A Look Back: Metallurgy Standards Published in September 2025 (Part 2)

Looking back at September 2025, the Metallurgy sector saw the introduction of pivotal standards that addressed both product specifications and rigorous testing methodologies. With two key international standards published, professionals in mechanical and structural engineering, quality assurance, and compliance were presented with frameworks to enhance product reliability and conformity in welded tubes and tube testing. This overview serves as a retrospective analysis, synthesizing the technical requirements, industrial implications, and compliance considerations that emerged from the month’s publications. For those who missed these releases, or those seeking an analytical summary, this article distills the essentials for informed decision-making and operational excellence.

Monthly Overview: September 2025

September 2025 was a significant period for standardization in the Metallurgy sector, focusing particularly on metallic tubes and their performance in demanding environments. The month’s activity reflected a clear orientation towards strengthening both the specification of welded stainless steel tubes for multifaceted applications and the mechanical testing of metallic tube rings. When compared with typical publication cycles, this period favored the harmonization of product criteria and testing procedures, helping industry align with the latest European and international expectations for quality and durability.

The two standards covered this month—EN 10378:2025 and EN ISO 15363:2025—not only responded to evolving requirements in end-use industries such as construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure, but also demonstrated a continued emphasis on mechanical integrity and process transparency. Their release illustrates the sector’s ongoing move towards robust, reliable, and verifiable tube products, reflecting industry-wide priorities of safety, traceability, and performance-based design.

Standards Published This Month

EN 10378:2025 - Welded Stainless Steel Square and Rectangular Tubes for Mechanical and Structural Engineering and Decorative Use - Technical Delivery Conditions

Welded stainless steel square and rectangular tubes for mechanical and structural engineering and decorative use – Technical delivery conditions

EN 10378:2025 set out detailed technical delivery conditions for welded tubes made of stainless steel, featuring square and rectangular cross-sections. This standard is applicable to tubes intended for mechanical systems, structural engineering projects, and also for decorative applications—addressing both utilitarian and aesthetic needs in the built environment. The scope encompasses manufacturing, quality criteria, material composition, performance characteristics, and inspection processes.

The standard specifies grade classification, designation systems according to EN 10027, and lays out both mandatory and optional ordering information, empowering purchasers to tailor deliveries to precise requirements. Its requirements cover:

• Chemical composition for various stainless steel grades (austenitic, ferritic, austenitic-ferritic), as defined in detailed tables, ensuring corrosion resistance and mechanical performance.
• Manufacturing processes (including welding types such as automatic arc, high-frequency induction, and laser welding), delivery conditions (including surface finish), and options for beading and heat treatment.
• Stringent requirements for appearance, dimension (outside and wall thickness), mass, mechanical properties (like yield strength, tensile strength), and detailed tolerance specifications.
• A full suite of inspection and testing procedures, including chemical analysis, tensile and flattening tests, destructive and non-destructive weld inspection, visual examination, and retesting criteria.
• Explicit procedures for marking, handling, and packaging to ensure traceability and product protection.

Industries and organizations dealing with steel pipes and tubes for specific uses, as well as those in mechanical and structural fields, are the primary audiences. EN 10378:2025 fits into the broader regulatory landscape by aligning with baseline standards for steel grades, technical delivery (EN 10021), and inspection documentation (EN 10204), creating a harmonized chain of compliance from material production through to final product certification.

Among its notable features, selectable options for product analysis, special delivery conditions, and acceptance of unique customer requirements make this standard highly adaptable to real-world procurement and project demands.

Key highlights:

• Defines detailed chemical composition and mechanical properties for all covered tube grades
• Provides flexible delivery conditions and multiple welding and finishing process routes
• Integrates comprehensive testing, inspection, and documentation requirements for end-user assurance

Access the full standard:View EN 10378:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15363:2025 - Metallic Materials – Tube Ring Hydraulic Pressure Test (ISO 15363:2017)

Metallic materials – Tube ring hydraulic pressure test (ISO 15363:2017)

EN ISO 15363:2025 establishes the international method for performing the ring hydraulic pressure test on metallic tube samples, specifically targeting tubes with an outside diameter greater than 120 mm and a diameter-to-thickness ratio of not less than 20. The test is crucial in evaluating the mechanical strength and hoop stress required to induce a prescribed circumferential (hoop) strain.

