, halted projects, loss of certifications
• Reputational damage and loss of business opportunities
• Increased exposure to liability and recall costs

Technical Insights

Across these five standards, several technical themes emerge:

• Lifecycle Assessments (LCA): Required for carbon footprint and environmental impact measurement in both products and supply chains.
• Robust Testing Protocols: Uniform, repeatable fire tests (ISO 11925-2), meticulous gravimetric analysis for asbestos detection, and precise system validation for smoke control.
• Measurement and Indicators: Quantitative, qualitative, and process-based indicators standardize the assessment of sustainability practices (ISO 18060).
• Verification and Documentation: All standards require thorough reporting and the use of validated laboratories or accredited testing bodies for compliance proofs.
• Best Practices:
  • Regular staff training on new methods and procedures
  • Early-stage integration of standard requirements in R&D and procurement
  • Proactive communication of compliance to partners and clients

Testing and Certification Considerations:

• Select laboratories with proven accreditation and expertise in new testing methods
• Document all materials, processes, and test results meticulously for audits
• Engage with certification bodies to confirm conformance, and secure third-party validation where appropriate

Conclusion / Next Steps

The January 2026 batch of Environmental Protection and Safety standards sets new international benchmarks in sustainability, safety, and product stewardship. For organizations, the path forward includes:

• Reviewing internal processes and aligning them with the latest requirements
• Leveraging new guidance for competitive advantage and market differentiation
• Regularly consulting iTeh Standards for up-to-date documentation and compliance resources

By proactively adopting these standards, organizations position themselves for success in a global marketplace that demands rigorous environmental, safety, and quality performance.

Stay informed and keep your compliance edge—explore the full standards, review your practices, and foster a safer and more sustainable tomorrow.