FprEN 887
(Main)Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron (III) sulfate
- Abstract
This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium iron (III) sulfate (Annex A).
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 13-Dec-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 164 - Water supply
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 164/WG 9 - Drinking water treatment
- Current Stage
- 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
- Start Date
- 15-Oct-2026
- Due Date
- 17-Nov-2026
- Completion Date
- 15-Oct-2026
FprEN 887 is a draft CEN European Standard for aluminium iron (III) sulfate used in the treatment of water intended for human consumption. It specifies the product’s identification, purity criteria, test methods, labelling, transport, storage, and safe handling so that suppliers and water-treatment users can judge whether the material is suitable for drinking-water applications.
What does FprEN 887 specify?
FprEN 887 applies to aluminium iron (III) sulfate for treatment of water intended for human consumption. The document describes the product, sets purity requirements, points to the relevant analytical methods, and gives guidance on use in water treatment.
| Annex | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Annex A | General information on aluminium iron (III) sulfate, including origin, manufacture, quality, and use |
| Annex B | General rules relating to safety, including handling and emergency procedures |
The main body is organized into Scope, Normative references, Terms and definitions, Description, Purity criteria, Test methods, and Labelling - Transportation - Storage. In practice, that means the standard can be used both to check product quality and to manage the product through delivery and use.
What are the key requirements of FprEN 887?
FprEN 887 focuses on how to identify the product, what purity it must meet, how to test it, and how to handle it safely. For a buyer or operator, the important point is that the standard combines product definition, impurity control, and handling guidance in one document.
Product description and identification
Clause 4 identifies aluminium iron (III) sulfate by chemical name, common name, empirical formula, chemical formula, CAS Registry Numbers, and EINECS references. It also describes commercial forms as solid hydrated products in several particle sizes and as aqueous solutions.
This matters because suppliers and users need to specify the right material form. The physical properties section also notes that appearance, density, solubility, boiling point, crystallization point, and viscosity vary with composition.
Purity and composition
Clause 5 sets minimum purity requirements. The concentration of active matter, expressed as aluminium and iron ion contents, shall be within ±3 % of the manufacturer’s declared values.
Clause 5 also limits insoluble matter and sets chemical parameter limits for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, antimony, and selenium. These limits differ by product type, so buyers should match the declared type to the intended treatment duty and their local water-quality constraints.
Product types and trace metal control
Table 2 distinguishes type 1, type 2, and type 3 products. Annex A links those types to the likely impact on trace metals in treated water and helps users choose a grade based on raw water quality, dose, and plant conditions.
In practice, this helps a treatment plant balance performance and downstream water quality. It also supports procurement decisions when trace-metal contribution is a concern.
Testing, delivery, labelling, and storage
Clause 6 directs users to EN 1302 for sampling and to EN 1302 and EN 17215 for analytical methods. Clause 7 then covers delivery form, labelling, transport classification, marking, and storage.
This is important because conformity depends on correct sampling and analysis, not just on a supplier declaration. Clause 7 also requires corrosion-resistant delivery and storage equipment and notes incompatibilities with chlorites, hypochlorites, sulphites, alkaline substances, other coagulants, and some metal surfaces.
What terms does FprEN 887 define?
FprEN 887 uses several product-specific terms and identifiers that are central to ordering, testing, and control.
- Aluminium iron (III) sulfate - the chemical product covered by the standard, used as a coagulant in water treatment.
- Aluminium and iron sulfate - the common name given as a synonym for the product.
- Type 1, type 2, type 3 - product grades used in Table 2 to separate different purity levels and impurity limits.
- Active matter - the aluminium and iron ion contents used to express the declared concentration of the commercial product.
- CAS Registry Number - the chemical identifier used for the listed components.
- EINECS reference - the European inventory identifier given for the listed components.
- Al + Fe - the combined aluminium and iron basis used throughout the purity and dose discussion.
Who uses FprEN 887?
FprEN 887 is used by manufacturers and suppliers of aluminium iron (III) sulfate, by water-treatment plant operators, and by laboratories that sample and analyze the product. It is also relevant to quality managers, buyers, and technical staff who need to specify product grade, verify purity, manage storage, and check handling conditions.
What changed in FprEN 887 from the previous edition?
FprEN 887 supersedes EN 887:2016. The European foreword states that the significant technical change is an update of the information related to the Drinking Water Directive.
Which standards are used with FprEN 887?
FprEN 887 relies on two normative references:
- EN 1302 - provides the sampling methods and aluminium analytical methods used for this product.
- EN 17215 - provides the analytical methods for iron-based coagulants used for this product.
What does the FprEN 887 document contain?
FprEN 887 contains a chemical description of aluminium iron (III) sulfate, including its identification data, commercial forms, and physical and chemical properties. It also contains purity criteria, including composition limits, insoluble matter limits, and chemical parameter limits for key trace elements.
The document includes test guidance for sampling and analysis, plus practical requirements for labelling, transport, marking, delivery, and storage. Annex A adds origin, manufacture, use, dose, application, secondary effects, and removal of excess product, while Annex B gives safety handling and emergency measures.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 29-Jun-2022
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Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 887 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron (III) sulfate". This standard covers: This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium iron (III) sulfate (Annex A).
