Overview
EN ISO 12138:2018 - adopted from ISO 12138:2017 - defines standardized domestic laundering procedures for textile fabrics prior to flammability testing. It specifies repeatable washing and rinsing methods to ensure that results from subsequent flammability assessments are comparable and representative of domestic wash effects. The procedures are based on ISO 6330:2012 but add tighter controls on water hardness, liquor volumes, detergent type/quantity, machine loading and agitation.
Key topics and requirements
- Purpose: Pre-condition textiles by repeated domestic laundering to reveal changes that affect flammability (finish removal, chemical modification, deposition of salts, shrinkage, abrasion, moisture content).
- Machine types: Procedures support three machine classes (Type A - horizontal drum, Types B/C - vertical drum) with harmonized loading and action parameters.
- Loading & dosage: Standard loading of 60 g per litre of drum volume and detergent dosage 20 g per kg of wash load (as specified).
- Liquor:fabric ratios: For Type A machines the wash and rinse ratios are specified (wash 5.0:1, rinse 9.0:1); Type B/C use different mechanical action and a 20:1 ratio for certain phases.
- Water hardness & volumes: Medium water hardness is required to detect deposition/chemical effects; the standard includes procedures for preparing artificial hard water (Annex A).
- Detergent composition: Recommends a standard non‑phosphate detergent (containing sodium percarbonate and a bleach activator); composition guidance included (Annex B). Note: the combination of hard water and percarbonate detergent is not suitable for flame‑retardant materials at temperatures above 60 °C.
- Temperatures & agitation: Four standard wash temperatures are provided; agitation regimes (reduced or normal) and heating/filling procedures are defined to minimize variability.
- Rinsing & conditioning: Standardized rinsing and conditioning atmospheres (reference to ISO 139) are required; fabric softeners are excluded from the rinse.
- Annexes: Practical details and parameters are provided in Annexes A–E (artificial hard water, detergent composition, parameters per machine type).
Applications
- Pre‑conditioning textiles prior to laboratory flammability testing
- Evaluating the durability of flame‑retardant treatments after domestic washing
- Assessing effects of domestic laundering on textile appearance, mass per unit area and surface finishes that influence ignition or burning
- Supporting product development, compliance testing, regulatory submissions and quality control
Who uses this standard
- Textile testing laboratories and certification bodies
- Manufacturers of apparel, home textiles and technical textiles
- Product safety engineers, textile chemists and quality managers
- Regulators and conformity assessment organizations performing flammability evaluations
Related standards
- ISO 6330:2012 - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing (basis for machine procedures)
- ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (referenced for conditioning prior to flammability tests)
Keywords: EN ISO 12138:2018, textiles, domestic laundering, flammability testing, washing procedures, water hardness, detergent dosage, machine loading.
