UNE Standards September 2026: What Construction, Chemistry and Energy Must Do

Key data

Five industrial sectors now have the opportunity to shape the technical standards that will regulate their activity in the coming years, and most of them don't know it. The Directorate General of Industrial Strategy published on October 13, 2026 the public information call for 10 UNE standard draft projects corresponding to September 2026, with deadlines ranging between 20 and 40 calendar days from that date.

UNE standards, once consolidated, can become mandatory technical reference in public procurement, product certifications and civil liability procedures. Not participating in the consultation means losing the only formal opportunity to influence their drafting.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution opens the public information period so that companies, associations and professionals can review the drafts and submit technical observations before the standards are definitively approved by the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE).

The 10 UNE standard draft projects under processing cover the following sectoral areas:

The complete drafts are available on the official UNE portal: https://srp.une.org/. Any company or professional can access, review and submit observations within the deadline established for each project.

Economic and operational impact

UNE standards are not simple recommendations. Once consolidated, they have direct consequences on business in three areas:

• Public procurement: Public procurement specifications usually reference UNE standards as a technical requirement. If your company does not comply with the current standard, it may be excluded from tenders.
• Product certifications: Manufacturers and distributors that certify products in the affected sectors will have to adapt their processes to the new technical requirements once the standards are approved.
• Civil liability: Non-compliance with consolidated UNE standards can be used as evidence in damage claims, especially in sectors such as construction, dangerous goods transport and electrical energy.

The cost of not participating now can be much greater than the cost of reviewing the draft: a standard approved without the sector's input may impose disproportionate or incompatible technical requirements with current production processes, forcing unplanned adaptation investments.

Who does it affect?

• Construction companies and wood product manufacturers: Affected by wood durability standards, relevant for structures, cladding and exterior carpentry.
• Chemical companies, logistics operators and transport companies: Affected by standards for transport and storage of dangerous goods and chemical products.
• Electrical distributors and installation companies: Affected by standards for underground electrical networks of low and medium voltage.
• Textile sector manufacturers and distributors: Affected by technical standards for textile specifications.
• Agricultural machinery manufacturers and distributors: Affected by agricultural vehicle standards.
• Technical advisors, engineers and consultants: Who provide services to any of the above sectors and need to know the status of technical standardization.

Practical example

An underground electrical network installation company regularly works with distributors that require compliance with UNE standards in their technical specifications. Currently, its installation procedures are adapted to the current standards for low and medium voltage.

With the new UNE standard draft projects under consultation, this company now has between 20 and 40 calendar days to review the drafts on srp.une.org and detect if any new technical requirement conflicts with its current methods. If it identifies a problem, it can submit formal observations for correction before final approval. If it does not act, the standard will be approved as is and the company will have to adapt without having been able to influence its content, assuming the corresponding adaptation costs.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which projects affect your sector: Access srp.une.org and locate the 10 UNE standard draft projects from September 2026. Filter by sector (construction, chemistry, energy, textile, agriculture).
2. Review the technical draft: Download and analyze the content of each project relevant to your activity. Involve your technical team or a specialized advisor if necessary.
3. Calculate the impact on your processes: Determine if the new technical requirements require changes to your current products, installations, procedures or certifications.
4. Submit observations if applicable: If you detect disproportionate requirements, technical errors or incompatibilities with sector practice, submit your formal observations within the deadline (between 20 and 40 calendar days from October 13, 2026). This is the only time to do so.
5. Coordinate with your sector association: Collective observations carry more weight. Contact your association to coordinate a joint response if the impact is significant for the sector.
6. Plan for future adaptation: Although the standards are not yet approved, anticipate possible changes to your processes, certifications and technical documentation to avoid urgent adaptation costs when they are finally published.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is purely informative in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-21301