ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015

TECHNICAL ISO/IEC TR
REPORT 18781
First edition
2015-10-15
Identification cards — Laundry
testing of ID Cards
Cartes d’identification — Essai en blanchisserie des cartes
d’identification
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2015
© ISO/IEC 2015, Published in Switzerland
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ii © ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope .1
2 Terms and definitions .1
3 Apparatus and reagents .1
4 Test procedure . 2
Bibliography .4
© ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are
members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical
committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical
activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the
work. In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee,
ISO/IEC JTC 1.
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 document 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 and IEC 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).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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 WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information Technology, Subcommittee
SC 17, Cards and personal identification.
iv © ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Test methods developed in ISO/IEC 24789 are intended to reflect the factors affecting the life of
a card in normal use. Accidental exposure such as laundering is not considered to be normal use.
Nevertheless, many card specifiers and users are concerned that a test procedure should be drawn up
and published as a recognised method. SC 17 agreed at meeting No 62 that this Technical Report was
the most appropriate format for such a test. It can be used in conjunction with tests described in the
base standard.
The risk of cards being laundered varies according to geographical region and national norms. In the
US, for example, it is thought that most people carry their cards in a trouser pocket giving the possibility
that cards are laundered with clothing. In Japan and northern Europe, cards are mainly carried in
wallets with a lower risk of laundering damage.
There are a number of factors that can potentially affect cards during laundering:
— exposure to water plus detergent solution for a period of up to 2,5 hours;
— exposure to washing cycle temperatures of up to 90 °C for part of that time;
— exposure to dryer temperatures of up to 80 °C.
During the process, most cards will remain within the pocket of the garment so there is likely to be
some minor physical stress due to tumbling or spinning.
In seeking to propose a test that may be considered representative of the range of conditions a card
may encounter, some statistics were obtained on the current trends in laundering.
Globally, 38% of laundry loads are done with cold water (source: P&G). This proportion has not
increased in spite of the introduction of new cold water detergents, although there is a trend towards
the use of lower temperatures for environmental reasons.
In the USA, most users still use hot washes. Cold water detergent represents less than 15 % of US
detergent sales.
Washing machines are commonly programmed to work at 30 °C, 40 °C, 60 °C, and 90 °C
The most common washing temperature used in the UK is 40 °C. 60 °C is used for heavily soiled items
and 90 °C is used only rarely (source: Which magazine).
© ISO/IEC 2015 – All rights reserved v

TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015(E)
Identification cards — Laundry testing of ID Cards
1 Scope
This Technical Report gives guidance on the principles and methods of testing ID cards to simulate
accidental exposure to conditions encountered during the washing and drying of clothing. The physical
properties of a card may degrade after exposure and the test methods des
...