The standard details:

• The fundamental principles of the hydraulic pressure test for tube rings, specifying apparatus, preparation of test specimens, and the precise procedure for applying hydraulic pressure until a defined deformation or failure mode is obtained.
• Apparatus requirements, dimensioning, and specimen preparation to ensure reproducibility and enhance the reliability of the results
• How to precisely measure, record, and evaluate results for hoop strength and related mechanical properties, ensuring tubes meet rigorous performance expectations
• Requirements for documentation, including a suggested format for test reporting, to facilitate analysis and traceability

The primary audience includes tube manufacturers, quality labs, and engineering departments seeking standardization in mechanical testing procedures. This standard ensures comparability and fairness in product performance assessments across both European and global markets.

EN ISO 15363:2025 is particularly notable for its focus on large-diameter tubes in demanding structural or pressure-retaining applications—reinforcing testing regimes for safety-critical components in industries ranging from construction and heavy engineering to energy and transport infrastructure.

Key highlights:

• Standardizes the ring hydraulic test for tubes with OD >120 mm and OD/thickness ≥ 20
• Clearly defines apparatus, sample design, and procedural steps for consistent results
• Supports product certification by providing objective mechanical test data for compliance

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15363:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A thematic review of the September 2025 metallurgy standards shows a clear emphasis on harmonizing technical specifications and enhancing mechanical testing reliability. Both documents serve interdependent needs:

• EN 10378:2025 provides the product specification backbone for stainless steel tubes in structural, mechanical, and decorative contexts.
• EN ISO 15363:2025 underpins quality assurance by standardizing an advanced method for mechanical testing, critical for verifying compliance with both product standards and client specifications.

Industries such as construction, infrastructure development, architectural design, and mechanical engineering receive particular attention, reflecting ongoing trends toward robust, corrosion-resistant, and meticulously tested steel tube products. There is also a visible shift towards more detailed specification and testing requirements—catering to the growing demands on product performance and lifecycle management amid increasingly complex and regulated industrial projects.

These publications also signal a drive for unified European and international approaches, reducing technical barriers to trade and streamlining procurement for multinational supply chains—a trend welcomed by both manufacturers and end-users seeking consistent, high-quality outcomes.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Organizations impacted by these standards should prioritize:

• Gap Analysis: Review current procurement, manufacturing, and testing processes against the updated requirements in EN 10378:2025 and EN ISO 15363:2025. Identify discrepancies, particularly in areas like chemical analysis, testing frequency, marking, or documentation practices.
• Training: Ensure technical staff, quality controllers, and procurement officers are briefed on the new and specific provisions, especially around optional delivery features, documentation norms, and mechanical test execution.
• Supplier Alignment: Update supplier requirements to align with the chemical, physical, and delivery condition parameters established in EN 10378:2025.
• Testing Implementation: Equip quality control labs to execute or specify the hydraulic pressure test per EN ISO 15363:2025, especially for large-diameter tube products. Acquire or verify apparatus suitability and ensure reporting formats meet the standard.
• Timeline Management: Bear in mind the standard’s guidance that conflicting national standards must be withdrawn by March 2026—allowing a transition period for system and supplier updates.
• Documentation Review: Update purchasing templates, technical files, and inspection records to reference the published standards and their revised requirements.
• Resources: Reference the full text via iTeh Standards for detailed clause-by-clause requirements and annexed calculation methods.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from September 2025

September’s releases reinforced the Metallurgy sector’s dedication to technical excellence and compliant product supply, particularly where welded stainless steel tubes and their robust qualification are concerned. EN 10378:2025 provided a comprehensive, customizable framework for specifying tube products that satisfy both structural and decorative demands, while EN ISO 15363:2025 codified the critical elements of mechanical pressure testing for large-diameter tubes.

For industry professionals, the message is clear: maintaining regulatory and technical currency demands proactive engagement with evolving standards. Implementing these documents is not merely a compliance exercise but a pathway to higher quality assurance, market competitiveness, and risk reduction in the manufacture and use of steel tubing products.

To ensure your organization’s practices are aligned with the latest industry expectations, explore these standards in full at iTeh Standards. Stay adaptive, stay compliant, and leverage these resources to build a future-proof approach to metallurgy and mechanical engineering.