ISO 15797

ISO 15797 Standard Testing

ISO15797 combines previously recognized testing methods for textiles to objectively and consistently evaluate whether work wear and other professional garments and materials can sustain their color, form and finish through tough, elevated temperatures and industrial washing procedures.  These procedures typically exceed 75 ° C.  Likewise, tests are meant to evaluate the capacity of the garments or materials to withstand high drying temperatures in excess of 155° C. which are commonly present in facilities using industrial drying methods.


Defining ISO 15797
ISO 15797 is necessary due to fact that some industries require more stringent washing and drying procedures to ensure proper hygiene, safety and professional presentation of garments and materials.   Previously, only ISO6330 was used as a standard measure for domestic washing.  ISO6330 however is not a reliable indicator for wash methods and garment performance using industrial washing and finishing methods.


Standard ISO15797 Testing
The draft standard has eight washing procedures and two drying procedures.  The washing procedures are intended to differentiate between fabric types (cotton, cotton/polyester and polyester/cotton), colors (white, sensitive colors and colored work wear) and cleaning agents (peracetic acid, chlorine or hydrogen peroxide bleach).

It's important to note that testing facilities cannot accurately recreate the conditions of a large industrial washing facility, so testing procedures are designed to use intermediate equipment and precise testing procedures.  By using ISO 15797, test conditions are closer to real life conditions for industrial laundry in comparison to ISO6330.

The final process of testing allows agencies to test for properties such as shrinkage, color-fastness, creasing, seam puckering and mechanical strength of fabric.

Note that standardized testing for industrial wash is not intended to provide instructions or specifications for how industrial washing should be handled.  These standards are used to provide information for suppliers and handlers of professional garments to judge whether or not work wear can handle industrial washing/processing.  There are no provided criteria or evaluation scales pertaining to suitability to industrial laundry, and recommended number of cycles or washes is determined by the manufacturer of the garment or material - not through ISO15797 testing procedures.

For all materials and garments, the standard recommends additional testing of safety garments and work wear in actual industrial wash equipment to ensure materials and goods are suitable for production and handling in any given production line.

Ultimately, the benefit of standard testing to ISO 15797 is that a clear indication is given on whether the materials supplied are suitable for standard industrial processing.