August 2026: New IT Standards for Building Automation, Data Centers, E-Tolling, Accessibility & Health Informatics

Staying up to date with international standards is pivotal for success in Information Technology and Office Equipment sectors. The August 2026 release delivers significant updates across five essential standards, shaping the ways organizations approach building automation, electronic fee collection, data center design, user accessibility, and continuity in health informatics. For IT managers, compliance teams, procurement, and R&D, these updates are vital for ongoing digital transformation, service resilience, and regulatory compliance.

Overview

The rapid pace of development in the Information Technology landscape demands robust, interoperable standards. International specifications underpin everything from smart buildings and electronic toll payments to accessible public interfaces and secure, scalable data centers. Adopting and adhering to such standards ensures:

• Higher system reliability
• Global interoperability
• Inclusive user experiences
• Streamlined compliance and procurement processes
• Improved operational efficiency and security

In this article, you’ll gain clear, actionable insight into the core changes and scope of five new or revised standards published in August 2026:

• ISO 16484-5:2026: Building automation data communication
• ISO 16785:2026: DSRC-OBE to in-vehicle device interface for e-tolling
• ISO/IEC 20071-31:2026: Kiosk accessibility guidance and requirements
• EN 50600-1:2026: Data center facilities and infrastructure concepts
• EN ISO 13940:2026: Concept system for continuity of health care

Prepare your organization to deliver seamless digital services, robust physical and cyber security, and future-ready IT platforms by understanding what these standards offer.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO 16484-5:2026 - Building Automation and Control Systems Data Communication Protocol

Building automation and control systems (BACS) — Part 5: Data communication protocol

This cornerstone standard defines the data communication protocols and services for digital control of HVAC&R and other building systems. At its core is the BACnet protocol, providing an object-oriented model for all system components—from sensors and controllers to devices responsible for environmental management and safety.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Specifies BACnet protocol architecture, topologies, and layers (application, network, data link, and physical)
• Comprehensive coverage of supported media: Ethernet (ISO 8802-3 LAN), ARCNET, LonTalk, MS/TP (RS-485 serial bus), and more
• Security enhancements for message assurance, including application and network layer protection
• Definition of standard object types for device modeling such as analog/digital I/O, schedules, trend logs, access control, and more
• Extensible object models to accommodate new device types and integration needs

Who Should Comply:

• Building management system manufacturers
• Facility operators and integrators
• Specialized HVAC automation vendors
• IT teams deploying or upgrading smart buildings

Practical Implications:

• Ensures interoperability among multi-vendor building systems
• Enables future-proof designs via extensible object modeling
• Reduces integration cost and complexity

Notable Changes:

• Expanded object definitions
• Optimized message segmentation and state machines for efficiency
• Updated mapping for multiple network protocols

Key highlights:

• Unified data model for diverse building automation devices
• Security enhancements across protocol layers
• Streamlined BACnet integration with emerging protocols

Access the full standard:View ISO 16484-5:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO 16785:2026 - Electronic Fee Collection Application Interface

Electronic fee collection — Application interface definition between dedicated short-range communication on-board equipment (DSRC-OBE) and external in-vehicle devices

This newly published international standard revolutionizes interoperability for electronic fee collection (EFC) systems, especially in multi-vendor or international environments. It specifies the interface bridging dedicated short-range communication on-board equipment (DSRC-OBE)—the backbone of modern tolling—with external in-vehicle devices such as GNSS-based modules and telematics units.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Application interface specification for communication between DSRC-OBE and external devices
• Standardized definitions for data groups, data elements, and application data units (ADUs)
• Detailed requirements for payment status, account updates, and authenticated reload transactions
• ASN.1-based message encoding, ensuring structured, secure data interchange
• Security considerations for protecting toll payment transactions
• Applicability across all major global DSRC standards (CEN, UNI, ARIB, TTA, GB)

Who Should Comply:

• Automotive electronics suppliers
• National and regional tolling operators
• ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) integrators
• Telecommunication and transport infrastructure agencies

Practical Implications:

• Enables seamless multi-modal EFC for drivers
• Facilitates integration of legacy and next-gen road tolling systems
• Simplifies procurement and deployment of interoperable tolling hardware

Notable Changes:

• Expanded interface to support emerging autonomous EFC technologies
• Revised definitions aligning with ISO 17573-2 for terms and compliance
• Security features updated to protect against fraud and ensure data integrity

Key highlights:

• Enables global interoperability for EFC systems
• Standardized message structure for efficient toll transactions
• Compliance statements and certification guidelines included

Access the full standard:View ISO 16785:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 20071-31:2026 - User Interface Component Accessibility – Kiosks

Information technology — User interface component accessibility — Part 31: Accessibility of kiosks

This standard provides comprehensive requirements and recommendations for ensuring that self-service kiosks are accessible to all users—including those with disabilities, older adults, and people with temporary impairments. It covers hardware, software, user interface content, installation, and environmental factors critical for universal access.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Detailed accessibility guidance covering visual, audio, physical, and cognitive needs
• Specifications for independent use, speech output, tactile and audible feedback, and logical navigation
• Hardware-specific requirements: screen design, input/output media, physical controls, reachability, glare mitigation
• Secure processing of user data and personal information compliance
• Recommendations for installation site, ambient lighting, and environmental compatibility

Who Should Comply:

• Kiosk manufacturers and industrial designers
• Government and private service providers deploying self-service points
• Accessibility officers and procurement managers
• Retail and transport infrastructure operators

Practical Implications:

• Mandatory reference for inclusive design and public procurement
• Reduces legal risk and enhances customer satisfaction
• Supports deployment of kiosks in diverse, high-traffic environments

