Overview
ISO 2588:2014 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies the method for sampling leather by defining the number of whole leather pieces - or items - to be selected from a lot to form a gross sample. This standard applies to all types of leather irrespective of the tanning process used. It aims to provide a systematic approach for sampling that supports consistent quality assessment and testing across the leather industry globally. Note that ISO 2588:2014 does not address the marking or storage of the gross sample.
Key Topics
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Scope of Application
ISO 2588:2014 applies to whole pieces of leather drawn from lots, covering all tanning methods and leather types. The standard ensures that chosen samples effectively represent the lot’s characteristics for quality evaluation.
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Definitions
- Lot: A defined quantity of leather pieces manufactured or produced under presumed uniform conditions.
- Gross sample: The total number of units taken from the lot to form a sample for testing.
- Unit item: An entire leather piece included in the gross sample.
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Sampling Method
The standard provides guidance on determining the number of unit items to include in a gross sample, depending on:
- The size of the lot
- The purpose and nature of tests (destructive or non-destructive)
- Desired reliability and variability of test results
Sampling must be random to avoid bias, for example, by numbering pieces and selecting them using random number tables.
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Minimum Sample Size Table
The document includes a clear table indicating the minimum number of pieces to be taken for both non-destructive and destructive tests, scaled to lot size:
| Lot Size (Pieces) | Non-Destructive Tests | Destructive Tests |
|-------------------|-----------------------|-------------------|
| 1 – 10 | 2 | 1 |
| 11 – 50 | 3 | 2 |
| 51 – 100 | 4 | 3 |
| 101 – 500 | 5 | 4 |
| > 500 | 10 | 5 |
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Reporting Requirements
The standard specifies essential elements to include in the sampling report, such as:
- Reference to ISO 2588
- Lot identification and size
- Number of unit items sampled
- Observed particularities during sampling
- Deviations from the prescribed standard method
Applications
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Quality Control in Leather Manufacturing
Manufacturers use this standard to ensure representative sampling of leather lots for quality testing, helping to maintain consistent product standards.
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Leather Testing Laboratories
Laboratories rely on ISO 2588:2014 sampling methods to prepare samples for mechanical, physical, or chemical testing, ensuring analytic accuracy and reproducibility.
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Procurement and Inspection
Buyers and inspectors can use the standard to define sampling protocols for incoming goods inspections, promoting transparency and minimizing disputes.
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Research and Development
R&D teams employ this standard when selecting leather samples to evaluate new tanning processes or treatments.
Related Standards
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ISO 3534-2:2006 – Statistics Vocabulary and Symbols, Part 2: Applied Statistics
This referenced standard provides terminology and definitions for statistical concepts used in sampling and testing.
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ISO 2418:2017 – Leather - Physical and mechanical tests - Sample preparation and conditioning
Complements ISO 2588 by providing guidelines on preparing leather samples post-sampling for testing purposes.
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ISO 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
Ensures proper laboratory practices and quality assurance complementing the sampling methods in ISO 2588.
Keywords: ISO 2588, leather sampling, gross sample size, leather quality control, leather testing standard, sampling method, leather lot, leather industry standards, non-destructive testing, destructive testing, leather inspection, international leather standards.
