ISO 11798:2023

Overview

ISO 11798:2023 - Information and documentation - Permanence and durability of writing, printing and copying on paper - Requirements and test methods - defines standardized requirements and laboratory test methods to evaluate the long‑term permanence and durability of images recorded on paper. It targets documents intended for storage in libraries, archives and other protected environments, where the recorded information must be retained over long periods (but not necessarily the full artistic quality).

The standard applies to images on white permanent or archival paper (ISO 9706, ISO 11108) produced by pens, stamps, copying machines and printers (mono‑ and multicolour). It excludes materials stored under harmful conditions (e.g., high humidity, excessive heat, strong radiation), legal/authenticity‑sensitive documents, items where tiny colour shifts alter information content, and photographic materials covered by ISO/TC 42.

Key technical topics and requirements

ISO 11798:2023 structures performance criteria and test procedures around measurable attributes:

• Colour fastness and visual appearance - evaluation using CIELAB colour measurements (CIELAB replaces optical density methods).
• Lightfastness - accelerated light exposure testing to assess fading or colour shifts.
• Water resistance - assessment of solubility, bleeding and legibility after water exposure.
• Transfer of recording - susceptibility of printed/written material to transfer or smudging.
• Abrasion resistance - wear evaluation with degree of abrasion quantified by CIELAB change.
• Resistance to heat - stability of images under elevated temperature conditions.
• Effects on paper mechanical strength - tensile energy absorption and folding endurance measured to determine whether recording materials weaken paper.

Notable updates in the 2023 edition include the use of CIELAB metrics (ΔL, Δa, Δb and ΔE) for colour evaluation, defined reference materials and handling for mechanical tests, and detailed specimen preparation templates and reporting forms in normative annexes.

Practical applications and users

ISO 11798:2023 is used by:

• Archivists, librarians and conservation professionals selecting inks, toners and papers for long‑term storage.
• Paper and archival paper manufacturers validating permanence properties.
• Pen, ink, printer, copier and stamp manufacturers performing quality control and product development.
• Procurement teams specifying archival‑grade printables and documentation workflows.
• Conservation laboratories and standards bodies conducting comparative testing and certification.

The standard helps organizations choose writing/printing systems and substrates that ensure legibility, reduce risk of image loss, and support long‑term information preservation.

Related standards

• ISO 9706, ISO 11108 - requirements for permanent/archival paper
• ISO 13655 - spectral measurement and colorimetric computation
• ISO 4892-2 - xenon‑arc light exposure methods
• ISO 5626 - folding endurance
• ISO 9352 - abrasion testing
• ISO 536, ISO 1924-2 - paper grammage and tensile testing

Keywords: ISO 11798:2023, permanence and durability, paper permanence, archival paper testing, CIELAB, lightfastness, water resistance, abrasion resistance, archival standards.