BRITISH STANDARD BS EN
20105-A03:
1995
ISO 105-A03:
1993
Textiles — Tests for
colour fastness —
Part A03: Grey scale for assessing
staining
The European Standard EN 20105-A03:1994 has the status of a
British Standard
UDC 677.016.47:677.016.41:535.653
BS EN 20105-A03:1995
Cooperating organizations
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), under whose supervision
this European Standard was prepared, comprises the national standards
organizations of the following countries:
Austria Oesterreichisches Normungsinstitut
Belgium Institut belge de normalisation
Denmark Dansk Standard
Finland Suomen Standardisoimisliito, r.y.
France Association française de normalisation
Germany Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.
Greece Hellenic Organization for Standardization
Iceland Technological Institute of Iceland
Ireland National Standards Authority of Ireland
Italy Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Luxembourg Inspection du Travail et des Mines
Netherlands Nederlands Normalisatie-instituut
Norway Norges Standardiseringsforbund
Portugal Instituto Portuguès da Qualidade
Spain Asociación Española de Normalización y Certificación
Sweden Standardiseringskommissionen i Sverige
Switzerland Association suisse de normalisation
United Kingdom British Standards Institution
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the
direction of the Textiles and
Clothing Standards Policy
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Standards Board and comes
into effect on
15 January 1995
© BSI 03-1999
Amendments issued since publication
First published January 1993
Second edition January 1995
Amd. No. Date Comments
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference TCM/25
Special announcement in
BSI News March 1994
ISBN 0 580 23144 5
BS EN 20105-A03:1995
Contents
Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
1 Scope 3
2 Principle 3
National annex NA (informative) Committees responsible Inside back cover
© BSI 03-1999 i
BS EN 20105-A03:1995
National foreword
This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and
Clothing Standards Policy Committee. It is the English language version of
EN 20105-A03:1994 Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A03: Grey scale
for assessing staining, published by the European Committee for Standardization
(CEN), which is identical with ISO 105-A03:1993, published by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO). It supersedes BS EN 20105-A03:1993,
which is withdrawn.
The technical content of this British Standard is identical with that of the
corresponding method formerly published in BS 1006:1990 Methods of test for
colour fastness of textiles and leather.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.
Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.
ii © BSI 03-1999
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 20105-A03
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 1994
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
UDC 677.016.47:677.016.41:535.653 Supersedes EN 20105-A03:1992
Descriptors: Textiles, dyes, tests, determination, colour fastness, grey scale, staining of colour
English version
Textiles — Tests for colour fastness —
Part A03: Grey scale for assessing staining
(ISO 105-A03:1993)
Textiles — Essais de solidité des teintures — Textilien — Farbechtheitsprüfung —
Partie A03: Echelle de gris pour l’ évaluation Teil A03: Graumaßstab zur Bewertung des
des dégorgements Anblutens
(ISO 105-A03:1993) (ISO 105-A03:1993)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1994-08-09. 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.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any
CEN member.
This European Standard exists 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
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.
CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels
© 1994 Copyright reserved to CEN members
Ref. No. EN 20105-A03:1994 E
EN 20105-A03:1994
Foreword
This European Standard has been taken over by
CEN/TC 248, Textiles and textile products, from the
work of ISO/TC 38, Textiles, of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The content of this European Standard is identical
to the International Standard ISO 105-A03
Textiles — Tests for colour fastness —
Part A03: Grey scale for assessing staining
from 1993.
This European Standard shall be given the status of
a national standard, either by publication of an
indentical text or by endorsement, at the latest by
February 1995, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by February 1995.
This European Standard supersedes
EN 20105-A03:1992.
In accordance with the common CEN/CENELEC
Rules, the following countries are bound to
implement this European Standard: Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.
