EN 878:2026
(Main)Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium sulfate
- Abstract
This document is applicable to aluminium sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium sulfate and gives reference to the analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium sulfate (see Annex A).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 15-Dec-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 164 - Water supply
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 164/WG 9 - Drinking water treatment
- Current Stage
- 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
- Start Date
- 15-Oct-2026
- Due Date
- 16-Nov-2026
- Completion Date
- 15-Oct-2026
EN 878:2026 is a CEN standard for aluminium sulfate used to treat water intended for human consumption. It describes the product, sets purity and test-related requirements, and gives guidance on use, safe handling, transport and storage for water-treatment operators, suppliers and laboratories.
What does EN 878:2026 specify?
EN 878:2026 applies to aluminium sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It covers the product description, minimum purity criteria, analytical references, and practical information for use in water treatment.
The document is organized into clauses for scope, normative references, terms, description, purity criteria, test methods, and labelling, transportation and storage. Annex A gives general information on aluminium sulfate and Annex B gives normative safety rules.
The introduction also states that conformity with the document does not itself mean the product is approved for use in any EU or EFTA country; national control still applies.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | General information on aluminium sulfate, including origin, quality and use |
| Annex B | General rules relating to safety, including first aid and emergency procedures |
What are the key requirements of EN 878:2026?
Product description and identification
Clause 4 identifies aluminium sulfate by name, common synonyms, molecular data, formulae, CAS Registry Numbers and an EINECS reference. It also describes the main commercial forms, which include solid hydrated forms and aqueous solutions.
In practice, this helps buyers and laboratories confirm that the material being delivered is the intended treatment chemical and not a different alum or aluminium salt.
Clause 4 also gives key physical and chemical properties such as appearance, density, solubility, crystallization behaviour and viscosity. That matters because these properties affect pumping, dissolution, storage temperature and dosing stability.
Purity criteria
Clause 5 sets minimum purity requirements for the product used in drinking water treatment. The concentration of active matter, expressed as aluminium content, shall stay within the declared tolerance, so purchasers can check that the delivered product matches the supplier’s stated grade.
Clause 5 also limits impurities such as iron and insoluble matter, and it gives chemical parameter limits for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony and selenium in three product types. In practice, the user selects a suitable grade based on raw water quality, target treated-water quality and local regulatory expectations.
Annex A explains that these three types reflect commercially available product qualities and shows their possible impact on trace metals in treated water. That helps utilities choose a grade that fits their water quality objectives and dosing conditions.
Testing, delivery and storage
Clause 6 directs users to EN 1302 for sampling and analysis. This means acceptance testing and compliance checks are tied to a named analytical method set rather than to ad hoc laboratory practice.
Clause 7 covers delivery, labelling, transport, marking and storage. It requires suitable corrosion-resistant delivery and storage materials, EU labelling, product marking, and storage above 0 °C, which matters for preserving product quality and avoiding equipment damage.
Clause 7 also distinguishes the transport picture for solids and solutions and notes that the solution form is corrosive for transport purposes. For operators and carriers, that affects packaging choice, routing documents and handling controls.
Use and safety
Annex A describes aluminium sulfate as a coagulant, notes typical application as a liquid solution, and says positive displacement metering pumps are usually used. It also lists expected secondary effects such as lower pH, lower alkalinity and increased sulfate, so plant operators can plan downstream process control.
Annex B gives the safety actions for handling incidents, spills and fire. This is the section to use for site procedures, training and emergency planning.
Who uses EN 878:2026?
EN 878:2026 is used by drinking water suppliers, water treatment plant operators, chemical manufacturers, distributors, laboratories and procurement teams. It is relevant when selecting a grade, checking incoming deliveries, setting dosing conditions, writing specifications, or documenting conformity for treatment chemicals.
It is also useful for transport and safety personnel because it links product form to packaging, labelling, storage and emergency handling.
What changed in EN 878:2026 from the previous edition?
EN 878:2026 replaces EN 878:2016. The foreword states that the significant technical update is related to the Drinking Water Directive.
Which standards are used with EN 878:2026?
The normative reference in EN 878:2026 is EN 1302, which provides the analytical methods used for sampling and analysis of aluminium-based coagulants. That is the document readers need when they want to test the product.
The bibliography also cites Directive (EU) 2020/2184 for drinking water quality context and Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 for classification, labelling and packaging. These references support the product’s water-quality and hazard-labelling context.
What does the EN 878:2026 document contain?
EN 878:2026 contains identity data for aluminium sulfate, including names, formulae, registry numbers and commercial forms. It also includes a structured physical-property section with tables for density, solubility and viscosity, which are useful for process design and storage planning.
The purity section contains tables for impurities and chemical parameters, grouped by product type. These tables support specification writing, supplier qualification and receipt inspection.
