Work is currently underway to  develop standards in relation to  nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.  In order to address the standardization  needs in this rapidly-evolving area  of scientific and technological  advancement, CEN is cooperating  closely with ISO, the International  Organization for Standardization.

Nanotechnologies depend on the manipulation of materials at the level of atoms and molecules, with a size smaller than 100 nanometres (i.e. less than 0.0001 millimetres). They make it possible to  develop materials and devices with novel  properties, performance and functions.

Nanotechnologies and nanomaterials  are leading to major advances in many  fields of scientific study, with practical  applications across a wide range of industry  sectors. They are enabling important  innovations in many different areas such  as: aerospace, chemical engineering and  materials, consumer products, energy production and storage (solar panels, batteries), environmental protection and management, healthcare, information  and communication technologies (ICT),  manufacturing (tyres, textiles), and  transport (electric vehicles).

The world market for nanotechnologies  is growing rapidly, and this is leading to  the creation of many thousands of jobs in  advanced manufacturing. Nanomaterials  have a well-established market potential and the market value of products  underpinned by nanotechnologies is  projected to reach €2 trillion by 2015, which is around 3% of global GDP.

Recognising the need for standards in this area, the European Commission asked the European Standards Organisations to develop standardization activities regarding nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. The standardization mandate M/461 (February 2010) covers: methodologies for nanomaterial characterization; sampling and measurement of exposure to nanomaterials; methods to simulate exposures tonanomaterials; HS&E (health, safety and the environment).

Some 14 Technical Committees at European and international levels are involved in overall standardization activities in the framework of mandate M/461, and CEN has undertaken to develop a series of deliverables by the end of 2018 (10 European Standards and 6 Technical Specifications). This work, supported by the European Commission, is being coordinated by CEN’s Technical Committee on 'Nanotechnologies' (CEN/TC 352).

The CEN Technical Committee on 'Nanotechnologies' (CEN/TC 352) is preparing guidance for measurements, characterisation, detection and evaluation of functional properties and performance of nanomaterials; protocols for the life cycle assessment of nanomaterials, devices and products; protocols for determining the explosivity and flammability of nano-powders and guidance on management of waste and disposal of nanomaterials.

Technical Committee CEN/TC 137 ('Assessment of workplace exposure to chemical and biological agents') is working on a range of topics including: the characterization of ultrafine aerosols/nanoaerosols; the assessment of exposure to inhaled manufactured nanoparticles; the measurement of dustiness of bulk nanomaterials and the assessment of dermal exposure to manufactured nanoparticles.
Meanwhile, Technical Committee CEN/TC 195 ('Air filters for general air cleaning') is preparing a standard and a technical specification on methodologies to determine the effectiveness of filtration media against nanomaterials of different sizes.

Project leaders from several countries (including Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK), and a number of European laboratories will be involved in these various activities.

The CEN Technical Committee on 'Nanotechnologies' (CEN/TC 352) is cooperating closely with the corresponding Technical Committee at international level (ISO/TC 229) and with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. It will also liaise with other European and international bodies (e.g. OECD, ECHA) in order to o ensure that the standards being developed take due account of relevantm work being undertaken elsewhere.

For more information about European standardization work in this sector, please see the CEN website.

nanoSTAIR: linking nanotechnology research with standardization

The nanoSTAIR project aims to bridge the gap between nanotechnology research and standardization. The project is being implemented by a consortium that includes CEN and DIN (the National Standards Body of Germany).

The nanoSTAIR project is supported by the European Commission through its 7th Framework Programme for research and development (FP7). The overall objective of the project is to support the transfer of knowledge gained through nanotechnology research by means of standards documents, in line with the so-called 'Integrated Approach'.

The 'Integrated Approach' has been developed by STAIR, the CEN-CENELEC Joint strategic Working Group on Standardization, Innovation and Research, which was set up in 2008. It seeks to promote the transfer of research results into standardization and to raise awareness in the research and innovation communities about the benefits of standardization.

The standardization community is well represented in nanoSTAIR. The project partners include CEN and DIN, while the project’s Advisory Board includes the Chair of the CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 352 'Nanotechnologies', alongside representatives of ISO and AENOR.

nanoSTAIR will develop a platform and a process to examine the results of European research projects in the field of nanotechnologies. New standardization needs and opportunities arising from these research projects will be brought to the attention of the standardization community.

The needs expressed by various stakeholders will be collected, and resources from consortia working on similar topics will be combined, in order to develop proposals for new standardization activities. ThenanoSTAIR approach will be tested through the initiation of two new work item proposals.For more information, please see thenanoSTAIR website.

To learn more about the STAIR approach, please see the CEN-CENELEC website.