May 2025 Monthly Overview: Key Testing Standards in Focus (Part 1)

Looking back at May 2025, the Testing sector saw significant developments with the release of five foundational standards. This period brought updates and new requirements in non-destructive ultrasonic testing, electronic component solderability, and metallic materials hardness verification. Together, these documents provide a vital reference for professionals seeking to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance in material evaluation and test equipment performance. Whether you are a quality manager, compliance officer, engineer, or procurement specialist, this comprehensive overview offers valuable insights into the major themes and requirements introduced this month, and supports your efforts to keep pace with evolving best practices in Testing.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 proved to be a noteworthy month for the Testing sector, exemplifying the industry’s ongoing commitment to measurement accuracy, equipment verification, and cross-standard harmonization. Several core areas stood out:

• Non-destructive testing saw convergence of international and regional requirements, with both ISO and European adoptions being issued for ultrasonic thickness determination.
• Environmental and reliability testing for electronics received attention with a revised protocol for wetting balance solderability testing, enhancing surface-mount technology qualifications.
• Hardness testing of metallic materials advanced with updated protocols for machine verification and calibration of reference blocks, underpinning the global supply chain’s need for authoritative, traceable hardness values.

Compared to typical publication months, May 2025 offered a concentrated set of influential standards, largely focused on the critical interface between equipment performance and industrial testing fidelity. These publications collectively point to a future of increased rigor in both non-destructive and mechanical testing, supporting higher confidence in material evaluations and product reliability.

Standards Published This Month

EN ISO 16831:2025 - Characterization and Verification of Ultrasonic Equipment for Thickness Determination

Non-destructive testing - Ultrasonic testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic equipment for the determination of thickness (ISO 16831:2025)

EN ISO 16831:2025 specifies test methods and acceptance criteria, applicable within a frequency range of 0.5 MHz to 15 MHz, for verifying the performance of pulse-echo ultrasound equipment dedicated to measuring thickness. Covering instruments with digital and A-scan displays, this standard sets out the verifications required specifically for thickness determination, including stability against temperature, low-battery warning, operational time, and probe performance.

This document supersedes EN 15317:2013, and reflects updated terminology, procedural simplification, and expanded applicability to digital instruments. Organizations using ultrasonic equipment for thickness measurement—spanning sectors such as manufacturing, materials inspection, and quality assurance—are primary stakeholders. The standard is harmonized with ISO 16831:2025 and aligns with coverage in ISO 22232-1 and ISO 22232-2 for instruments and probes, forging international consistency.

Key highlights:

• Defines comprehensive verification tests for both single- and dual-transducer probes.
• Focuses solely on thickness determination requirements.
• Instrument performance requirements include display accuracy, probe temperature range, and response times.

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 16831:2025 on iTeh Standards

IEC 60068-2-83:2025 - Solderability Testing of Electronic Components for SMDs by the Wetting Balance Method

Environmental testing - Part 2-83: Tests - Test Tf: Solderability testing of electronic components for surface mounting devices (SMD) by the wetting balance method using solder paste

IEC 60068-2-83:2025 establishes methods for comparative evaluation of solderability for SMDs using the wetting balance technique with solder paste. Focused on characterizing the wettability of metallic terminations, the standard details procedures for quick heating, synchronous, and temperature profile methods—together enabling more nuanced analysis of how SMDs interact with solder paste during surface mounting processes.

A cornerstone in electronics reliability, the standard is relevant to component manufacturers, PCB assembly services, and reliability engineers. This latest edition notably revises Clause 5 to ensure alignment with the broader IEC 60068-2-20:2021 testing framework. While the data generated is not for pass/fail decisions, it supports comparative studies and process optimization.

Key highlights:

• Expands solderability methods for more representative SMD benchmarking.
• Includes three complementary test approaches for comprehensive evaluation.
• Supports quality assurance in electronics assembly, without defining strict acceptance thresholds.

Access the full standard:View IEC 60068-2-83:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 16831:2025 - Characterization and Verification of Ultrasonic Equipment for Thickness Determination

Non-destructive testing - Ultrasonic testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic equipment for the determination of thickness

ISO 16831:2025 mirrors the EN ISO edition, serving as the authoritative international reference for pulse-echo ultrasound thickness measurement instruments. The document provides exhaustive, stepwise requirements for manufacturers and users to verify the measurement fidelity of both analog and digital ultrasonic devices.

Procedures cover: manufacturer disclosure requirements, performance parameters (such as pulse frequency, voltage, gain control), accuracy and resolution tests, and display response checks. The adoption of this standard supports traceable, reliable measurement practices across industrial inspection, ensuring stakeholders operate with equipment validated to current international criteria. This edition revises the previous ISO 16831:2012, updating terminology and test methods for digital equipment environments.

Key highlights:

• Detailed tests for instrument setup, environmental stability, and operational resilience.
• Can verify ultrasonic equipment in line with ISO 22232 family standards.
• Bolsters diagnostic confidence in non-destructive thickness measurement activities.

