ISO/TS 18614:2016

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 18614
First edition
2016-06-15
Packaging — Label material —
Required information for ordering
and specifying self-adhesive labels
Emballage — Matériau d’étiquetage — Informations exigées pour la
commande et la spécification des étiquettes autocollantes
Reference number
©
ISO 2016
© ISO 2016, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 4
5 Requirements . 5
5.1 General . 5
5.2 Specification checklists for self-adhesive labels (end-user created). 5
5.3 Label material specification form (supplier response). 5
6 Considerations . 5
6.1 Order request of label material. 5
6.2 Specifying of label material . 5
Annex A (normative) Checklists for specification of characteristics for self-adhesive labels .7
Annex B (informative) Considerations per application .11
Annex C (normative) Label material specification .13
Annex D (informative) Different identification methods and purposes .18
Annex E (informative) Different identification methods and purposes .20
Annex F (informative) Label components .22
Annex G (informative) Content in label material specification .25
Annex H (informative) Label material measurements .27
Annex I (informative) Test methods .32
Bibliography .36
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
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constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment,
as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 122, Packaging.
iv © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Using and ordering label material of different kinds is not an easy task as what to use and how to use it
depends on so many things, e.g. type of marking, surface, environment, treatment, information, printing
technologies, etc.
Each label application is therefore unique and requires its own combination of ink, top coating, facestock
and adhesive to serve its purpose. The label is to be seen as a vital and important part (component) of
the product and there could be multiple labels on one product to serve different needs.
As there does not exists any standards in how to specify label materials, a guide was developed in order
to provide useful information for those that are in need of a label material and those that are to supply
the relevant label material.
This document can be used by both suppliers and users.
It provides guidance on what a supplier and user need to discuss and agree upon when specifying
requirements of a label for a given application possibly to use as a request for a quote.
It also provides a harmonized template for specifying the parameters and characteristics of the label to
enable information to be evaluated on common ground, possibly to use as a product specification.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 18614:2016(E)
Packaging — Label material — Required information for
ordering and specifying self-adhesive labels
1 Scope
This document provides guidelines for users and suppliers providing the required information for
requesting and specifying self-adhesive labels. This document provides what to consider when defining
and specifying label materials to be used for a given application.
It will ensure that the relevant information is provided so that the right material for the intended
application can be requested or recommended, as well as ensure that label parameters and
characteristics are specified in a similar format to permit label materials to be requested, specified and
compared in a consistent manner.
This document applies to labels with adhesive (also named as self-adhesive or pressure-sensitive).
How to work and specify with other types of labels and marking are not addressed in this document,
but may be the topic of subsequent documents. Also excluded is the information related to regulatory
compliance.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 21067-1 and ISO/IEC 19762-
1:2016 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
adhesive
substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment
[SOURCE: ISO 19952:2005, 3]
3.2
adhesive strength
sum total of the forces of attachment between a dry film and a substrate
3.3
facestock
paper that is used for making self-adhesive labels
Note 1 to entry: It is called “facestock” because it is the top or “face” of the laminate from which these labels are
produced.
Note 2 to entry: Specialized companies laminate the facestock paper to a release liner after the latter has been
coated first with an ultra-thin layer of silicon and then with an adhesive.
Note 3 to entry: When the ready label is peeled off from the backing paper (=release liner), the adhesive transfers
to the label because it is easily separated from the release liner because of the “non-stick” silicon.
3.4
final adhesion
force required to peel a strip of adhesive tape from a specified substrate at a specified angle and speed
Note 1 to entry: The force after at least 24 h.
3.5
imprint
local indentation caused by a foreign matter being pressed into a surface
[SOURCE: ISO 2074:2007, 6.7]
3.6
infringement
encroachment or trespass on a right
Note 1 to entry: Includes unauthorized use, use that exceeds the limitations stipulated in a licence, use that
exceeds the parameters established for an exception, etc.