2 © BSI 03-1999
EN 20105-A03:1994
1 Scope 2.5 Use of the scale. Place a piece of the unstained,
adjacent fabric (the original piece) and the piece
This part of ISO 105 describes the grey scale for
which has been part of a composite specimen in a
determining staining of adjacent fabrics in colour
fastness test (the tested specimen) side by side in
fastness tests, and its use. A precise colorimetric
the same plane. The surrounding field should be
specification of the scale is given as a permanent neutral grey colour approximately midway between
record against which newly prepared working that illustrating grade 1 and that illustrating
standards and standards that may have changed
grade 2 of the grey scale for assessing change in
can be compared.
colour (this is approximately Munsell N5). If
necessary to avoid effects of the backing on the
2 Principle appearance of the textiles, use two or more layers of
2.1 The essential, or 5-step, scale consists of five the unstained undyed textile under both original
pairs of non-glossy grey or white colour chips (or and treated pieces. Illuminate the surfaces with
swatches of grey or white cloth), which illustrate the north sky light in the Northern hemisphere, south
perceived colour differences corresponding to sky light in the Southern hemisphere, or an
fastness ratings 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. This essential scale equivalent source with an illumination of 600 Ix or
may be augmented by the provision of similar chips more. The light should be incident upon the surfaces
or swatches illustrating the perceived colour at approximately 45°, and the direction of viewing
differences corresponding to the half-step fastness approximately perpendicular to the plane of the
ratings 4–5, 3–4, 2–3 and 1–2, such scales being surfaces. Compare the visual difference between the
termed 9-step scales. The first member of each pair original piece and the tested specimen with the
is white in colour and the second member of the pair differences represented by the grey scale.
illustrating fastness rating 5 is identical with the If the 5-step scale is used, the degree of staining of
first member. The second members of the remaining the tested specimen is that number of the grey scale
pairs are increasingly darker in colour so that each which has a perceived colour difference equal in
pair illustrates increasing contrasts or perceived magnitude to the perceived colour difference
colour differences which are defined between the original and the tested specimens; if
colorimetrically. The full colorimetric specification the latter is judged to be nearer the imaginary
is given below. contrast lying midway between two adjacent pairs
2.2 The chips or swatches shall be white or neutral than it is to either, the tested specimen is given an
grey in colour and shall be measured with a intermediate assessment, for example 4–5 or 2–3. A
spectrophotometer with the specular component rating of 5 is given only when there is no perceived
included. The colorimetric data shall be calculated difference between the tested specimen and the
using CIE 1964 supplementary standard original piece.
colorimetric system (10° observer data) for If the 9-step scale is used, the degree of staining of
illuminant D65. the tested specimen is that number of the grey scale
2.3 The Y tristimulus value of the first member which has a perceived colour difference nearest in
(white) of each pair shall be not less than 85. magnitude to the perceived colour difference
2.4 The second member of each pair shall be such between the original piece and the tested specimen.
that the colour difference between it and the A rating of 5 is given only when there is no perceived
adjacent first member is as follows: difference between the tested specimen and the
original piece.
Fastness grade CIELAB difference Tolerance When a number of assessments have been made, it
is very useful to compare all the pairs of original and
5 0 0,2
tested specimens which have been given the same
(4–5) 2,2 ± 0,3 numerical rating. This gives a good indication of the
4 4,3 ± 0,3 consistency of the assessments, since any errors
(3–4) 6,0 ± 0,4 become prominent. Pairs which do not appear to
have the same degree of contrast as the remainder
3 8,5 ± 0,5 of their groups should be re-checked against the
(2–3) 12,0 ± 0,7 grey scale and, if necessary, the rating should be
2 16,9 ± 1,0 changed.
(1–2) 24,0 ± 1,5
1 34,1 ± 2,0
(Bracketed values apply only to the 9-step scale.)
© BSI 03-1999 3
4 blank
BS EN 20105-A03:1995
National annex NA (informative)
Committees responsible
The United Kingdom participation in the preparation of this European Standard was entrusted by the
Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee (TCM/-) to Technical Committee TCM/25, upon which
the following bodies were represented.
Association of Consulting Scientists
Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry Limited
British Retail Consortium
British Textile Confederation
Chemical Industries Association
Home Laundering Consultative Council
International Wool Secretariat
Mail Order Traders’ Association
Ministry of Defence
National Wool Textile Export Corporation
SATRA Footwear Technology Centre
Soap and Detergent Industry Association
Society of Dyers and Colourists
Textile Finishers Association
Textile Research Council (FCRA)
Participation in the detailed technical work was undertaken by the Society of Dyers and Colourists.
© BSI 03-1999
BS EN
20105-A03:
1995 BSI — British Standards Institution
ISO 105-A03:
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1993 British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
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