SIST EN 17978:2025

Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption and swimming pool water - Glass beads and glass granulate

This document is applicable to glass beads and glass granulate intended for treatment of water for human consumption, swimming pool and/or spa water. It solely describes the characteristics of glass beads and glass granulate and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for glass beads and glass granulate.
General information on glass beads and glass granulate and general rules relating to safety is provided in Annex A.

Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Glasperlen und Glasgranulat

Dieses Dokument ist anwendbar für Glaskugeln und Glasgranulat zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch, Schwimm- und Badebeckenwasser und/oder Wasser für Warmsprudelbecken. Es beschreibt ausschließlich die Eigenschaften von Glaskugeln und Glasgranulat und legt die Anforderungen sowie die entsprechenden Prüfverfahren für Glaskugeln und Glasgranulat fest.
Allgemeine Angaben zu Glasperlen und Glasgranulat und allgemeine Sicherheitsregeln enthält Anhang A.

Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l’eau destinée à la consommation humaine et de l’eau de piscine - Billes de verre et granulés de verre

Le présent document est applicable aux billes de verre et aux granulés de verre destinés au traitement de l'eau pour la consommation humaine et de l'eau de piscine et/ou de spa. Il décrit uniquement les caractéristiques des billes et granulés de verre et spécifie les exigences et les méthodes d'essai correspondantes pour les billes et granulés de verre.
Des informations générales relatives aux billes et granulés de verre et des règles générales relatives à la sécurité figurent à l'Annexe A.

Proizvodi za pripravo pitne in bazenske vode - Steklene kroglice in steklen granulat

Ta dokument se uporablja za steklene kroglice in steklen granulat za pripravo pitne, bazenske in/ali zdraviliške vode. Opisuje značilnosti steklenih kroglic in steklenega granulata ter določa zahteve in ustrezne preskusne metode zanje.
Splošne informacije o steklenih kroglicah in steklenem granulatu ter splošna pravila v zvezi z varnostjo so podani v dodatku A.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 23-Jul-2023
• Publication Date: 06-Jan-2025
• ICS: 13.060.20 - Drinking water
• ICS: 13.060.25 - Water for industrial use
• ICS: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water
• Technical Committee: IOVO - Water supply and waste water engineering
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 06-Jan-2025
• Due Date: 13-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 07-Jan-2025
• Ref Project: EN 17978:2024 - Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption and swimming pool water - Glass beads and glass granulate

Overview

EN 17978:2024 (CEN) specifies requirements and test methods for glass beads and glass granulate used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption and swimming pool / spa water. The standard defines physical and chemical characteristics, sampling and analysis methods, labelling, transport and storage guidance, and provides informative safety/general information in Annex A. It applies where glass-based filter/support media are used in drinking-water and swimming-pool filtration systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Applies to glass beads (spherical) and glass granulate (crushed) used as filter/support media for drinking and pool water.
• Chemical composition (XRF): Typical ranges include SiO2 65–75%, Na2O 12–17%, MgO ≤5%, Al2O3 ≤5%, CaO ≤12%, K2O ≤2% (see Table 1).
• Physical appearance:
  • Glass beads: spherical, white to greenish, smooth surface; homogeneous and free of extraneous matter.
  • Glass granulate: green-brown, smooth to slightly rough, no sharp edges.
• Particle size distribution:
  • Beads: specified by d50 (±5%), d10 (±5%), roundness b/l3 > 92% or defined oversize/undersize fractions.
  • Granulate: d10 (±5%), uniformity coefficient U < 1.5, d1 (±5%); oversize/undersize limits typically 5% (filters) or 10% (support layers).
• Density:
  • Loose bulk density: 1.20–1.55 kg/dm³
  • Packed bulk density: 1.40–1.60 kg/dm³
  • Absolute density: 2.40–2.52 kg/dm³
• Chemical and contaminant limits:
  • Total organic contamination (loss on ignition) < 0.03%
  • Magnetic contamination < 0.005%
  • Water-extractable chemical parameters and contaminant analysis methods are specified; after commissioning, materials should not increase regulated chemical concentrations in treated water.
• Test methods & sampling: Particle-size analysis (including image/dynamic methods), bulk density, water-extractable chemicals, contaminant analyses; sampling at place of production.
• Labelling & safety: Requirements for means of delivery, risk/safety labelling, transport and storage marking, and storage stability.

Applications and who uses this standard

• Water utilities and municipal waterworks specifying filter media for drinking water treatment.
• Swimming-pool and spa operators selecting filtration media.
• Manufacturers and suppliers of glass beads / granulate for filtration.
• Filter designers, consultants and system integrators validating media selection.
• Testing laboratories performing compliance and quality control analyses.
• Regulators and procurement teams requiring documented conformity with CEN specifications.

Related standards

• EN 12901 - Definitions for inorganic supporting/filtering materials
• EN 12902 - Methods of test for inorganic supporting/filtering materials
• EN ISO 12677 - XRF fused bead method
• ISO 13322-2 - Particle size analysis (dynamic image methods)
• Note: Compliance with EN 17978 does not replace national regulatory approvals for drinking-water use; local rules (e.g., EU Drinking Water Directive) may still apply.