3.7
ink
material, which may or may not include colorant, designed for liquid state deposition on a substrate
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 29142-1:2013, 3.28]
3.8
ink-jet
text and images formed on a substrate by electronically controlled formation and propulsion of liquid
ink droplets
3.9
label
sign carrier made from flexible material
Note 1 to entry: The purpose of a label is to convey the necessary information (text or graphics) to the user.
Note 2 to entry: Information on other identification methods in relation to labels, such as tag, ticket, tape, mark
and marking, are given in Annex D.
[SOURCE: ISO 9244:2008, 3.11, modified, Note 1 to entry and Note 2 to entry added]
3.10
mark
inscription, name, stamp, label (3.9), or seal placed on an article to signify ownership, quality,
manufacture, or origin
3.11
marking
act of making marks (3.10), signs (3.20), texts, etc., visible on a surface of something
EXAMPLE Using a ribbon, label, tag, tape or other printing technology.
3.12
maximum application temperature
highest temperature at which the label (3.9) may be applied to the surface of the product, in order for
the label material, in particular the adhesive (3.1), to perform to its given specification and correctly
adhere to the product
2 © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

3.13
minimum application temperature
lowest temperature at which the label (3.9) may be applied to the surface of the product, in order for the
label material, in particular the adhesive (3.1), to perform to its given specification and correctly adhere
to the product
3.14
multilayer product
multiple layers attached to each other
3.15
peel adhesion
force required to peel a strip of adhesive tape from a specified substrate at a specified angle and speed
Note 1 to entry: The force after minutes or hours.
[SOURCE: ISO 29862:2007, 3.1, modified, Note 1 to entry added]
3.16
pressure-sensitive adhesive
adhesive (3.1) applied to create a bond between two surfaces by a simple application of pressure
[SOURCE: ISO 17398:2004, 3.4]
3.17
print direction
orientation of the printed information (text and graphics) on the label (3.9)
Note 1 to entry: Printing “with the web” is image production in the same direction as web movement.
Note 2 to entry: Printing “across the web” is image production at a 90° angle to the direction of web movement.
3.18
printer
output unit that produces a hard copy record of data mainly in the form of a sequence of discrete graphic
characters belonging to one or more predetermined character sets
Note 1 to entry: Graphic characters can also represent graphic elements.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 2382:2015, 2125683, modified, Note 1 to entry added]
3.19
remaliner
sprocket hole punching
3.20
sign
message conveyed utilizing pictorial or textual media or both
[SOURCE: ISO 6707-1:2014, 5.5.67, modified, Note 1 to entry removed]
3.21
storage temperature
recommended temperature (range) at which the label material and/or finished labels should be held
before usage, in order to retain their specified properties
3.22
service temperature
temperature range at which the label material can be used without compromising its properties for its
intended usage when applied
3.23
tack adhesion
force required to peel a strip of adhesive tape from a specified substrate at a specified angle and speed
Note 1 to entry: The force after contact or seconds.
3.24
tag
identification label (3.9) attached to a container or container-related equipment which, among other
things, gives the unique owner’s code and serial number and which can be remotely read by electronic
sensing devices
[SOURCE: ISO 830:1999, 8.3.4, modified, inter alia replaced by among other things]
3.25
tape
long narrow strip of a flexible material with adhesive (3.1) used for sealing, binding, tying, etc.
3.26
thermal printing
inkless thermochemical process using a print head consisting of heated elements, controlled by digital
data to reproduce image areas onto heat-sensitive substrates
[SOURCE: ISO 12637-1:2006, 71]
3.27
thermal-transfer printing
system employing donor sheets or ribbons coated with wax based inks or coloured dyes that are
transferred by heat and pressure produced by thermal print heads to reproduce images onto a coated
substrate using thermal wax transfer and thermal dye transfer printing processes/methods
Note 1 to entry: Other ribbon types are available such as resin and wax/resin, etc.
[SOURCE: ISO 12637-1:2006, 72, modified, Note 1 to entry added]
3.28
ticket
piece of paper, cardboard, etc., showing that the holder is entitled to certain rights, such as travel on a
train or bus, entry to a place of public entertainment, etc.
