Overview

EN ISO 8589:2010 (ISO 8589:2007) - Sensory analysis: General guidance for the design of test rooms - provides practical, non–product-specific guidance for designing facilities used in sensory evaluation. It defines the layout and environmental requirements for a typical sensory test facility (testing area, preparation area, office) and distinguishes essential requirements from those that are desirable. The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 34 and adopted by CEN as EN ISO 8589:2010.

Key topics and technical requirements

Facility layout
- Typical components: testing area (individual booths or group area), preparation area, office; desirable additions: cloakroom, toilets, sample/storage rooms, assessor waiting area.
- Testing and preparation areas should be close but separate to avoid cross-contamination (odour/noise) and to prevent assessors passing through the preparation area.
Environmental control
- Temperature must be controlled; relative humidity controllable if it affects samples.
- Noise levels minimized; sound-resistant construction and low-noise flooring recommended.
- Odour control: use of activated-carbon filters, materials easy to clean, possible slight positive pressure in testing area to limit air inflow.
Materials, finishes and decoration
- Neutral colours to avoid visual bias - matt off-white or light neutral grey recommended; dark grey may be suitable for floors and chairs.
- Furnishings should not emit interfering odours; fabric surfaces may be limited due to odour absorption and cleaning difficulty.
Lighting
- Uniform, controllable lighting free from strong shadows. Examples: 6 500 K (northern daylight) or 5 000–5 500 K with high colour-rendering index for “noon” daylight.
- Special lighting options (dimmers, coloured filters, monochromatic sources) may be used when required by the test (e.g., to mask colour differences).
Testing booths
- Individual booths recommended to limit distractions and communication during evaluations.
- Booth number and layout depend on space and test types; service hatches with quiet sliding doors recommended where booths face the preparation area.
Safety and accessibility
- Consider laboratory safety (ventilation hoods, wash stations, fire precautions) and accessibility for assessors with disabilities.
Normative reference
- ISO 5492 (sensory analysis - vocabulary) is referenced for terms and definitions.

Practical applications and users

Who uses EN ISO 8589:

Sensory scientists and panel managers
Laboratory designers and architects
R&D teams in food and non-food industries
Quality assurance managers, procurement teams
Academic research facilities and contract testing labs

Typical applications:

Designing or renovating sensory test rooms and booths
Commissioning sensory laboratories and writing facility requirements
Creating test conditions for consumer or trained panel studies
Supporting accreditation or internal QA of sensory facilities

Related standards

ISO 5492 - Sensory analysis - Vocabulary (normative reference cited by EN ISO 8589)
EN ISO 8589:2010 is the CEN adoption of ISO 8589:2007

Keywords: sensory analysis, test rooms, ISO 8589, design of test rooms, testing booths, sensory laboratory design, odour control, lighting, temperature control, sensory evaluation.

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Facility layout
- Typical components: testing area (individual booths or group area), preparation area, office; desirable additions: cloakroom, toilets, sample/storage rooms, assessor waiting area.
- Testing and preparation areas should be close but separate to avoid cross-contamination (odour/noise) and to prevent assessors passing through the preparation area.
Environmental control
- Temperature must be controlled; relative humidity controllable if it affects samples.
- Noise levels minimized; sound-resistant construction and low-noise flooring recommended.
- Odour control: use of activated-carbon filters, materials easy to clean, possible slight positive pressure in testing area to limit air inflow.
Materials, finishes and decoration
- Neutral colours to avoid visual bias - matt off-white or light neutral grey recommended; dark grey may be suitable for floors and chairs.
- Furnishings should not emit interfering odours; fabric surfaces may be limited due to odour absorption and cleaning difficulty.
Lighting
- Uniform, controllable lighting free from strong shadows. Examples: 6 500 K (northern daylight) or 5 000–5 500 K with high colour-rendering index for “noon” daylight.
- Special lighting options (dimmers, coloured filters, monochromatic sources) may be used when required by the test (e.g., to mask colour differences).
Testing booths
- Individual booths recommended to limit distractions and communication during evaluations.
- Booth number and layout depend on space and test types; service hatches with quiet sliding doors recommended where booths face the preparation area.
Safety and accessibility
- Consider laboratory safety (ventilation hoods, wash stations, fire precautions) and accessibility for assessors with disabilities.
Normative reference
- ISO 5492 (sensory analysis - vocabulary) is referenced for terms and definitions.

Practical applications and users

Who uses EN ISO 8589:

Sensory scientists and panel managers
Laboratory designers and architects
R&D teams in food and non-food industries
Quality assurance managers, procurement teams
Academic research facilities and contract testing labs

Typical applications:

Designing or renovating sensory test rooms and booths
Commissioning sensory laboratories and writing facility requirements
Creating test conditions for consumer or trained panel studies
Supporting accreditation or internal QA of sensory facilities

Related standards

ISO 5492 - Sensory analysis - Vocabulary (normative reference cited by EN ISO 8589)
EN ISO 8589:2010 is the CEN adoption of ISO 8589:2007

Keywords: sensory analysis, test rooms, ISO 8589, design of test rooms, testing booths, sensory laboratory design, odour control, lighting, temperature control, sensory evaluation.

EN ISO 8589:2010 PDF

Technical details

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Practical applications and users

Related standards

Related standards

Abstract

Overview

Key topics and technical requirements

Practical applications and users

Related standards

Related standards

Sensory analysis — General guidance for the design of test rooms

Sensory analysis - Vocabulary - Amendment 1 (ISO 5492:2008/Amd 1:2016)

Sensory analysis - General guidance for the design of test rooms (ISO 8589:2007/Amd 1:2014)