oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026

• Abstract:

  This document is applicable to reactivated granular activated carbon used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. This document describes the characteristics of reactivated granular activated carbon and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for reactivated granular activated carbon. This document gives information on the use of reactivated granular activated carbon in water treatment.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 29-Nov-2026
• ICS: 13.060.20 - Drinking water
• ICS: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water
• Technical Committee: IOVO - Water supply and waste water engineering
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 05-Oct-2026
• Due Date: 22-Feb-2027
• Ref Project: prEN 12915-2 - Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Granular activated carbon - Part 2: Reactivated granular activated carbon

• Revises: SIST EN 12915-2:2009 - Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Granular activated carbon - Part 2: Reactivated granular activated carbon
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 is the Slovenian publication of draft European Standard prEN 12915-2 from CEN for reactivated granular activated carbon used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption. It specifies how the product is identified, which physical and specific properties are checked, the test methods to use, and how the material is labelled, transported, and stored. It is aimed at suppliers, reactivation plants, laboratories, and water treatment operators who need a common product specification.

What does oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 specify?

oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 applies to reactivated granular activated carbon used for drinking water treatment. The standard describes the product characteristics, sets requirements with corresponding test methods, and gives information on its use in water treatment.

The document is organized into clauses for scope, normative references, terms and definitions, description, physical properties, chemical properties, specific properties, test methods, and labelling, transportation and storage. Annex A is informative.

Annex	What it covers
A	General information on reactivated granular activated carbon, including reactivation, composition, hydraulic characteristics, use, safe handling, and emergency procedures

What are the key requirements of oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026?

oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 sets practical acceptance points for identity, particle size, adsorption performance, packaging, and storage. These are the checks that matter when a buyer receives material or when a supplier declares conformance.

• Clause 4 identifies the product clearly. The standard gives the chemical names, common names, formula, CAS Registry Number, and EINECS references. In practice, this supports correct ordering, traceability, and documentation.

• Clause 4.2 defines the commercial form. Reactivated granular activated carbon is a granular product that may be irregular or moulded/extruded. This matters because shape affects flow, handling, and filtration behaviour.

• Clause 5.3 controls particle size distribution. Samples are taken when reactivation is complete, and the result must stay within the supplier’s stated tolerance. For irregular product, the oversize plus undersize fraction is limited; for moulded/extruded product, only a small fraction may pass the specified sieve. This helps users match the carbon to the filter design.

• Clause 5.4 to 5.6 set core physical limits. The non-wettable fraction is limited, apparent density has a minimum value, and mechanical strength must meet the supplier’s declared value, whether assessed as ball-pan hardness or abrasion. These checks matter for transport losses, bed stability, and service life.

• Clause 7 sets the adsorption indicator. The iodine number shall be at least 600 mg/g, and the supplier shall state the iodine numbers of the spent and reactivated carbon. If make-up or mark-up carbon is included, that needs to be stated with the result.

• Clause 8 defines how testing is done. Sampling follows EN 12902, and only samples taken at the production site are valid for assessment under this document. The analytical methods for particle size distribution, non-wettable fraction, apparent density, mechanical strength, and iodine number also refer to EN 12902. This is important because handling after delivery can change the sample.

• Clause 9 covers delivery, marking, and storage. The product may be delivered in sacks, semi-bulk containers, or bulk, but the delivery system must not compromise purity. Marking must identify the product, batch, mass, and reactivating company, and storage must keep the product dry and away from oxidants, volatile solvents, and moisture.

What terms does oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 define?

• Virgin activated carbon - freshly manufactured activated carbon that has not been used and has not been reactivated.
• Spent granular activated carbon - granular activated carbon with reduced adsorption capacity after operational use.
• Reactivation - the process used to restore all or part of the adsorption capacity of spent granular activated carbon.
• Reactivated granular activated carbon - spent granular activated carbon that has been subjected to reactivation.
• Make-up granular activated carbon - virgin or reactivated carbon added to replace losses during reactivation, handling, or transport.
• Mark-up granular activated carbon / top-up granular activated carbon - virgin or reactivated carbon added to replace in-service losses at the water treatment plant.

