ISO/IEC 10373-1:2020

Overview

ISO/IEC 10373-1:2020 - "Cards and security devices for personal identification - Test methods - Part 1: General characteristics" specifies standardized test methods for physical and some electrical characteristics of identification cards and security devices. It defines how to measure card properties referenced in ISO/IEC 7810 and related standards (environment, pre‑conditioning, measurement uncertainty) but does not set pass/fail criteria - those are given in other International Standards.

Key topics and technical scope

This part of ISO/IEC 10373 focuses on reproducible test procedures and reporting for general card characteristics, including:

• Test environment and pre‑conditioning: default conditions, selection of methods, tolerances and total measurement uncertainty.
• Card geometry and dimensions: thickness, height and width measurements.
• Card warpage and dimensional stability: static warpage and changes under temperature/humidity.
• Peel strength and adhesion: peel tests for overlays and laminated layers (including edge‑peel).
• Chemical and heat resistance: reagents, procedures and reporting for resistance to chemicals and to heat.
• Mechanical durability: bending stiffness, dynamic bending stress, dynamic torsional stress, and adhesion/blocking.
• Surface and optical properties: opacity, surface distortions, raised/depressed areas, embossing relief height.
• Non‑destructive inspection: X‑ray procedures.
• ICC (integrated circuit card) specific tests: conventions for electrical measurements on contact cards, contact dimensions and location, mechanical strength of contacts, ESD considerations, holders and default measurement positions.
• Test documentation: prescribed apparatus descriptions, step‑by‑step procedures and required test report contents for each method.

Practical applications and users

ISO/IEC 10373-1:2020 is used by organizations that design, manufacture, test or certify identity credentials and security cards:

• Card manufacturers and laminators - validate production quality (warpage, peel strength, dimensional stability).
• Smartcard module and contact supplier labs - verify contact dimensions, mechanical strength and ESD behavior for ICCs.
• Testing and certification laboratories - implement standardized test methods for compliance testing and reporting.
• Government ID programs and card issuers - define procurement test protocols and acceptance testing referencing separate acceptance criteria.
• Security integrators and quality assurance teams - ensure durability and longevity of payment, ID, access and transit cards.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 7810 (physical characteristics of ID cards) - referenced for dimensions and baseline criteria.
• Other parts of ISO/IEC 10373 (for additional card tests) and standards that define acceptability criteria and performance requirements.

Keywords: ISO/IEC 10373-1:2020, identification cards test methods, card durability testing, ISO/IEC 7810, ICC contact tests, card warpage, peel strength, card dimensional stability.