Mind the edition: ISO 16809:2025 has superseded the 2017 edition, changed its title and extended its scope to the immersion technique.
- ✓ ISO 16809:2017: same scope text as EN 14127
- ✓ ISO 16809:2025, third edition, June 2025
- ✓ New title: Ultrasonic thickness determination
- ✓ Scope extended to the immersion technique
ISO 16809 is the international standard on ultrasonic thickness determination. In the 2017 edition its scope text was identical to that of EN 14127: principles of ultrasonic thickness measurement of metallic and non-metallic materials by direct contact, based solely on measuring the time of flight of ultrasonic pulses. Anyone working with either standard was therefore operating within the same conceptual framework.
This has now changed. ISO 16809:2025, the third edition published in June 2025, supersedes the 2017 edition and brings two changes that should be recorded in your internal procedures. The first concerns the title, which becomes Ultrasonic thickness determination. The second concerns the scope, which has been extended to the immersion technique: no longer direct contact alone.
Need help choosing the right product?
The practical consequence is straightforward but needs to be managed. If your procedures, specifications or report templates cite “ISO 16809:2017”, that reference now points to a superseded edition: it should be updated, checking against the text of the new edition which clauses have actually changed. We also recommend always stating the year alongside the designation, because in this case the number alone no longer uniquely identifies either the title or the scope.
The two editions compared
| Aspect | Confirmed content |
|---|---|
| ISO 16809:2017 | Same scope text as EN 14127 |
| ISO 16809:2025 | Third edition, published in June 2025 |
| Relationship between the two | The 2025 edition supersedes the 2017 edition |
| Title of the new edition | Ultrasonic thickness determination |
| Scope | Extended to the immersion technique |
Direct contact and immersion
The extension to immersion widens the scope of the standard beyond manual measurement with the probe placed on the surface. The principle governing the reading nevertheless still holds: the instrument measures a time of flight and converts it into thickness using the set propagation velocity, which must be verified on the material under examination.
For field work, which remains predominantly contact-based, this means that the choice of transducer and calibration on a known thickness continue to determine the quality of the result. The standard compliances declared for each instrument are given on the individual model page and in the attached datasheet.
Recommended instruments
| Instrument | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Dakota CX4 | Contact thickness measurement on coated walls |
| Dakota PMX2-DL | Universal precision measurement on different materials |
| Corrosion transducers | Dual-element probes for contact measurement |
| Calibration blocks | Verification of the set velocity on a known thickness |
Frequently asked questions
No. ISO 16809:2025, the third edition published in June 2025, supersedes the 2017 edition.
The title, which becomes Ultrasonic thickness determination, and the scope, which is extended to the immersion technique.
In the 2017 edition, ISO 16809 had the same scope text as EN 14127. With the 2025 edition, the scope of the ISO standard has been extended to immersion.
Back to Standards for thickness measurement or write to us from the Contact page.
Further information and contacts
Systems division and sensor integration partner : www.roder.it
More information about RODER SRL : about us
Contact for general information : info@roder.it
Contact for information about these products : info@roder.it
The information contained on this web page is provided for information purposes only. Although it has been compiled with the utmost care, it does not constitute a contractual offer or a binding commitment to supply. It may contain transcription, translation or typographical errors. For precise and up-to-date information, please contact our company directly.
Some images on this website have been intentionally generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is because, for many applications and projects, it is not possible to disclose photographs of the installation or of the actual system due to confidentiality agreements, confidentiality clauses and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).