Who uses oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026?

oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 is used by drinking water utilities, filter operators, reactivation companies, carbon suppliers, and testing laboratories. Quality managers and buyers use it to write specifications, check certificates, and verify delivered material. Engineers use it when selecting carbon grades, planning filter operation, and agreeing on sampling and acceptance criteria.

What changed in oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 from the previous edition?

oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 will supersede EN 12915-2:2009. The changes stated for this edition are:

• particle size distribution for moulded/extruded product;
• non-wettable fraction replacing wettability;
• the term bulk density packed replaced by apparent density;
• a declared value for mechanical strength using either ball-pan hardness or abrasion;
• editorial harmonization with the other standards in the series.

Which standards are used with oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026?

• EN 12901 - provides the terms and definitions used for inorganic supporting and filtering materials.
• EN 12902 - provides the sampling and test methods used in Clause 8 for particle size distribution, non-wettable fraction, apparent density, mechanical strength, and iodine number.
• EN 12915-1:2026 - gives the corresponding series part for virgin granular activated carbon and is the source of one of the term definitions used here.

What does the oSIST prEN 12915-2:2026 document contain?

The document contains identification data for the product, practical descriptions of its commercial forms, and property requirements for physical performance and adsorption capacity. It also contains the sampling and analysis route, plus rules for delivery, marking, transport, and storage.

Annex A adds background information that is useful in design and contract work. It explains thermal reactivation stages, typical furnace types, composition and density context, adsorption indicators, hydraulic behaviour, bed life, safe handling, and emergency actions.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2026
Izdelki, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Aktivno oglje v zrnih - 2. del:
Reaktivirano aktivno oglje v zrnih
Products used for the treatment of water intended for human consumption - Granular
activated carbon - Part 2: Reactivated granular activated carbon
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Granulierte
Aktivkohle - Teil 2: Reaktivierte granulierte Aktivkohle
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l’eau destinée à la consommation humaine -
Charbon actif en grains - Partie 2: Charbon actif en grains réactivé
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12915-2
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
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.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
September 2026
ICS 71.100.80 Will supersede EN 12915-2:2009
English Version
Products used for the treatment of water intended for
human consumption - Granular activated carbon - Part 2:
Reactivated granular activated carbon
Produits utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
la consommation humaine - Charbon actif en grains - menschlichen Gebrauch - Granulierte Aktivkohle - Teil
Partie 2: Charbon actif en grains réactivé 2: Reaktivierte granulierte Aktivkohle
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
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12915-2:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Description . 7
4.1 Identification . 7
4.1.1 Chemical name(s) . 7
4.1.2 Synonym or common names . 7
4.1.3 Chemical formula . 7
4.1.4 CAS Registry Number . 7
4.1.5 EINECS reference . 8
4.2 Commercial forms . 8
5 Physical properties . 8
5.1 General. 8
5.2 Appearance . 8
5.3 Particle size distribution . 8
5.3.1 General. 8
5.3.2 Irregular product . 8
5.3.3 Moulded/extruded product . 9
5.4 Non-wettable fraction . 9
5.5 Apparent density . 9
5.6 Mechanical strength . 9
6 Chemical properties . 9
7 Specific properties . 9
8 Test methods . 9
8.1 Sampling . 9
8.2 Analysis . 9
8.2.1 Particle size distribution . 9
8.2.2 Non-wettable fraction . 10
8.2.3 Apparent density . 10
8.2.4 Mechanical strength . 10
8.2.5 Iodine number . 10
9 Labelling, transportation and storage. 10
9.1 Means of delivery . 10
9.2 Risk and safety labelling . 10
9.3 Transportation . 10
9.4 Marking . 11
9.5 Storage . 11
9.5.1 Long term stability . 11
9.5.2 Storage incompatibilities . 11
Annex A (informative) General information on reactivated granular activated carbon . 12
Bibliography . 16

European foreword
This document (prEN 12915-2:2026) 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 12915-2:2009.
Differences between this edition and EN 12915-2:2009 include the following:
— particle size distribution for moulded/extruded product;
— non-wettable fraction replacing wettability;
— the term bulk density packed replaced by apparent density;
— a declared value for mechanical strength either as ball-pan hardness or abrasion;
— editorial to harmonize the text with other standards in this series.
The EN 12915 series, under the general title Products used for the treatment of water intended for human
consumption — Granular activated carbon, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Virgin granular activated carbon;
— Part 2: Reactivated granular activated carbon.

