FprEN 888

• Abstract:

  This document is applicable to iron (III) chloride solution a) and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate b) used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics and specifies the requirements and the corresponding analytical methods for iron (III) chlorides a) and b) and gives information for their use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of iron (III) chloride (Annex A).

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 13-Dec-2026
• ICS: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water
• 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: 12-Jan-2027
• Completion Date: 15-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST FprEN 888:2026 - Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Iron (III) chloride

• Referred By: EN ISO 11296-9:2022 - Plastics piping systems for renovation of underground non-pressure drainage and sewerage networks - Part 9: Lining with a rigidly anchored plastics inner layer (ISO 11296-9:2022)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: CEN ISO/TS 23818-2:2022 - Assessment of conformity of plastics piping systems for the rehabilitation of existing pipelines - Part 2: Resin-fibre composite (RFC) material (ISO/TS 23818-2:2021)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Revises: EN 888:2023 - Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Iron (III) chloride
• Effective Date: 04-Dec-2024

FprEN 888 is a draft European Standard from the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for iron (III) chloride used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption. It specifies the product forms covered, their characteristics, purity criteria, analytical methods, labelling, transport, storage, and safety information for manufacturers, suppliers, laboratories, and water-treatment users.

What does FprEN 888 specify?

FprEN 888 specifies iron (III) chloride solution and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate for use in treating water intended for human consumption. It gives the product description, the quality requirements, the analytical methods to check them, and guidance on safe handling and use.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, description, purity criteria, test methods, and labelling - transportation - storage. It also includes two annexes that give background information and safety rules.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	General information on iron (III) chloride, including origin, manufacturing process, use, treatment dose, secondary effects, and removal of excess product
Annex B	General rules relating to safety, including safe handling and emergency procedures

What are the key requirements of FprEN 888?

FprEN 888 focuses on confirming the identity of the product, controlling purity, and handling the material safely in water-treatment use. In practice, it gives users a way to specify the chemical, check whether a delivered batch matches the declared quality, and label and store it correctly.

Product identification and form

Clause 4 identifies two forms: iron (III) chloride solution and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate. It also lists names, formulas, commercial form, appearance, density, solubility, and chemical properties. For a buyer or laboratory, this is the basis for making sure the delivered product is the right material and the right physical form.

Purity and composition

Clause 5.2 requires the active matter content to stay within a stated tolerance of the manufacturer’s declared value. The document also distinguishes commercial forms and notes that the products may contain free acid. In practice, this is the check that matters most on receipt and on certificate of analysis.

Grades and types

Clause 5.3 classifies the product into grades based on manganese, iron (II), and insoluble matters. Clause 5.4 classifies it into types based on trace metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, and selenium. This helps users choose a product that fits raw-water conditions and treatment targets, especially when trace-metal pickup is a concern.

Sampling and analysis

Clause 6 requires sampling and analytical work to follow EN 17215. That means the test methods are not improvised locally - the same companion standard is used to check the product in a consistent way across suppliers and laboratories.

Delivery, marking, transport, and storage

Clause 7 requires delivery in suitable non-corrosive tankers or containers that are clean and not contaminated by other products. It also gives example hazard labelling based on European Union (EU) directives, transport classification information, and the minimum marking details on the package or delivery document. Storage guidance covers compatible container materials and incompatibilities such as metals, alkalis, and agents that can liberate chlorine.

Safety information

Annex B requires the supplier to provide current safety instructions and the user to read the safety data sheet. It also gives first-aid, spillage, and fire-response instructions so site staff can react quickly if there is contact, a leak, or overheating.

What changed in FprEN 888 from the previous edition?

FprEN 888 will supersede EN 888:2023. The document states one significant technical change: the information related to limit values in Table 2 and Annex A has been updated.

Which standards are used with FprEN 888?

FprEN 888 cites EN 17215 as its normative reference. EN 17215 provides the sampling and analytical methods used to verify iron-based coagulants, so it is the companion standard for testing the product against the requirements in FprEN 888.

What does the FprEN 888 document contain?

FprEN 888 contains identification data, physical and chemical property information, and purity criteria for the two covered product forms. It also contains tables for composition, grades, types, and example labelling, plus annex tables showing the likely trace-metal impact of different product types in treated water.

Clause 7 includes delivery, marking, transport, and storage guidance, while Annex A explains origin, manufacturing, use, dose, application, secondary effects, and removal of excess product. Annex B gives safety handling rules and emergency procedures for first aid, spillage, and fire.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 888:2025
01-oktober-2025
Kemikalije, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Železov (III) klorid
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Iron (III)
chloride
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Eisen
(III)chlorid
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation
humaine - Chlorure de fer (III)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 888
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
oSIST prEN 888:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 888:2025
oSIST prEN 888:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 888
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 71.100.80 Will supersede EN 888:2023
English Version
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption - Iron (III) chloride
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
destinée à la consommation humaine - Chlorure de fer menschlichen Gebrauch - Eisen(III)chlorid
(III)
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 888:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 888:2025
prEN 888:2025 (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 names . 6
4.1.2 Synonym or common names . 6
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass . 6
4.1.4 Empirical formula . 7
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 (in water) . 7
4.3.4 Vapour pressure . 8
4.3.5 Boiling point at 100 kPa . 8
4.3.6 Melting and freezing point . 8
4.3.7 Specific heat . 8
4.3.8 Viscosity (dynamic) . 8
4.3.9 Critical temperature . 8
4.3.10 Critical pressure . 8
4.3.11 Physical hardness . 8
4.4 Chemical properties . 8
5 Purity criteria . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Composition of commercial product . 9
5.3 The grade of the product . 9
5.4 The type of the product . 10
6 Test methods . 10
6.1 Sampling . 10
6.2 Analyses . 10
7 Labelling - Transportation - Storage . 10
7.1 Means of delivery . 10
7.2 Risk and safety labelling according to the EU Directives . 10
7.3 Transportation regulations and labelling . 12
7.4 Marking . 12
7.5 Storage . 12
7.5.1 Long term stability . 12
oSIST prEN 888:2025
prEN 888:2025 (E)
7.5.2 Storage incompatibilities . 12
Annex A (informative) General information on iron (III) chloride . 13
A.1 Origin . 13
A.1.1 Raw materials . 13
A.2 Manufacturing process . 13
A.2.1 General . 13
A.2.2 Quality of commercial product . 13
A.3 Use . 15
A.3.1 Function . 15
A.3.2 Form in which it is used. 15
A.3.3 Treatment dose . 15
A.3.4 Means of application . 15
A.3.5 Secondary effects . 15
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 888:2025
prEN 888:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 888:2025) 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 888:2023.
prEN 888:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 888:2023:
— update of the information related to limit values in Table 2 and Annex A.

oSIST prEN 888:2025
prEN 888:2025 (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:
a) 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;
b) 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 standard 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 888:2025
prEN 888:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document is applicable to iron (III) chloride solution a) and iron (III) chloride hexahydrate b) used
for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics and specifies
the requirements and the corresponding analytical methods for iron (III) chlorides a) and b) and gives
information for their use in water treatment. It also determines the rules relating to safe handling
(Annex B) and use of iron (III) chloride (Annex A).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 17215, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Iron-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:/
...