Clause 7 contains delivery, marking, transport and storage guidance, while Annex B gives first aid, spill response and fire guidance. Annex A adds application information, including typical dosing, application method and the effects of excess product removal, which is useful for plant operation and commissioning.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 878:2026 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium sulfate". This standard covers: This document is applicable to aluminium sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium sulfate and gives reference to the analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium sulfate (see Annex A).
This document is applicable to aluminium sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium sulfate and gives reference to the analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium sulfate (see Annex A).
EN 878:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 878:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 878:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 878:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 878:2025
01-oktober-2025
Kemikalije, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Aluminijev sulfat
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium
sulfate
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch -
Aluminiumsulfat
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation
humaine - Sulfate d'aluminium
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 878
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
oSIST prEN 878:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
oSIST prEN 878:2025
oSIST prEN 878:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 878
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 71.100.80 Will supersede EN 878:2016
English Version
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption - Aluminium sulfate
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
destinée à la consommation humaine - Sulfate menschlichen Gebrauch - Aluminiumsulfat
d'aluminium
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 164.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 878:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
oSIST prEN 878:2025
prEN 878:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Description . 6
4.1 Identification . 6
4.1.1 Chemical name . 6
4.1.2 Synonym or common names . 6
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass . 6
4.1.4 Empirical formula . 6
4.1.5 Chemical formula . 7
)
4.1.6 CAS Registry Number . 7
)
4.1.7 EINECS reference . 7
4.2 Commercial forms . 7
4.3 Physical properties . 7
4.3.1 Appearance . 7
4.3.2 Density . 7
4.3.3 Solubility . 8
4.3.4 Vapour pressure at 20 °C . 8
)
4.3.5 Boiling point at 100 kPa . 8
4.3.6 Crystallization point . 8
4.3.7 Specific heat . 8
4.3.8 Viscosity (dynamic) . 8
4.3.9 Critical temperature . 9
4.3.10 Critical pressure . 9
4.3.11 Physical hardness . 9
4.4 Chemical properties . 9
5 Purity criteria . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Composition of commercial product .10
5.3 Impurities and main by-products .10
5.4 Chemical parameters .10
6 Test methods .11
6.1 Sampling .11
6.2 Analyses .11
7 Labelling - Transportation - Storage .11
7.1 Means of delivery .11
)
7.2 Labelling in accordance with the EU legislation .11
7.3 Transportation regulations and labelling .12
7.4 Marking .13
7.5 Storage .13
7.5.1 General .13
7.5.2 Long term stability .13
oSIST prEN 878:2025
prEN 878:2025 (E)
7.5.3 Storage incompatibilities . 13
Annex A (informative) General information on aluminium sulfate . 14
A.1 Origin . 14
A.1.1 Raw materials . 14
A.1.2 Manufacturing process . 14
A.2 Quality of commercial product . 14
A.3 Use . 16
A.3.1 Function . 16
A.3.2 Form in which it is used . 16
A.3.3 Treatment dose . 16
A.3.4 Means of application. 16
A.3.5 Secondary effects . 16
A.3.6 Removal of excess product . 16
Annex B (normative) General rules relating to safety . 17
B.1 Rules for safe handling and use . 17
B.2 Emergency procedures . 17
B.2.1 First aid . 17
B.2.2 Spillage . 17
B.2.3 Fire . 17
Bibliography . 18
oSIST prEN 878:2025
prEN 878:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 878:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 164 “Water supply”, the
secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 878:2016.
Significant technical differences between this edition prEN 878:2025 and EN 878:2016 are as follows:
a) update of information related to Drinking Water Directive.
oSIST prEN 878:2025
prEN 878:2025 (E)
Introduction
In respect of potential adverse effects on the quality of water intended for human consumption, caused by the
product covered by this document:
1) this document provides no information as to whether the product may be used without restriction in any
of the Member States of the EU or EFTA;
2) it should be noted that, while awaiting the adoption of verifiable European criteria, existing national
regulations concerning the use and/or the characteristics of this product remain in force.
NOTE Conformity with this document does not confer or imply acceptance or approval of the product in any of the
Member States of the EU or EFTA. The use of the product covered by this document is subject to regulation or control by
National Authorities.
oSIST prEN 878:2025
prEN 878:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document is applicable to aluminium sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium sulfate and specifies the requirements for
aluminium sulfate and gives reference to the analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water
treatment. It also determines the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and use of aluminium sulfate (see
Annex A).
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1302, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Aluminium-based
coagulants — Analytical methods
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name
Aluminium sulfate.
4.1.2 Synonym or common names
Aluminium sulfate, cake alum, alum.
NOTE In English the generic term “alum” is imprecise and is deprecated and in German the term “Alaun” is
misleading, as “alumn”/”Alaun” is a kalium aluminium sulfate salt.
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass
342,14 for Al (SO ) .
...