Overview
ISO 1957:2000 defines a standardized procedure for the selection and cutting of specimens from machine-made textile floor coverings for use in physical tests. Applicable to pile and non-pile carpets produced mechanically, the standard ensures specimens are as representative of the lot as possible. Annex A provides an informative reference method for selecting samples from bulk material; if that reference method is not used, the sample may not be fully representative and the sampling method should be agreed by the parties involved.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability: Machine-made textile floor coverings, with or without pile; specimen preparation for physical testing.
- Examination and recording: Inspect the sample and note any visible variations (pile direction, tuft length variations, changes in wearing layer).
- Orientation of specimens: Cut square or rectangular specimens with edges parallel to the warp (chain) and weft (weave) directions or, where relevant, parallel/perpendicular to the machine manufacturing direction.
- Minimum edge clearances:
- Keep specimens at least 100 mm from true selvedges or pile-edge parts that are part of the pile.
- Keep specimens at least 300 mm from edges parallel to the weft or perpendicular to machine direction; where prior cuts were made more than 300 mm from a pile-change line, the minimum can be 50 mm.
- Multiple specimens: Distribute specimens evenly across the largest available area to avoid reusing the same warp/weft yarns; if duplication is unavoidable, avoid taking additional specimens in the machine direction.
- Thickness and layered constructions: Where pile or wearing layers vary in height, select specimens from areas with a single consistent thickness and ensure each tested region is at least 20 mm from any thickness change.
- Reporting requirements: The sampling report must state compliance with procedures, note any deviations (incl. specimens cut on the bias), indicate if the same warp/weft yarns appear in multiple specimens, and describe any varying pile thickness and its relation to test results.
Practical applications and users
ISO 1957 is used by:
- Carpet and textile floor-covering manufacturers for quality control and production sampling.
- Independent testing laboratories preparing specimens for standardized physical tests (wear, dimensional stability, strength).
- Buyers, specifiers, and contract managers who require repeatable, defensible test results.
- Standards committees and quality assurance teams to harmonize sampling practice.
Using ISO 1957 helps ensure consistent specimen preparation, reduces variability in test results, and supports transparent reporting between suppliers and testing laboratories.
Related guidance
- Developed by ISO/TC 219 (Floor coverings).
- Refer to relevant ISO physical test methods for carpets and floor coverings for specific test procedures after specimen preparation.
Open preview (PDF)Machine-made textile floor coverings — Selection and cutting of specimens for physical tests