Keywords: EN 17978, glass beads, glass granulate, water treatment, drinking water, swimming pool filtration, particle size distribution, bulk density, chemical composition, CEN standard.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2025
Proizvodi za pripravo pitne in bazenske vode - Steklene kroglice in steklen
granulat
Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption and swimming
pool water - Glass beads and glass granulate
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Glasperlen und
Glasgranulat
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l’eau destinée à la consommation humaine et de
l’eau de piscine - Billes de verre et granulés de verre
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17978:2024
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
13.060.25 Voda za industrijsko uporabo Water for industrial use
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17978
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 71.100.80
English Version
Products used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption and swimming pool water - Glass beads and
glass granulate
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
la consommation humaine et de l'eau de piscine - Billes menschlichen Gebrauch und Schwimm- und
de verre et granulés de verre Badebeckenwasser - Glaskugeln und Glasgranulat
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 November 2024.

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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists 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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17978:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Description . 5
4.1 Identification . 5
4.1.1 Chemical name . 5
4.1.2 Synonyms or common names . 6
4.1.3 Chemical composition . 6
4.1.4 CAS registration number . 6
4.1.5 EINECS number . 6
4.2 Commercial forms . 6
5 Physical properties . 6
5.1 General. 6
5.2 Appearance . 6
5.2.1 Glass beads . 6
5.2.2 Glass granulate . 6
5.3 Mechanical stability . 6
5.4 Particle size distribution . 7
5.4.1 General. 7
5.4.2 Glass beads . 7
5.4.3 Glass granulate . 7
5.5 Density . 8
5.5.1 Bulk density (loose) . 8
5.5.2 Bulk density (packed) . 8
5.5.3 Absolute density . 8
6 Chemical properties . 8
7 Test methods . 9
7.1 Sampling . 9
7.2 Analyses. 9
7.2.1 Particle size distribution . 9
7.2.2 Bulk density (loose and packed) . 9
7.2.3 Water-extractable chemical components . 9
7.2.4 Analyses of the contaminants . 9
8 Labelling - transportation and storage . 11
8.1 Means of delivery . 11
8.2 Risk and safety labelling . 11
8.3 Transportation and labelling . 11
8.4 Marking . 11
8.5 Storage stability . 11
Annex A (informative) General information on glass beads and glass granulate . 12
Bibliography . 16
European foreword
This document (EN 17978:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 164 “Water
Supply”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
In respect of potential adverse effects on the quality of swimming pool water and water intended for
human consumption, caused by the products covered by this document:
a) this document provides no information as to whether the products may be used without restrictions
in any of the Member States of the EU or EFTA;
b) while awaiting the adoption of verifiable European criteria, existing national regulations concerning
the use and/or the characteristics of these products remain in force.
NOTE Conformity with this document does not confer or imply acceptance or approval of the products in any
of the Member States of the EU or EFTA. The use of the products covered by this document is subject to regulation
or control by National Authorities.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to glass beads and glass granulate intended for treatment of water for human
consumption, swimming pool and/or spa water. It solely describes the characteristics of glass beads and
glass granulate and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for glass beads and
glass granulate.
General information on glass beads and glass granulate and general rules relating to safety is provided in
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 12901, Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Inorganic supporting
and filtering materials - Definitions
EN 12902, Products used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Inorganic supporting
and filtering materials - Methods of test
EN ISO 12677, Chemical analysis of refractory products by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) - Fused cast-bead
method (ISO 12677)
ISO 13322-2, Particle size analysis — Image analysis methods — Part 2: Dynamic image analysis methods
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12901 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
3.1
glass granulate
granulated filter material made of glass free from any other extraneous matter
3.2
glass beads
round (spherical) filter material made of glass free from any other extraneous matter
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name
Glass beads and glass granulate predominantly consist of amorphous silicon dioxide (Si0 ).
More detailed information on the composition of filter materials made from glass is found in Table 1 and
in Table A.1.
4.1.2 Synonyms or common names
Glass beads are also called glass pearls, glass balls, filter beads or filter glass.
Glass granulate is also called crushed glass, glass sand, or filter glass.
4.1.3 Chemical composition
See Table 3.
4.1.4 CAS registration number
CAS 65997-17-3
4.1.5 EINECS number
EINECS 266-046-0
4.2 Commercial forms
Glass beads and glass granulate conforming to this document are available in various sieve fractions.
5 Physical properties
5.1 General
Glass beads and glass granulate differ markedly in their geometrical shapes as well as their composition,
the physical and chemical properties. The structure of their surface has an influence on the
microbiological potential to grow.
5.2 Appearance
5.2.1 Glass beads
Glass beads are round and mostly of a white to greenish colour, an amorphous structure and a smooth
surface. The round shape has a major influence on the filtering properties. Glass beads shall be generally
homogeneous and visibly free of extraneous matter at the moment of delivery, to avoid clogging of the
filter.
5.2.2 Glass granulate
Glass granulate is usually a green-brown granular material. The structure is amorphous with a smooth to
slightly rough surface. The shape is similar to that of a grain of crushed sand. However, no sharp edges
are allowed in order to prevent injury during maintenance or servicing. Glass granulate shall be generally
homogeneous and visibly free of extraneous matter at the moment of delivery, to avoid clogging of the
filter.
5.3 Mechanical stability
The mechanical stability of glass beads and granulate is high. The hardness of glass is given as 5,5 to 6,5
on the Mohs scale of hardness.
High mechanical stress (e.g. during transport and filling) can lead to abrasion of glass beads and glass
granulate, which consists of dust. Glass beads show less abrasion during transport, filling and normal
rinsing than glass grain.
...