Overview
ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015 provides guidance on laundry testing of identification (ID) cards, focusing on simulating accidental exposure to washing and drying processes commonly encountered when cards are washed with clothing. This international technical report defines standardized methods to evaluate the durability and physical integrity of various ID card materials after laundering, a scenario not normally covered under routine wear and usage tests. The goal is to assist manufacturers, specifiers, and users in understanding how ID cards withstand typical laundry conditions such as water exposure, detergents, mechanical agitation, and heat from drying cycles.
Key Topics
- Laundry Test Simulation: The standard specifies one typical washing and drying cycle to replicate common household laundry conditions. This includes washing at approximately 40°C with detergent for about one hour, followed by tumble drying at temperatures not exceeding 60°C.
- Physical and Functional Testing: Cards are assessed for changes in visual appearance (legibility of text, portrait clarity) and compliance with physical standards (ISO 7810). Cards with integrated chips, magnetic stripes, or optical memory media are verified for continued functionality post-test.
- Test Parameters and Conditions:
- Use of ballast materials such as cotton towels or denim jeans to fill the washing machine.
- Detergents: commercial non-biological detergents or reference detergents like ATCC 1993 or ECE/IEC detergent A.
- Water hardness controlled to ≤20 ppm calcium carbonate, with possible use of water softeners.
- Exposure to water, detergent solution, washing machine mechanical action, and heat from drying.
- Test Setup: Cards placed in garment pockets (minimum four cards per test load), secured to prevent loss during washing, and spaced to avoid contact. Metal components such as zippers or buttons must not touch cards during testing.
Applications
- Material Comparison: Enables manufacturers and product developers to compare the resilience of different card substrates or laminates under simulated laundry conditions.
- Quality Assurance: Helps organizations verify that ID cards maintain usability and readability even after accidental laundering, crucial for driver’s licenses, access cards, and financial cards.
- Standardization of Testing: Provides a harmonized method for laboratories and quality control teams to evaluate card durability consistently.
- Risk Assessment: Assists card issuers in assessing the risk and impact of accidental washing, particularly in regions where cards are commonly carried in trouser pockets.
- Extended Card Lifecycle Evaluation: Complements existing service life and durability standards for cards by addressing accidental damage not considered in normal use profiles.
Related Standards
- ISO 7810: Defines physical characteristics of ID cards, referenced for compliance checks post-laundry testing.
- ISO/IEC 10373-1: Covers general test methods to verify card functionality including electronic components.
- ISO/IEC 24789-1 & 24789-2: Provide application profiles and evaluation methods for overall card service life.
- ISO 6330: Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing, used as a reference for selecting washing machine settings.
- ISO 6059: Water quality testing method, applied for controlling water hardness during the test.
- AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard: North American specification also referencing laundry and durability considerations.
- ANSI INCITS 322: Laundry test guidelines that complement this report for technical assessments.
Keywords: ISO/IEC TR 18781, laundry testing, identification cards, ID card durability, card washing simulation, card testing standards, physical card degradation, card service life, laundry damage to ID cards, washing machine test protocols