3.29
web
continuous length of paper, foil, film, or other flexible material that comes from a roll as it moves
through a machine in the process of being formed, converted, or printed
4 Abbreviated terms
CMYK cyan, magenta, yellow, key colour (black)
RFID radio frequency identification
TT thermal transfer
TTI time temperature indicator
4 © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

5 Requirements
5.1 General
It is permitted to make copies of the sheets in Annex A and Annex C.
Electronic versions of the checklists presented in Annex A and Annex C are available at http://standards.
iso.org/iso/18614.
5.2 Specification checklists for self-adhesive labels (end-user created)
The checklists in Annex A shall be used by the end-user to specify the requirements of the label(s) to be
purchased. The output of Annex A will allow the responses from various suppliers to be compared on
an equal basis.
Annex C shall be used by the supplier when replying to a received request (the output from Annex A).
5.3 Label material specification form (supplier response)
The checklists and specifications in Annex C shall be used by the supplier to provide response to the
end-user request (output from Annex A). The output from Annex C will enable responses from various
suppliers to be compared on an equal basis. By this means, misunderstandings and misinterpretations
can be eliminated.
6 Considerations
6.1 Order request of label material
The questions in Annex A that need to be asked by the end-user (and answered by the supplier via
Annex C) in order to get the label for the intended application.
Annex A is grouped as follows:
— application (how material will be used; see A.2.1);
— label characteristics (shape and size of label; see A.2.2);
— adhesive (characteristics for desired application; see A.2.3);
— print (when and with what to be printed; see A.2.4);
— facestock (characteristics of material and composition; see A.2.5);
— resistance (what environmental aspects are to be considered; see A.2.6);
— special features (security, special function, etc., requirements; see A.2.7);
— finishing (how is the label to be configured for use; see A.2.8);
— quotation (how to order and deliver; see A.2.9);
— other (see A.2.10).
Annex A should not be considered all inclusive.
Annex B can be used in support of completing Annex A.
6.2 Specifying of label material
Information to help in filling out Annex C is provided in Annex G and Annex H.
If there is any variance to the original end-user request, a new end-user request shall be issued allowing
suppliers to respond to the new request.
The material is to be tested and approved according to the methods given in Annex I.
Observe that given values in Annex C may change after de-lamination or re-lamination.
Annex C is grouped as follows:
— general purpose (see C.2);
— measurement tolerances (see C.3);
— characteristics (see C.4):
— physical size and shape (see C.4.1);
— properties (see C.4.2);
— attributes (see C.4.3);
— printed text or graphics (symbols) (see C.5);
— finishing (see C.6):
— placement and orientation (see C.6.1);
— identification and quotation (see C.6.2);
— regulations/certificates (see C.7).
6 © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Annex A
(normative)
Checklists for specification of characteristics for self-adhesive labels
A.1 General
An electronic version of the form presented in Annex A is available at http://standards.iso.org/iso/18614.
The form in its original format without any modifications can be used by the user for the purposes
specified in this document.
A.2 Questions to be answered for specifying and ordering self-adhesive labels
The following set of questions is not in any particular order. If the question cannot be answered, state
“not applicable” (N/A) or use “—” to mark that each question has been considered.
A.2.1 Application
Additional information is provided in Annex F and Annex H.
Table A.1 — Application
Question Answer Remark
What application is the label intended for, e.g.
product decoration, logistic, other?
Where will the label be applied (surfaces like
a a
plastic , metal , glass, corrugated, wood,
a
aluminium , etc.)?
What are the surface conditions (smooth or
textured, flat or curved, clean, oily, etc.)?
Applying conditions (temperature, moisture, etc.)?
Dispensing conditions (manually or
automatically, labelling speed, etc.)?
Do you have a sample?
If yes, do you want us to match your sample?
Do you have a drawing (blueprint)?
If yes, please provide.