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.
1 Scope
This document is applicable to reactivated granular activated carbon used for treatment of water
intended for human consumption. This document describes the characteristics of reactivated granular
activated carbon and specifies the requirements and the corresponding test methods for reactivated
granular activated carbon. This document gives information on the use of reactivated granular activated
carbon in water treatment.
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
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:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
virgin activated carbon
freshly manufactured activated carbon that has not been used and has not been reactivated
[SOURCE: EN 12915-1:2026]
3.2
activated carbon
activated carbon produced by charring and activation of raw materials with
steam or other gases
3.3
activated carbon
activated carbon produced by charring and activation of raw materials with
chemical activation agents such as phosphoric acid
3.4
spent granular activated carbon
granular activated carbon with reduced adsorption capacity as a result of operational use
3.5
reactivation
process used to restore all or part of the adsorption capacity of spent granular activated carbon
Note 1 to entry: The most common process is thermal reactivation but other methods can be used.
3.6
reactivated granular activated carbon
spent granular activated carbon that has been subjected to reactivation
Note 1 to entry: Usually, reactivated granular activated carbon is returned to the water treatment plant at which
it was previously used. The delivered product can include make-up granular activated carbon and/or top-up
granular activated carbon.
3.7
make-up granular activated carbon
virgin granular activated carbon, or reactivated granular activated carbon from the same water treatment
plant, added to the reactivated granular activated carbon to compensate for losses during the operations
of reactivation (handling, transportation and reactivation itself)
3.8
mark-up granular activated carbon
top-up granular activated carbon
virgin granular activated carbon, or reactivated granular activated carbon from the same water treatment
plant, added to the reactivated granular activated carbon to compensate for losses due to operational (in-
service) losses due to attrition and wash-out of granular activated carbon at the water treatment plant
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name(s)
Activated Carbon – High Density Skeleton (steam activated carbon)
Activated Carbon – Low Density Skeleton (chemically activated carbon)
4.1.2 Synonym or common names
Reactivated activated coal, reactivated activated charcoal, reactivated active carbon, reactivated GAC.
4.1.3 Chemical formula
C (elementary).
4.1.4 CAS Registry Number
7440-44-0.
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number.
4.1.5 EINECS reference
931-328-0 (Activated Carbon – High Density Skeleton)
931-334-3 (Activated Carbon – Low Density Skeleton)
4.2 Commercial forms
Granular activated carbon is a granular product; by convention not less than a mass fraction of 90 % is
retained on a 180 µm aperture test sieve (see 5.3). The product can be either shaped (moulded/extruded)
or irregular (non-moulded), and is available in many grades, differing mainly in adsorption
characteristics, hardness, porosity, granulometry, shape and purity.
5 Physical properties
5.1 General
The physical properties of reactivated granular activated carbon are dependent on the quality of the
spent granular activated carbon as well as on the reactivation process.
NOTE See also Annex A.
5.2 Appearance
The commercial product consists of black, porous granules of irregular shape or, for moulded or extruded
products, in forms such as uniform cylinders, pellets or spheres.
5.3 Particle size distribution
5.3.1 General
The particle size distribution shall be determined on samples taken on completion of reactivation. The
particle size distribution shall be within the supplier’s stated tolerance.
NOTE 1 Different applications can require different particle size ranges.
NOTE 2 The particle size can decrease during transportation and handling.
NOTE 3 The particle size distribution is dependent on that of the spent
...