FprEN 16087-2
(Main)Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self-heating test for compost
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials.
NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Jan-2027
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 223 - Soil improvers and growing media
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 223/WG 4 - Analytical methods
- Current Stage
- 4599 - Dispatch of FV draft to CMC - Finalization for Vote
- Start Date
- 28-Jul-2026
- Due Date
- 12-Oct-2024
- Completion Date
- 28-Jul-2026
- Mandate
- M/XXX - M/XXX
Overview
FprEN 16087-2 is a European standard developed by CEN for the characterization of soil improvers and growing media. It specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter in composted materials using a self-heating test. This standard provides a structured approach for evaluating the biological activity of composts, which is essential for assessing their quality, stability, and suitability for use as soil amendments or components of growing media.
The method outlined is strictly applicable to composted materials and has been validated through interlaboratory studies on commonly traded compost products such as composted bark, biowaste compost, and green compost.
Key Topics
- Aerobic Biological Degradation: The standard focuses on measuring the breakdown of organic matter in compost under aerobic conditions, an important indicator of compost maturity and quality.
- Self-Heating Test: The core of this method is the monitoring of temperature increase (self-heating) as an indicator of microbial activity within a compost sample.
- Sample Preparation and Testing: Detailed procedures for preparing samples, establishing optimal moisture content using a “fist test,” and conducting the self-heating measurement in a temperature-controlled environment.
- Expression of Results: The outcome is expressed as the maximum temperature reached during the test, and the degree of decomposition (Rottegrad), providing quantitative indicators of compost activity.
- Validation and Reproducibility: The method was validated according to ISO 5725-2 principles, ensuring reliability and repeatability across laboratories and compost types.
Applications
The methodologies outlined in FprEN 16087-2 are valuable for various stakeholders in the composting, soil amendment, and growing media industries:
- Quality Control: Compost producers and soil improver manufacturers can use this standard to monitor and ensure the consistency, maturity, and biological stability of their products before market release.
- Research and Development: Laboratories and researchers benefit from the reproducible, standardized procedures for comparative testing and product development.
- Regulatory Compliance: Compliance with FprEN 16087-2 supports adherence to national and European regulations, including the European Fertilising Product Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, by demonstrating product performance and safety.
- Product Certification: Organizations offering certified compost or growing media benefit from using standardized biological testing methods to document product claims for quality marks and ecolabels.
- Environmental Management: Municipalities, agricultural advisors, and environmental agencies utilize these test results to evaluate compost quality for sustainable land application and circular economy practices.
Related Standards
For thorough assessment and product compliance, FprEN 16087-2 should be considered alongside the following standards:
- CEN/TS 17732:2022: Terminology for soil improvers and growing media, ensuring consistent interpretation and communication within the industry.
- EN 12579:2024: Specifies standardized procedures for the sampling of soil improvers and growing media to ensure representative test samples.
- ISO 5725-2: Outlines general principles for determining the repeatability and reproducibility of standard measurement methods, underpinning the validation of this test procedure.
- European Fertilising Product Regulation (EU) 2019/1009: Sets the regulatory framework for the safety, quality, and labelling of fertilising products in the European Union.
By implementing the procedures defined in FprEN 16087-2, organizations can ensure accurate assessment of the aerobic degradation activity of composts, enhance quality assurance processes, and meet evolving European and international market demands for sustainable and high-performing soil improvers and growing media.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 16087-2 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self-heating test for compost". This standard covers: This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials. NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter using a self-heating test. This method is only applicable to composted materials. NOTE This method has been validated in an interlaboratory study with specific products that were present on the market during the study (as included in Annex A, being composted bark, biowaste compost and green compost).
FprEN 16087-2 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 65.080 - Fertilizers. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 16087-2 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16087-2:2011. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 16087-2 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 2019/1009; Standardization Mandates: M/564, M/564 AMD 1, M/564 AMD 2, M/XXX. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
FprEN 16087-2 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-december-2025
Izboljševalci tal in rastni substrati - Določanje aerobne biološke razgradljivosti
organskih snovi - 2.del: Preskus samodejnega segrevanja komposta
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the aerobic biological degradation
rate of organic matter - Part 2: Self heating test for compost
Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate - Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen
Abbaurate organischer Substanz - Teil 2: Selbsterhitzungstest für Kompost
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Détermination de la cinétique de
dégradation biologique aérobie de la matière organique - Partie 2 : Test d’auto-
échauffement pour compost
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 16087-2
ICS:
65.080 Gnojila Fertilizers
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 16087-2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2025
ICS 65.080 Will supersede EN 16087-2:2011
English Version
Soil improvers and growing media - Determination of the
aerobic biological degradation rate of organic matter - Part
2: Self heating test for compost
Amendements du sol et supports de culture - Bodenverbesserungsmittel und Kultursubstrate -
Détermination de la cinétique de dégradation Bestimmung der aeroben biologischen Abbaurate
biologique aérobie de la matière organique - Partie 2 : organischer Substanz - Teil 2: Selbsterhitzungstest für
Test d'auto-échauffement pour compost Kompost
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 223.
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 16087-2:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
prEN 16087-2:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
5 Apparatus . 4
6 Sampling . 4
7 Procedure . 4
7.1 General. 4
7.2 Sample preparation . 5
7.2.1 General. 5
7.2.2 Fist test . 5
7.3 Determination of self-heating . 5
8 Expression of results . 6
9 Test report . 6
10 Validation of the method . 7
10.1 Validation in accordance with ISO 5725-2. 7
10.2 Performance characteristics. 7
Annex A (informative) Performance characteristics of the method . 8
Bibliography . 10
prEN 16087-2:2025
European foreword
This document (prEN 16087-2:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 223 “Soil
improvers and growing media”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 16087-2:2011.
prEN 16087-2:2025 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
EN 16087-2:2011:
— A more precise description of the fist test was added.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request given to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
prEN 16087-2:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies a method to determine the aerobic biological activity using a self-heating test.
This method is only applicable to composted material.
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.
CEN/TS 17732:2022, Soil improvers and growing media — Terminology
EN 12579:2024, Soil improvers and growing media — Sampling
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in CEN/TS 17732:2022 apply.
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 Principle
Measurement of self-heating in a Dewar vessel and measurement of the maximum temperature, where
the temperature is an indicator of the state of aerobic biological activity.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Dewar vessel, with a volume of 1,5 l and an internal diameter of 100 mm ± 3 mm.
5.2 Temperature measurement device, capable of recording a maximum temperature with an
accuracy of ± 2 °C.
5.3 Sieve, square aperture with a 10 mm mesh size.
5.4 Temperature controlled room or climate cabinet, with a temperature of 20 °C ± 2 °C.
6 Sampling
Sampling is not part
...