EN 887:2026

• Abstract:

  This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding 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 iron (III) sulfate (Annex A).

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 15-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: 17-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 15-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST FprEN 887:2026 - Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron (III) sulfate

• Revises: EN 887:2016 - Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron (III) sulfate
• Effective Date: 29-Jun-2022

EN 887:2026 is a CEN standard for aluminium iron (III) sulfate used to treat water intended for human consumption. It specifies the product’s description, purity criteria, test methods, labelling, transport and storage, and it gives practical guidance on use and safe handling.

What does EN 887:2026 specify?

EN 887:2026 applies to aluminium iron (III) sulfate for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It sets out how the product is identified, what physical and chemical characteristics are expected, and which purity and analytical requirements apply.

The document is organized into seven clauses and two annexes. Clause 1 covers scope, Clause 2 lists the normative references, Clauses 3 to 7 cover terms, description, purity criteria, test methods, and labelling-transport-storage. Annex A gives general information on the product and its use, and Annex B gives the safety rules.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	General information on aluminium iron (III) sulfate, including origin, manufacturing, product quality, and use
Annex B	General rules relating to safety, including first aid, spill response, and fire guidance

What are the key requirements of EN 887:2026?

EN 887:2026 focuses on product identity, purity, analytical control, and safe handling. In practice, it tells suppliers what to declare, laboratories what to check, and water treatment operators how to use the product safely.

Product identification and form

Clause 4 identifies aluminium iron (III) sulfate by name, common synonym, formula information, CAS Registry Numbers, and EINECS references. It also states that the product is sold as solid hydrated forms or as aqueous solutions. For buyers and plant operators, this matters because the commercial form affects storage, pumping, dosing, and how the material is specified.

Physical and chemical description

Clause 4 describes the product as a yellow to brown solid or liquid and gives indicative properties such as density, solubility, boiling point for a saturated solution, crystallization point, and viscosity. It also explains that the product is a slightly acidic hydrated salt or solution and that very dilute solutions hydrolyze and form hydroxide precipitates. In practice, this helps users choose suitable tanks, pumps, and operating conditions.

Purity criteria and composition

Clause 5 sets minimum purity requirements and requires the active matter content, expressed as aluminium and iron ion contents, to be within declared values. It also distinguishes product types through impurity limits and chemical parameters. This is important because treatment performance and the impact on treated water depend on both the grade and the raw material source.

Impurities and trace metals

Clause 5 sets limits for insoluble matter and for chemical parameters such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, and selenium. The limits vary by type. In practice, users need to match the product grade to the raw water quality and the treatment objective, especially where trace metals are a concern.

Test methods

Clause 6 directs users to EN 1302 for sampling and to EN 1302 and EN 17215 for the relevant aluminium and iron analyses. This means product conformity is checked against standardized methods rather than ad hoc testing, which supports consistent quality control and supplier verification.

Delivery, labelling, storage, and use

Clause 7 covers delivery form, packaging, tank materials, labelling under EU legislation, transport classifications, marking, and storage compatibility. It also warns against contact with chlorites, hypochlorites, sulphites, alkaline substances, and certain coagulants and metals. For operations staff, this is the practical handling guidance needed to avoid contamination, corrosion, gel formation, and hazardous reactions.

What changed in EN 887:2026 from the previous edition?

EN 887:2026 supersedes EN 887:2016. The stated technical change is an update of information related to the Drinking Water Directive.

Which standards are used with EN 887:2026?

EN 887:2026 normatively references two companion standards:

• EN 1302 - provides sampling methods and aluminium-related analytical methods used for conformity testing.
• EN 17215 - provides iron-based coagulant analytical methods used for checking the iron-related requirements.

What does the EN 887:2026 document contain?

EN 887:2026 contains identification data, physical property information, and purity criteria for aluminium iron (III) sulfate. It includes a viscosity table, a chemical-parameter table, and practical notes on insoluble matter and trace metal content.

Annex A provides origin, manufacturing, and use information, including raw materials, a typical manufacturing route, treatment dose, application method, secondary effects, and how excess product should be removed. It also includes tables showing the possible impact on trace metals in treated water at different dosing levels.

Annex B gives safety guidance for handling and emergencies, including first aid, spill response, and fire behaviour. For plant operators and suppliers, these annexes are the parts most directly used in day-to-day handling, training, and risk control.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 887:2025
01-oktober-2025
Kemikalije, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Aluminijev železov (III) sulfat
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron
(III) sulfate
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Aluminium-
Eisen(III)-sulfat
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation
humaine - Sulfate d'aluminium et de fer (III)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 887
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
oSIST prEN 887:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 887:2025
oSIST prEN 887:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 887
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 71.100.80 Will supersede EN 887:2016
English Version
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption - Aluminium iron (III) 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 - Aluminium-Eisen(III)-sulfat
d'aluminium et de fer (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 887:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
Contents Page
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 name . 6
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass . 6
4.1.4 Empirical formula . 6
4.1.5 Chemical formula . 6
)
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 at 20 °C . 7
)
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 . 8
4.3.10 Critical pressure . 8
4.3.11 Physical hardness . 8
4.4 Chemical properties . 8
5 Purity criteria . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Composition of commercial product . 9
5.3 Impurities and main by-products . 9
5.4 Chemical parameters . 9
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 Labelling according to the EU legislation . 10
7.3 Transportation regulations and labelling . 11
7.4 Marking . 12
7.5 Storage . 12
7.5.1 General . 12
7.5.2 Long term stability . 12
7.5.3 Storage incompatibilities . 12
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
Annex A (informative)  General information on aluminium iron (III) sulfate . 13
A.1 Origin . 13
A.1.1 Raw materials . 13
A.1.2 Manufacturing process . 13
A.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 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 887:2025) 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 887:2016.
Significant technical differences between this edition and EN 887:2016 are as follows:
a) update of information related to Drinking Water Directive.

oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (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 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 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for
aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding 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 iron
(III) sulfate (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
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://www.electropedia.org/
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name
Aluminium iron (III) sulfate.
4.1.2 Synonym or common name
Aluminium and iron sulfate.
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass
Variable (see 4.1.4).
4.1.4 Empirical formula
(Al Fe ) (SO ) where x is 0,70 to 0,95.
x 1-x 2 4 3
4.1.5 Chemical formula
xAl (SO ) ·(1 - x)Fe (SO ) ·nH O where n is variable and x varies from 0,70 to 0,95.
2 4 3 2 4 3 2
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
)
4.1.6 CAS Registry Number
The following is a list of CAS Registry Numbers for the components:
Al (SO ) :  10043-01-3;
2 4 3
Al (SO ) ·14H O:
...