Notable Changes:

• Inclusion of new requirements for biometric identification
• Enhanced recommendations for touch, voice, and assistive technology integration
• Updated guidelines for content clarity and interaction flow

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive accessibility coverage for usability by all
• Requirements apply to design, deployment, and operation
• Guidance spans hardware, software, and content

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 20071-31:2026 on iTeh Standards

EN 50600-1:2026 - Data Centre Facilities and Infrastructures - General Concepts

Information technology - Data centre facilities and infrastructures - Part 1: General concepts

As organizations grow increasingly data-driven, robust data center design becomes mission-critical. EN 50600-1:2026 offers foundational principles, terminology, reference models, and classification systems for all aspects of data center infrastructure—spanning availability, security, efficiency, and sustainability.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• General framework for data center classification and terminology
• Business risk and impact analysis models guiding the choice of design and resilience class
• Reference architectures and schematic modelling for physical layout and resource flows
• KPIs for resource and energy efficiency management
• Direct linkage to environmental sustainability and resilience strategies

Who Should Comply:

• Data center designers and architects
• Operators, facility managers, and ICT teams
• Auditors and infrastructure procurement specialists
• System integrators and network operators

Practical Implications:

• Supports stepwise data center design, build, operation, and management
• Aligns data center performance with business risk tolerance and cost targets
• Enables benchmarking and certification for availability, security, and energy efficiency

Notable Changes:

• New resilience and environmental efficiency provisions
• Updated references and alignment to EN 50600 Series and maturity models
• Enhanced documentation and improvement metrics

Key highlights:

• Universal applicability for all data center sizes and types
• Integration of resource efficiency, resilience, and sustainability
• Standardized terminology for cross-discipline collaboration

Access the full standard:View EN 50600-1:2026 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 13940:2026 - Health Informatics: Continuity of Care

Health informatics - System of concepts to support continuity of care (ISO 13940:2026)

Continuity of care sits at the heart of effective health and social care delivery. This dual CEN/ISO standard establishes a harmonized system of concepts, terms, and relationships essential for the semantic interoperability of different health information systems worldwide.

Scope and Key Requirements:

• Defines system of concept definitions for health and social care domains
• Establishes terminology for describing health actors, resources, conditions, care processes, and care records
• Offers framework for logical reference models and semantic data exchange
• Lays groundwork for system interoperability at local, national, and international levels

Who Should Comply:

• Health IT developers and solution architects
• National health agencies and eHealth policy makers
• Care providers transitioning to integrated digital records
• Healthcare software vendors and consulting specialists

Practical Implications:

• Enables true semantic interoperability for continuity of care
• Reduces risk of misinterpretation or loss of vital health data
• Supports development, procurement, and certification of interoperable systems

Notable Changes:

• Revised structure aligning with recent health IT frameworks
• Expanded actor and activity definitions
• Clarified relationships for social and clinical care integration

Key highlights:

• Enhanced clarity in health informatics concept mapping
• Underpins integrated, patient-centered digital care
• Directly supports national and cross-border digital healthcare strategies

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 13940:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

The August 2026 publication set marks a new benchmark for efficiency, inclusivity, and security in Information Technology and Office Equipment. Organizations that plan proactively for standards adoption will see advantages such as:

• Predictable, long-term operational reliability (especially in building automation and data centers)
• Improved public trust and service adoption (through accessibility and eHealth)
• Legal and regulatory compliance, reducing liability risk
• Vendor neutrality and simplified procurement due to clarity in requirements

Compliance Considerations:

• Verify scope application—ensure each site or solution maps to the relevant standard
• Understand timelines and transition requirements, especially if the standard replaces or supersedes earlier versions
• Engage with accredited testing, certification, or auditing bodies for regulated sectors

Organizations that overlook these standards risk system incompatibility, vendor lock-in, or non-compliance fines.

Technical Insights

Across these five standards, several technical themes emerge:

1. Consistent Data Models: From BACnet object structures in building automation to terminologies in health informatics, standardized data models underpin interoperability and reduce integration hurdles.
2. Security: Each standard mandates or recommends security features—from BACnet network authentication to tolling interface protections and kiosk data safeguards.
3. User-Centric Design: Accessibility (ISO/IEC 20071-31) emphasizes universal design, supporting diverse physical, sensory, and cognitive needs.
4. Lifecycle Approach: Data centers (EN 50600-1) and building automation (ISO 16484-5) stress risk analysis, continuous monitoring, and resource/energy optimization throughout system life.

Implementation Best Practices:

• Align procurement templates and design specs with the full requirements of each standard
• Prioritize staff training on new procedures and technical features
• Use certification and conformance checklists provided within the standards
• Foster early dialogue with integrators, auditors, and IT partners

Testing & Certification Considerations:

• BACnet and DSRC-OBE conformance test suites
• Accessibility audits by certified third parties
• Data center availability and efficiency certification frameworks
• Semantic interoperability assessments for health informatics

Conclusion / Next Steps

The August 2026 standards update presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By adopting ISO 16484-5:2026, ISO 16785:2026, ISO/IEC 20071-31:2026, EN 50600-1:2026, and EN ISO 13940:2026, IT and infrastructure leaders position their organizations for:

• Scalable, secure, and interoperable operations
• Seamless user and customer experiences
• Above-industry compliance and efficiency benchmarks

Recommendations:

• Assign cross-functional teams to review and map current processes against the new standards
• Procure updated full-text standards for technical leads and compliance teams
• Schedule external certification or gap assessments where required
• Stay connected to iTeh Standards for the latest publications and expert resources

Discover more and lead your field—explore these and other new standards today at iTeh Standards.