ISO 12138:2017

Overview

ISO 12138:2017 - "Textiles - Domestic laundering procedures for textile fabrics prior to flammability testing" defines standardized domestic washing and rinsing procedures to be applied to textile specimens before flammability assessment. The standard adapts and extends ISO 6330:2012 machine-based procedures with additional controls for water hardness, detergent type/quantity, machine loading, liquor volumes and degree of agitation so that post‑wash flammability behaviour is reproducible and comparable.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Water hardness: Test water must be medium-hard (160 mg/L ± 40 mg/L expressed as CaCO3). Methods are given to use, dilute or artificially prepare water to this specification.
• Detergent: A low-foaming, perborate-containing detergent is specified (parties agree on the exact product). Quantities are defined relative to drum volume or load mass; the document includes a formula for detergent mass.
• Machine types: Procedures support three machine types (Type A horizontal drum; Type B and C vertical drum) with harmonized loading and liquor:fabric ratios where possible.
• Loading and volumes: Degree of loading is specified at 60 g per litre of drum volume. Liquor volumes (low/high dip levels) and rinse volumes are specified and calculated from drum dimensions.
• Temperatures and agitation: Four standard wash temperatures (e.g., 30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C) are provided with defined agitation modes (reduced/normal) and centrifuge times.
• Cycles and rinsing: Typical procedure calls for repeated wash/rinse cycles (commonly 12 cycles total) and four rinses per wash. Rinsing procedure and absence of rinse softeners are enforced.
• Pre-test conditioning: Conditioning and testing atmosphere should follow ISO 139 to ensure consistent moisture and temperature prior to flammability testing.
• Calculations and annexes: The standard provides formulas to calculate drum volume, test load and detergent mass, plus annexes for artificial hard water preparation and recommended detergent compositions.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 12138:2017 is used by:

• Textile test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies preparing specimens for flammability tests
• Textile manufacturers and finishers evaluating the durability of flame-retardant treatments and finishes after domestic laundering
• Product safety engineers and regulatory authorities assessing consumer textile safety and compliance
• R&D teams studying wash‑related changes (shrinkage, finish removal, deposition of salts) that affect flammability

Practical benefits include consistent pre-test conditioning, reproducible comparison of materials, and reliable detection of laundering-induced changes that could alter flammability.

Related standards

• ISO 6330:2012 - Domestic washing and drying procedures (machine types and cycles)
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (pre‑test conditioning)
• ISO 10528 - Alternative procedures for commercial laundering prior to flammability testing

Keywords: ISO 12138:2017, domestic laundering procedures, flammability testing, textile fabrics, water hardness, detergent, washing machine types, test load, rinse procedure.