ISO 16726-2018 PDF

Full title and description

Space systems — Human-life activity support systems and equipment integration in space flight — Techno-medical requirements for space vehicle human habitation environments — Requirements for the air quality affected by harmful chemical contaminants (ISO 16726:2018). This document specifies requirements and guidance for establishing and controlling air quality in manned spacecraft and habitable modules with respect to harmful chemical contaminants, including limits, monitoring and removal system requirements.

Abstract

ISO 16726:2018 is a technical (third-level) standard addressing airborne chemical contaminants in spacecraft habitable environments. It defines toxicological grouping, limiting permissible and maximum allowable concentrations, measurement and monitoring approaches, requirements for contaminant-removal systems, material selection considerations, CO2 control, ground-processing controls and emergency-response guidance. The standard includes a normative annex with daily rates of human-excreted gaseous contaminants.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: May 2018 (Edition 1, 2018-05).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 49.140 (Space systems).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2018).
• Number of pages: 10 pages.

Scope

ISO 16726:2018 establishes requirements for air quality affected by harmful chemical contaminants in manned spacecraft and habitable modules. It applies to the specification, measurement, monitoring and control of harmful gaseous contaminants, sets toxicological grouping and concentration limits for nominal and emergency conditions (LPC, MAC, MPC SD), addresses selection of non‑metallic materials for habitable modules, and specifies requirements for contaminant removal systems and verification during program ground processing and flight operations.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and toxicological grouping of harmful chemical contaminants and use of CAS identifiers for substances.
• Limiting permissible concentration (LPC), maximum allowable concentration (MAC) and maximum permissible concentration for single dose (MPC SD) concepts with mission-duration considerations.
• Measurement, monitoring and verification requirements for air contaminants and for program compliance.
• Requirements for air‑contaminant removal systems and their role in sustaining stated environmental conditions.
• Guidance for selection of non‑metallic materials to limit outgassing and emissions in habitable modules.
• Controls for carbon dioxide levels, ground‑processing air quality for modules, and emergency procedures for large pollutant releases.
• Normative annex providing daily rates of human-excreted harmful gaseous contaminants used for design and evaluation.

Typical use and users

Users include spacecraft life‑support system designers, programme safety and mission assurance engineers, toxicologists supporting crewed missions, materials engineers selecting low-emission components for habitable modules, test and verification teams, and regulatory or certification authorities involved in crew health and safety for human spaceflight programs. The standard is used during design, materials selection, environmental control system specification, integration testing and in-flight monitoring program definition.

Related standards

ISO 16726:2018 is positioned in a hierarchy of spacecraft environmental standards and is linked to ISO 17763 and ISO 16157 (it is described as a 3rd‑level standard with respect to ISO 17763 and as part of ISO 16157). It was prepared by ISO/TC 20/SC 14 (Space systems and operation). Note: do not confuse ISO 16726:2018 (spacecraft air quality) with unrelated standards that share the number 16726 in other technical committees (for example EN 16726 concerns gas quality for gas infrastructure).

Keywords

space systems; life support; air quality; harmful chemical contaminants; toxicological grouping; LPC; MAC; contaminant removal systems; habitable module; material selection; carbon dioxide control; emergency air quality.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 16726:2018 is an ISO international standard that specifies techno‑medical requirements and criteria for air quality affected by harmful chemical contaminants in spacecraft habitable environments (manned spacecraft and modules).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers toxicological classification of gaseous contaminants, concentration limits for nominal and emergency conditions (LPC, MAC, MPC SD), measurement and monitoring approaches, design and verification requirements for contaminant‑removal systems, non‑metallic material selection to limit emissions, CO2 control, ground‑processing air quality and emergency response guidance. It also includes a normative annex with daily rates of human‑excreted gaseous contaminants.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Life‑support and environmental‑control system engineers, materials engineers, flight‑crew medical and toxicology advisors, mission assurance and safety teams, test/verification personnel and program managers for human spaceflight.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As published, ISO 16726:2018 is the first edition (2018) and is listed as published; ISO standards are reviewed periodically (typically every 5 years). Users should check ISO or national body records for any subsequent revisions or confirmations.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 16726:2018 is part of a set of documents addressing spacecraft environmental and life‑support requirements and is referenced in relation to ISO 17763 and ISO 16157 within the ISO/TC 20/SC 14 work program.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Space systems, life support, air quality, harmful chemical contaminants, LPC, MAC, contaminant removal, habitable module, toxicological grouping, emissions, CO2 control.