In March 2016, The German Institute of Standardization (DIN) has launched the new DIN 2304-1 Adhesive bonding technology - Quality requirements for adhesive bonding processes. This standard has since been incorporated into ISO 21368 as part of a routine revision. The DIN EN ISO 21368:2023-05 is currently in the commenting phase and will be published in August 2024.

The well know quality standard, DIN EN ISO 9001 stipulates the minimum requirements for an organisational Quality Management System (QMS); however, this is a general standard and not specified to the requirements of different technology processes. The DIN 2304-1 and new the DIN EN ISO 21368:2023-05 is a technological specification especially for bonding processes to be used in conjunction with ISO 9001 and focuses on three core elements, classification of adhesively bonded joints, personal qualification for bonding processes and verification management.

Following the adhesives bonding process chain, users of this standard are able to improve the quality of their products and the end application. This presentation gives an overview about the requirements, the general idea behind the new standard and how users will benefit. Standards (DIN / EN / ISO) are no legal norms, but there are private technical regulations with recommendatory character and describe the “State of Art”.

It can be obligated due to a business transaction when clients require that and in a legal dispute (case of damage) standards can be taken into account. Following the scope the standard DIN EN ISO 21368:2023-05 is valid for all structural adhesively bonded joints, i.e. loadbearing and adhesive bonds, independent of which kind of adhesives, curing or application process is used.

Looking at the international success story of a similar standard (DIN 6701) for the railway industry, and the standard DIN 2304-1 in industrial applications, DIN EN ISO 21368:2023-05 is expected to also become of worldwide importance soon.

The quality of modern adhesives allows ...