This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding analytical methods. It gives information on its use in water treatment. It also specifies the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and describes the use of aluminium iron (III) sulfate (Annex A).
FprEN 887 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 71.100.80 - Chemicals for purification of water. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 887 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 887:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 887 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 887:2025
01-oktober-2025
Kemikalije, ki se uporabljajo za pripravo pitne vode - Aluminijev železov (III) sulfat
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption - Aluminium iron
(III) sulfate
Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch - Aluminium-
Eisen(III)-sulfat
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau destinée à la consommation
humaine - Sulfate d'aluminium et de fer (III)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 887
ICS:
13.060.20 Pitna voda Drinking water
71.100.80 Kemikalije za čiščenje vode Chemicals for purification of
water
oSIST prEN 887:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
oSIST prEN 887:2025
oSIST prEN 887:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 887
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2025
ICS 71.100.80 Will supersede EN 887:2016
English Version
Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption - Aluminium iron (III) sulfate
Produits chimiques utilisés pour le traitement de l'eau Produkte zur Aufbereitung von Wasser für den
destinée à la consommation humaine - Sulfate menschlichen Gebrauch - Aluminium-Eisen(III)-sulfat
d'aluminium et de fer (III)
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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 887:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
Contents Page
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Description . 6
4.1 Identification . 6
4.1.1 Chemical name . 6
4.1.2 Synonym or common name . 6
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass . 6
4.1.4 Empirical formula . 6
4.1.5 Chemical formula . 6
)
4.1.6 CAS Registry Number . 7
)
4.1.7 EINECS reference . 7
4.2 Commercial forms . 7
4.3 Physical properties . 7
4.3.1 Appearance . 7
4.3.2 Density . 7
4.3.3 Solubility in water . 7
4.3.4 Vapour pressure at 20 °C . 7
)
4.3.5 Boiling point at 100 kPa . 8
4.3.6 Crystallization point . 8
4.3.7 Specific heat . 8
4.3.8 Viscosity (dynamic) . 8
4.3.9 Critical temperature . 8
4.3.10 Critical pressure . 8
4.3.11 Physical hardness . 8
4.4 Chemical properties . 8
5 Purity criteria . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Composition of commercial product . 9
5.3 Impurities and main by-products . 9
5.4 Chemical parameters . 9
6 Test methods . 10
6.1 Sampling . 10
6.2 Analyses . 10
7 Labelling - Transportation - Storage . 10
7.1 Means of delivery . 10
)
7.2 Labelling according to the EU legislation . 10
7.3 Transportation regulations and labelling . 11
7.4 Marking . 12
7.5 Storage . 12
7.5.1 General . 12
7.5.2 Long term stability . 12
7.5.3 Storage incompatibilities . 12
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
Annex A (informative) General information on aluminium iron (III) sulfate . 13
A.1 Origin . 13
A.1.1 Raw materials . 13
A.1.2 Manufacturing process . 13
A.2 Quality of commercial product . 13
A.3 Use . 15
A.3.1 Function . 15
A.3.2 Form in which it is used . 15
A.3.3 Treatment dose . 15
A.3.4 Means of application . 15
A.3.5 Secondary effects . 15
A.3.6 Removal of excess product . 16
Annex B (normative) General rules relating to safety . 17
B.1 Rules for safe handling and use . 17
B.2 Emergency procedures . 17
B.2.1 First aid . 17
B.2.2 Spillage . 17
B.2.3 Fire . 17
Bibliography . 18
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 887:2025) 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 887:2016.
Significant technical differences between this edition and EN 887:2016 are as follows:
a) update of information related to Drinking Water Directive.
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
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.
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document is applicable to aluminium iron (III) sulfate used for treatment of water intended for human
consumption. It describes the characteristics of aluminium iron (III) sulfate and specifies the requirements for
aluminium iron (III) sulfate and refers to the corresponding analytical methods. It gives information on its use
in water treatment. It also determines the rules relating to safe handling (Annex B) and use of aluminium iron
(III) sulfate (Annex A).
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1302, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Aluminium-based
coagulants — Analytical methods
EN 17215, Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption — Iron-based coagulants —
Analytical methods
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
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/
4 Description
4.1 Identification
4.1.1 Chemical name
Aluminium iron (III) sulfate.
4.1.2 Synonym or common name
Aluminium and iron sulfate.
4.1.3 Relative molecular mass
Variable (see 4.1.4).
4.1.4 Empirical formula
(Al Fe ) (SO ) where x is 0,70 to 0,95.
x 1-x 2 4 3
4.1.5 Chemical formula
xAl (SO ) ·(1 - x)Fe (SO ) ·nH O where n is variable and x varies from 0,70 to 0,95.
2 4 3 2 4 3 2
oSIST prEN 887:2025
prEN 887:2025 (E)
)
4.1.6 CAS Registry Number
The following is a list of CAS Registry Numbers for the components:
Al (SO ) : 10043-01-3;
2 4 3
Al (SO ) ·14H O:
...