SIST EN 12875-2:2002

SIST EN 12875-2:2002 is the Slovenian adoption of a CEN European Standard for checking the visual condition of non-metallic tableware after dishwashing resistance testing. It specifies how to inspect the articles, how to judge visible changes, and how to report and mark the result. It is aimed at laboratories, inspectors, manufacturers, and suppliers that need a common way to assess dishwashing performance for food-contact utensils.

What does SIST EN 12875-2:2002 specify?

SIST EN 12875-2:2002 specifies the conditions for visual inspection of non-metallic tableware in contact with foodstuffs after it has been tested for dishwashing resistance. The document is tied to the EN 12875 series, so it is used after the relevant dishwashing test method has been applied.

The standard is organized into clauses covering scope, normative references, principle, inspectors, apparatus, samples, procedure, test report, and marking. In practice, that means it tells users how to inspect, what to record, and how to express the result in a way that can be compared across tests and laboratories.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 12875-2:2002?

Clause 3 sets the inspection principle: at least three tested samples are compared visually with an unused sample by two inspectors. This matters because the result depends on direct comparison under controlled viewing conditions, not on a single person’s judgment.

Clause 4 requires at least two inspectors who can clearly see the surface with the naked eye or usual vision aid and who have normal colour vision. This reduces variation in results, especially where colour and gloss changes are important.

Clause 5 defines the inspection site and equipment. The site must be shielded from external light, lit vertically by a diffuse daylight lamp at 3500 to 4500 K with 1000 to 1500 lx near the specimens, and have grey, dull surfaces. In practice, this limits lighting effects so surface changes are easier to see.

Clause 6 requires at least three unused test specimens of identical shape, size, and surface finish, plus a fourth specimen kept as reference. That gives a stable basis for comparison and helps when more than one specimen is tested.

Clause 7 describes preparation and inspection. Easily removable deposits are removed first by wiping and/or a one-minute dip in a 10 % (m/m) aqueous citric acid solution at about 50 °C, followed by rinsing and drying. The inspection is then made from 30 ± 10 cm while changing the viewing angle.

The same clause requires each inspector to record visible changes against Table 1 and use the ratings in Table 2:

• 0 - no visible change
• 1 - first discernible change
• 2 - clearly visible change

For each criterion, averages are calculated from the three samples and rounded to one decimal. If any average value is above 1.0, the test for that article ends. If no criterion exceeds 1.0, the highest number of test cycles achieved is the test result. For articles made of more than one material, the result is reported separately for each material. This matters for mixed items such as teapots with plastic handles.

Clause 8 defines the test report content, including the standard reference, article identification, sampling details, dates, test method used, inspectors’ names, the cycle result, and the article category with the averaged ratings. Clause 9 allows marking with a symbol showing the number of test cycles, and for multi-material articles the marking uses the lowest result.

What terms does SIST EN 12875-2:2002 define?

• Non-metallic tableware - Tableware made from materials other than metal that is intended to be in contact with foodstuffs.
• Inspection criteria - The surface characteristics checked after testing, such as colour, gloss, clouding, deposits, iridescent layers, and other visible effects.
• Classification - The rating scale in Table 2, where 0 means no visible change, 1 means first discernible change, and 2 means clearly visible change.
• Test specimen - A sample article used for the dishwashing resistance test and subsequent visual inspection.
• Inspection site - The controlled place where the visual comparison is made under defined lighting and viewing conditions.
• Test result - The maximum number of dishwashing cycles for which none of the inspection criteria has an average above 1.0.

Who uses SIST EN 12875-2:2002?

SIST EN 12875-2:2002 is used by test laboratories, quality teams, manufacturers, and suppliers of non-metallic tableware. It is relevant to domestic, industrial, and catering-use articles where dishwashing resistance needs to be checked and reported in a consistent way.

Inspectors use it to compare tested samples with unused references. Buyers and product teams use the report and marking information to describe dishwasher resistance in a traceable way.

What changed in SIST EN 12875-2:2002 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 12875-2:2002 is identical with EN 12875-2:2001.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 12875-2:2002?

The standard incorporates by reference ENV 12875-1:1998, which provides the reference test method for mechanical dishwashing resistance. Clause 7 uses that method, or another applied test method, to determine the cycle result.

The introduction also places this part within the EN 12875 series:

• Part 1 - reference test method
• Part 3 - inspection of metallic articles
• Part 4 - rapid test for domestic ceramic articles
• Part 5 - rapid test for ceramic catering articles

These parts matter because this document is the visual inspection and result-expression part of the series, not the washing test itself.

What does the SIST EN 12875-2:2002 document contain?

The document contains the inspection procedure, the inspection criteria, and the rating scale used to judge visible changes after dishwashing testing. Table 1 identifies which surface effects are checked for each type of article, and Table 2 gives the 0-to-2 classification used for recording observations.

It also contains the reporting requirements in clause 8, so users know what needs to be documented after testing. Clause 9 and Figure 1 describe the marking symbol and how the number of test cycles is shown. The bibliography includes a reference on colour blindness testing used in connection with visual assessment.