Over the past weeks, our community has kept two priorities front and centre: advancing the standards that underpin safe, comparable performance, and sharing practical tools members can use now.

ISO/TC 131 (Paris, 13–17 October)

I would like to thank the many contributors in Paris, including ESA members CETIM, Kastaş, and Trelleborg. I’m proud that the work initiated within ESA that led to ISO 5119:2023 on low-temperature sealing is now a reference across hydrogen and aerospace projects. We also confirmed that ISO 7986 (reciprocating rod seal test) is under revision, with discussions underway for a possible Part 2 on piston seals so users can compare results on a consistent, modern basis.

Hydrogen: Testing Capacity Where Industry Needs It

“Hydrogen-ready” needs to be designed in from the start – permeation, cycling, and surface finish are as important as the compound itself. Hydrogen applications demand evidence. CETIM has expanded capabilities across gases – including H₂ – with pressure ranges from vacuum up to ~1,000 bar for gases (and 2,000 bar for oils), temperatures from deep cryogenic to high heat, and leak-measurement benches. CETIM also announced a helium/hydrogen liquefier with cryostats for cryogenic work, plus facilities for high-pressure H₂ fatigue, rapid gas decompression, diffusion studies, and ageing in autoclaves. Members developing hydrogen-ready products should consider partnering early to define duty cycles and test plans.

PFAS: Where We Are, and a Resource to Help

ECHA’s process continues to move forward. As noted at our September ESG meeting, SEAC will start its consultation in the spring. ESA will prepare a position statement ahead of that phase and keep members informed of dates and guidance. In parallel, please use the ESA PFAS Information Hub for the latest updates, position papers, and materials you can share internally with engineering, quality, and customers.

ESA ESG Working Group: Towards a Sustainable Future

The ESA ESG Working Group met online on 18 September 2025. The group reviewed ongoing actions on PFAS monitoring, peroxides in food-contact elastomers, plastic reduction and recycling, the ESG policy survey, DPP, EDW/DWD, and Young Engineers. ECHA’s SEAC will run a socio-economic consultation in spring 2026 (survey format). EDW issued four guidance documents and is engaging the Commission on Article 11; a stakeholder guide is in preparation, and France’s 7 Aug notice allows Annex VIII constituents in rubber pending ANSES evaluation.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in Paris and across our working groups. Active involvement in ISO technical committees where sealing solutions are used is essential for the health and credibility of our industry. Your feedback on ISO 7986 and your experiences with hydrogen testing will help us keep sealing reliable, comparable, and trusted across industries.

Ozan Devlen,
ESA Chair