ISO 105 is a family of separate colour-fastness test methods, not one test and not one universal pass specification. The correct part depends on the exposure being simulated, the textile product, the customer requirement and the laboratory procedure. The method defines how to expose and assess a specimen; the buyer, brand, product standard or contract normally defines the required result.
Use the exact year and edition named in the applicable specification. Laboratories should work from licensed standards, controlled procedures, calibrated or verified equipment, suitable reference materials and trained visual assessors.
Choose the ISO 105 Part That Matches the Exposure
ISO 105-A01:2010 — General Principles
Confirm the current edition, specimen identity, conditioning, method and reporting fields. Use it to control the general test-and-reporting framework, not as a substitute for the exposure-specific part.
ISO 105-C06:2010 — Domestic and Commercial Laundering
Confirm the specific test condition required by the buyer or product specification. Do not select a condition from habit or apply one acceptance grade to every product.
ISO 105-C10:2006 — Washing with Soap or Soap and Soda
Confirm the selected procedure, adjacent fabric, assessment method and customer acceptance criterion.
ISO 105-C12:2024 — Industrial Laundering
Confirm product applicability and the procedure required by the relevant specification. The published 2024 edition replaced the withdrawn 2004 edition.
ISO 105-X12:2016 — Rubbing
Confirm dry or wet condition, apparatus control and the buyer limit. The published part was under systematic review when checked on 16 August 2026, so verify current status before use.
ISO 105-B02:2014 — Artificial Light
Confirm exposure method, reference materials, assessment practice and the product specification.
ISO 105-E04:2013 — Perspiration
Confirm the acid and alkali conditions required and the applicable product requirement.
ISO 105-E01:2013 — Water
Confirm specimen assembly, assessment practice and the contract or product acceptance criterion.
ISO 105-A02:1993 — Grey Scale for Change in Colour
Use controlled viewing and the current corrected edition. Trained assessors, reference control and documented viewing conditions are essential when visual grading is used.
What to Record Before Testing
- Product, colour, lot and specimen identification
- Required ISO 105 part, edition and exact condition
- Buyer or product specification and acceptance criterion
- Conditioning, adjacent fabric, consumables and reference materials
- Apparatus identification and verification status
- Assessment stage, viewing conditions and assessor control
How to Interpret a Colour-Fastness Failure
A test grade is evidence, not a complete root-cause diagnosis. First verify the test identity, edition, specimen, conditioning, apparatus, consumables, reference materials, viewing conditions and transcription.
Then investigate production records such as substrate history, dye and chemical batch, recipe, pH/time/temperature profile, washing-off, reduction clearing or soaping, fixation, drying or curing, finishing and contamination. Confirm suspected causes with controlled repeat testing; do not infer a chemical cause from one grade alone. Undersating of the Dyeing process is also important.
Reporting the Result
Report the exact part and edition, specimen and side tested, test condition, adjacent material or reference, individual assessments, deviations and the acceptance requirement used. If the buyer specification and ISO method appear inconsistent, obtain written clarification before testing or releasing the result.
Method control should sit inside the laboratory’s wider quality-management controls for textile laboratories and production.
Sources and Review
- ISO 105-A01:2010 — general principles, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-C06:2010 — domestic and commercial laundering, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-C10:2006 — washing with soap or soap and soda, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-C12:2024 — industrial laundering, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-X12:2016 — rubbing, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-B02:2014 — artificial light, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-E04:2013 — perspiration, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-E01:2013 — water, accessed 16 August 2026.
- ISO 105-A02:1993 — grey scale for change in colour, accessed 16 August 2026.
Use licensed copies and the buyer’s current specification. ISO method status and laboratory wording must be reviewed before publication.
