EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1
(Amendment)Simultaneous interpreting - Equipment - Requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 02-Jan-2028
- Technical Committee
- CEN/SS A07 - Translation services
- Current Stage
- 4060 - Closure of enquiry - Enquiry
- Start Date
- 28-Sep-2026
- Completion Date
- 28-Sep-2026
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is a CEN draft amendment to the requirements standard for simultaneous interpreting equipment, corresponding to ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026. It updates a few technical points that matter when specifying, installing, or checking interpreting systems used by interpreters and technical staff.
The amendment focuses on audio quality, video display guidance, and message handling in the equipment chain. In practice, it tells readers what performance level and display setup the system should support.
What does EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 specify?
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is an amendment to ISO 20109:2025. It revises selected requirements in clauses 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the base standard rather than introducing a new standalone system description.
The document is organized as clause-by-clause changes:
- 5.1.5 - audio distortion requirement
- 6.3 - display angle and display guidance
- 7.3 - video display setup notes
- 8.1.2.11.2 - message selection for technical staff and interpreters
This structure matters because users normally apply the amendment together with ISO 20109:2025 and check only the changed points.
What are the key requirements of EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1?
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 changes four technical areas that affect equipment specification and acceptance. The most important point is that it tightens and clarifies how an interpreting system should perform and how displays and messaging should be arranged.
Audio performance
Clause 5.1.5 now sets a total harmonic distortion (THD) limit for the interpreting system, excluding microphones, loudspeakers and headphones. The system shall be below 0,2 % at nominal level (-30 dBFS) and below 1 % at overload conditions up to 0 dBFS.
In practice, this gives designers and test engineers a clear audio target for the system chain. It helps purchasers and integrators confirm that the equipment keeps distortion low under normal and stressed operating conditions.
Display angle and booth viewing
Clause 6.3 changes a viewing-angle value from 35° to 55° and updates the note on video displays inside a permanent booth. The note says good results have been achieved with a diagonal dimension between 38 cm and 56 cm.
In practice, this gives booth planners a more concrete basis for display selection and placement. It helps avoid a setup that is technically installed but awkward to read during live interpreting.
Larger display setups
Clause 7.3 adds two notes on display size and viewing distance. One note records good results with dual video displays between 140 cm and 165 cm at a viewing distance of 170 cm to 200 cm, and with single video displays between 190 cm and 216 cm using multi-view of the different video signals at the same distance.
The same note says display placement depends on booth size and may be in front of the booth or inside it. It also points readers to ISO 17651-1, ISO 17651-2, ISO 17651-3 and ISO 17651-4 for display size and positioning details.
Message selection
Clause 8.1.2.11.2 now says technical staff and interpreters should be able to select a message from a predefined list or type a new message.
In practice, this supports operational communication during setup and live work. It gives system designers a clear functional expectation for messaging features in the interpreting equipment.
What terms does EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 use?
- Total harmonic distortion (THD) - a measure of unwanted distortion added to an audio signal.
- dBFS - decibels relative to full scale, used here to describe digital audio level.
- Nominal level - the normal operating reference level of the system.
- Overload conditions - operating conditions near the upper limit of the audio system.
- Permanent booth - a fixed interpreting booth rather than a temporary one.
- Multi-view - a display mode showing different video signals together.
- Technical staff - the people who configure, maintain, or support the system.
Who uses EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1?
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is used by manufacturers and integrators of simultaneous interpreting equipment, booth designers, conference-venue engineers, and technical staff who install or check the system. It is also relevant to interpreters and buyers who need to specify audio performance, display layout, and message-handling functions for public buildings and conference installations.
What changed in EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 from the previous edition?
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 changes the base requirements in four places. It lowers the audio distortion target for the interpreting system, changes the display-angle value in 6.3, updates the note on display size for permanent booths, adds display-size and viewing-distance notes in 7.3, and revises the message selection function in 8.1.2.11.2.
It also adds a pointer to ISO 17651-1, ISO 17651-2, ISO 17651-3 and ISO 17651-4 for display sizing and positioning.
Which standards are used with EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1?
The amendment refers to ISO 17651-1, ISO 17651-2, ISO 17651-3 and ISO 17651-4 for details on the size and positioning of displays in interpreting booths. Those parts provide the booth-related display guidance that the amendment points users to when planning an installation.
What does the EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 document contain?
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is a short amendment document built around replacement text and added notes. It revises one paragraph in 5.1.5, one bullet and one note in 6.3, and adds two notes in 7.3 before revising 8.1.2.11.2.
The content is technical and implementation-focused rather than descriptive. It is intended for design, installation, and checking of interpreting equipment, especially where audio quality, booth displays, and operational messaging need to be specified clearly.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 22-Apr-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Simultaneous interpreting - Equipment - Requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)". This standard covers: Simultaneous interpreting - Equipment - Requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
Simultaneous interpreting - Equipment - Requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 91.040.10 - Public buildings. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 20109:2025. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1 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
01-september-2026
Simultano tolmačenje - Oprema - Zahteve - Dopolnilo 1 (ISO 20109:2025/DAM
1:2026)
Simultaneous interpreting - Equipment - Requirements - Amendment 1 (ISO
20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
Simultandolmetschen - Ausrüstung - Anforderungen - Änderung 1 (ISO
20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
Interprétation simultanée - Équipement - Exigences - Amendement 1 (ISO
20109:2025/DAM 1:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 20109:2025/prA1
ICS:
91.040.10 Javne stavbe Public buildings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
Amendment
ISO 20109:2025/
DAM 1
ISO/TC 37/SC 5
Simultaneous interpreting —
Secretariat: DIN
Equipment — Requirements
Voting begins on:
AMENDMENT 1
2026-07-06
Interprétation simultanée — Équipement — Exigences Voting terminates on:
2026-09-28
AMENDEMENT 1
ICS: 91.040.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
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Reference number
ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026(en)
DRAFT
ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026(en)
Amendment
ISO 20109:2025/
DAM 1
ISO/TC 37/SC 5
Simultaneous interpreting —
Secretariat: DIN
Equipment — Requirements
Voting begins on:
AMENDMENT 1
Interprétation simultanée — Équipement — Exigences Voting terminates on:
AMENDEMENT 1
ICS: 91.040.10
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2026
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026(en)
ii
ISO 20109:2025/DAM 1:2026(en)
Foreword
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