Is your application under some kind of regulation?
If yes, please specify.
a
Not all surfaces can be mentioned so the actual surface to which the label is to be affixed shall be specified in more detail.
A.2.2 Label characteristics
Additional information is provided in F.2 and H.2.
Table A.2 — Label characteristics
Question Answer Remark
Specify the size and shape of the label (length,
width, height, corner detail; if label is an odd
shape, all shape details shall be provided),
minimally in text or by graphic and text
(preferred).
Is the size and shape fixed or can alternative
configurations be provided?
Is the label material already specified?
If not, please specify adhesive, facestock, liner.
A.2.3 Adhesive
Additional information is provided in F.3.
Table A.3 — Adhesive
Question Answer Remark
Does the label need to stick permanent or should
it be repositionable or removable?
Special type of adhesive (wash off, deep freeze,
etc.)
A.2.4 Print
Additional information is provided in F.2.3 and H.3.
Table A.4 — Print
Question Answer Remark
Blank or printed label?
If anything printed (graphics, words, etc.),
details shall be provided.
How many colours?
Spot colour, RGB, CMYK, etc.
Are special printing methods (flexo, offset,
screen, gravure, inkjet, etc.) required?
Is print finishing (foiling, varnishing,
overlaminate, laminating, embossing, etc.)
required?
Is variable information to be printed, e.g.
barcodes, consecutive numbering,
personalization, etc.?
Is there any imprinting?
If “Yes”, what method (thermal transfer, thermal,
laser, inkjet, etc.) is being used?
8 © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

A.2.5 Facestock
Additional information is provided in F.2.
Table A.5 — Facestock
Question Answer Remark
Type of facestock material (paper, film, etc.)?
Type of facestock surface (matt, glossy, colour,
etc.)?
A.2.6 Resistance
Additional information is provided in F.2 and Annex I.
Table A.6 — Resistance
Question Answer Remark
What environment will the label be exposed to
(outdoor, direct sunlight, indoor, temperature
range, humidity, etc.)?
Is special protection for the facestock required?
Which solvents or chemicals does the label need
to withstand?
Will there be physical handling or abrasion?
A.2.7 Special features
Additional information is provided in B.1 and F.2.
Table A.7 — Special features
Question Answer Remark
Are there any security aspects (tamper evident
features, authentication, etc.)?
Are functional features (RFID tag, TTI, etc.)
required?
Is printing on the adhesive required (may
require de-lamination and re-lamination)?
Is multilayer construction required/needed, e.g.
multipurpose label?
A.2.8 Finishing
Additional information is provided in H.1 and H.5.
Table A.8 — Finishing
Question Answer Remark
What’s the “finishing style” (roll, sheet, fan-fold-
ed, etc.)?
Number of labels per roll or fan-folded stack?
Required width of roll?
Maximal diameter of roll?
Inside diameter of core?
Maximum height of fan-folded stack?
Minimum or maximum gap between the labels?
Winding direction (inside/outside, positioning
of label)?
Type of liner (glassine, film, etc.)?
Converting of liner (perforated, remaliner, etc.)?
Is printing on liner (register mark, barcodes,
numbering, etc.) required?
A.2.9 Quotation
Additional information is provided in Annex H.1.
Table A.9 — Quotation
Question Answer Remark
Total annual volume?
Number of different versions? Size of splits?
Number of shipments per year?
Special transport packaging required?
A.2.10 Other
Additional information is provided in Annex B and Annex H.
Table A.10 — Other
Question Answer Remark
Any additional requirements?
10 © ISO 2016 – All rights reserved

Annex B
(informative)
Considerations per application
B.1 Overview of typical considerations per some type of applications
Table B.1 does not provide an exhausted list of considerations or applications. It gives some basic
information on how different applications relates to one or many considerations. What the application
is will be based on discussion between supplier and user.
Table B.1 — Overview of main considerations and some intended type of applications
B.2 Overview of typical considerations per some type of materials
Table B.2 does not provide an exhausted li
...