Access the full standard:View ISO 16831:2025 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 6506-2 - Brinell Hardness Test: Verification and Calibration of Testing Machines

Metallic materials - Brinell hardness test - Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines (ISO/DIS 6506-2:2023)

This draft European standard, harmonized with ISO/DIS 6506-2:2023, sets out both direct and indirect verification methods for Brinell hardness machines. Direct checks focus on performance factors such as applied forces, indenter ball properties, and system calibration, while indirect checks utilize calibrated reference blocks to confirm real-world output accuracy. The document explicitly accounts for both fixed and portable machines, and introduces provisions for equipment that cannot meet standard force-time profiles (with modifications via Annex B).

Applicable to all organizations using Brinell hardness testers—from manufacturers to third-party laboratories—the standard is central to ensuring measurement traceability and accuracy in material hardness classification. Notable technical changes include language updates, adjusted reporting requirements, and refined calibration/uniformity protocols.

Key highlights:

• Addresses direct (force, indenter, cycle) and indirect (reference block) machine verification.
• Stipulates frequency and environmental controls for calibration processes.
• Incorporates modified methods for non-traditional equipment profiles.

Access the full standard:View prEN ISO 6506-2 on iTeh Standards

prEN ISO 6506-3 - Brinell Hardness Test: Calibration of Reference Blocks

Metallic materials - Brinell hardness test - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks (ISO/DIS 6506-3:2023)

prEN ISO 6506-3 outlines procedures for the manufacture and calibration of reference blocks used in Brinell hardness machine verification. The standard establishes requirements for material uniformity, surface finish, block dimension, and metrological traceability. Calibration machines themselves are held to rigorous periodic verification (every 12 months), affirming the blocks’ suitability for indirect machine validation (per prEN ISO 6506-2).

This standard is fundamental for calibration service providers, quality laboratories, and any organizations that maintain in-house Brinell testing infrastructure. Procedures for assessing block non-uniformity, identifying marks, and documenting block validity ensure traceable hardness values across the supply chain, supporting comparability and international acceptance of results.

Key highlights:

• Defines mandatory quality criteria for block manufacture and thickness.
• Specifies rigorous calibration requirements, including flatness and parallelism.
• Facilitates traceable hardness measurements for machine verification.

Access the full standard:View prEN ISO 6506-3 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Several important patterns emerged from the May 2025 Testing standards publications:

• International Harmonization: With both ISO and EN ISO versions of ultrasonic equipment standards, the sector continues to align best practices for global application, minimizing regional discrepancies.
• Enhancing Traceability: Documented procedures for calibration, verification, and reporting (notably in Brinell testing standards), emphasize the importance of traceable and auditable measurement systems.
• Focus on Modern Equipment: Updates to non-destructive testing protocols now better address digital instrument characteristics, embedding digital era requirements into the heart of quality control.
• Broadened Applicability: Solderability tests for electronics recognize the complexity of modern manufacturing—multiple methods adapt testing to real-world PCB assembly scenarios.
• Increased Rigor: Across the board, there is a visible shift toward more thorough acceptance criteria and calibration intervals, driving reliability across high-risk sectors like automotive, aerospace, energy, and electronics.

Industries with high reliability needs—such as automotive and road vehicles, aerospace, electronics, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing—stand to benefit the most. These standards directly respond to pressures for better product reliability, accountability, and auditability in global value chains.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations impacted by these standards, several practical considerations should guide compliance and implementation:

• Ultrasonic Equipment Users: Review your current verification procedures for frequency coverage, operational stability, and probe specifications. Ensure alignment with both national and international standards across subsidiaries or partners. Prioritize updating verification protocols, especially if using digital instruments.
• Electronic Component Manufacturers and PCB Assemblers: Incorporate solderability tests not just as a regulatory formality but as a continuous improvement tool for process evaluation. Use the comparative results to adjust reflow and solder paste application processes, supporting yield and reliability.
• Metals Labs and Hardness Testing Facilities: Plan for new calibration intervals and report formats. Ensure traceability of your reference blocks, update procurement with the latest specifications, and cross-train staff on direct vs. indirect machine verification requirements.
• Timeline: Begin gap assessments now, as national adoptions and harmonizations will drive universal compliance over the next 12-18 months.
• Resources: Access the full text of all standards on iTeh Standards for detailed requirements, technical guidance, and links to related standards. Leverage expert consultation as needed for new test method integration.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

May 2025 marked a significant step forward in the standardization of Testing—delivering authoritative, harmonized documentation on ultrasonic thickness measurement, solderability assessment, and Brinell hardness calibration. These standards not only reflect technological advancements (such as digital equipment and advanced materials) but also enforce best practices for verification, calibration, and traceability across industries.

For professionals seeking sustained compliance and product reliability, staying current with these latest editions is critical. Prioritize review and integration of updated procedures, allocate resources for verification equipment upgrades, and ensure your teams are educated on the new requirements. As the industry landscape continues to evolve toward greater quality assurance and transparency, these May 2025 standards form a robust foundation for ongoing excellence in testing and materials evaluation.

Explore all standards covered in this overview and position your organization at the forefront of quality and compliance by visitingiTeh Standards.