INDUSTRIAL WASHING AND FINISHING PROCEDURES FOR THE TESTING OF WORKWEAR. Equivalence with EN ISO 15797:2018 & ISO 15797:2017.
This standard specifies the testing procedures and equipment that can be used in the evaluation of workwear for industrial washing. They serve as the basis for testing relevant properties such as dimensional stability, colour characteristics, wrinkle and gathering in the seams, as well as pilling and general visual aspects.
Since it is not possible to reproduce industrial washing processes, this standard aims to approximate the industrial washing and drying process.
EQUIPMENT AND REAGENTS
-Washer/centrifuge:
-Horizontal rotary drum with front or side loading opening.
-Bass drum volume 220-250 l and with a diameter of 750 – 850 mm
-Drum depth: 400 – 600 mm
-3 lifting fins each with a height between 10 -12 % of the drum diameter and a width at the base of less than 100 mm.
-Alternate rotation 5 – 10 revolutions in one direction and then in the reverse direction with a rotation time at full wash speed in relation to the total washing time of 80%.
-Rotary dryer
-Rotary air evacuation dryer, with a system for detecting the humidity rate of the air at the outlet, with a tolerance of 5%.
– Bass drum diameter of 900 – 1100 mm with a depth of 630 – 1000 mm
-Bass drum volume: 600 – 720 l
-Finisher
-Steam cabinet with batch loading with a capacity of 8 -18 pieces/garments.
-Sprayed steam pressure: 2 – 5 bar (200 – 500 kPa) with a specific flow rate inside the cabinet of 6900 – 8900 m3/m2h
-Direction of airflow from top to bottom
-Adjustable temperature with inlet temperature if required of 160 ºC
-Distance between hangers 75 ± 10 mm.
-Ballast load
-It consists of clean work clothes (lab coats, bibs and suspenders, overalls, trousers and overalls) not previously washed more than 100 times and similar to the types of garment/fabric and colour of the specimen. Where the ballast material is likely to have a significant influence on the test result, the entire ballast load shall consist of the specimen material.
-Reference detergents:
-With optical brightener. See nominal composition in the standard. Cannot be used if evaluating color characteristics
-Without optical brightener. See nominal composition in the standard.
-Bleaches:
-Chlorine (150 g/L active chlorine)
-With hydrogen peroxide. See solutions in the standard
-With peracetic acid. See nominal composition in the standard
-Antichlorine (sodium metabisulfite, sodium bisulfite)
-Water quality: hardness ≤ 100 mg/l CaCO3; pH: 6.0 to 7.5; Fe ≤ 0.1 mg/l; Mn ≤ 0.03 mg/l; Cu ≤ 0.05 mg/l; Temperature 15 ± 5 ºC.
TEST TUBES
The specimen must be a complete garment or a composite sample comprising the constituent parts of the finished article, combined to constitute a representative whole in relation to the dimensions.
At least three specimens must be subjected to the washing and drying/finishing programs specified in this standard. The actual number of specimens must be determined according to the purpose of the material tests.
WASHING
-The washing procedure is selected according to the attached tables
-The specimens and the polish load are conditioned according to ISO 139. The mass of the conditioned specimen is determined.
-The specimens are added to the washing machine and the corresponding amount of ballast load is added to obtain a load appropriate to the dimensions of the machine and the load ratio.
-The instructions of the selected washing procedure are followed.
-Water is added, as well as detergent and additives according to the selected program.
-Acetic acid can be used in the last rinse to adjust the pH of the specimen. If used, the pH of the dry specimen should be noted in the report (this value should be between 5.5 – 7.0)
-Once the last centrifuge is finished, the specimens are removed taking care not to stretch or deform them. The mass of the washed specimens is determined in order to calculate their moisture rate by means of the following formula:
Where:
W: is the water retention of the textile (%)
m1: mass of the conditioned textile specimens (Kg)
m2: mass of textile specimens after drying (Kg)
Washing procedures for white work clothes and/or colour-sensitive trimmings.
Bleaching with peracetic acid
| 1. Full chargeto | 2. Reduced loadb | ||
| Load Ratio | 1:12 | 1:17 | |
| Agitation during heating, washing and rinsing | Normal | Normal | |
| Washing | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:4 | 1:4 | |
| Detergents and additives | 4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) 2 g/l (see section 6.2) |
4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) 2 g/l (see section 6.2) |
|
| Temperature | 75 ºC ± 2 ºC | 75 ºC ± 2 ºC | |
| Timec | 20 min | 20 min | |
| Cooling | No | Yes | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | No | |
| Rinsing 1 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 2 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 3 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Final spin (duration
estimated) |
6 min | 6 min | |
| Residual moisture | 50 – 55 % | 35 – 40 % | |
| a begins when the temperature is reached
b Cooling: filled with cold H2O for approx. 10 min. In order to lower the temperature to a maximum of 55 °C (max 3 °C/min) c The rinse time is counted from the moment the bath level is reached |
|||
*Ratio of dry load to total amount of water (kg/l)
Table 2
Washing procedures with white work clothes. Chlorine bleaching
| 1. Full Charge | 2. Reduced loadb | ||
| Load Ratio | 1:12 | 1:17 | |
| Agitation during heating, washing and rinsing |
normal |
normal |
|
| Washing | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:4 | 1:4 | |
| Detergents | 4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1 and 6.1.2) | 4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1 and 6.1.2) | |
| Temperature | 85 ºC ± 2 ºC | 75 ºC ± 2 ºC | |
| Timeac | 20 min | 20 min | |
| Coolingbd | no | Yes | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | no | |
| Rinsing 1 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 2 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Additives (chlorine) | 2 g/l (see section 6.3) | 2 g/l (see section 6.3) | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 3 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Additives (antichlorine) | 1 g/l | 1 g/l | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Final spin (estimated time) | 6 min | 6 min | |
| Residual moisture | 50 – 55 % | 35 – 40 % | |
| a The time begins when the temperature is reached
b Cooling: filled with cold H2O for approx. 10 min. In order to lower the temperature to a maximum of 55 °C (max 3 °C/min) c The rinse time is counted from the moment the bath level is reached |
|||
*Ratio of dry load to total amount of water (kg/l)
Table 3
Washing procedures for white work clothes and/or colour-sensitive trimmings.
Hydrogen peroxide
| 1. Full Charge | 2. Reduced loadb | ||
| Load Ratio | 1:12 | 1:17 | |
| Agitation during heating, washing and rinsing |
normal |
normal |
|
| Washing | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:4 | 1:4 | |
| Detergents and additives | 4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) 1 g/l (see section 6.4) |
4 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) 1 g/l (see 6.4) |
|
| Temperature | 85 ºC ± 2 ºC | 85 ºC ± 2 ºC | |
| Timeac | 20 min | 20 min | |
| Coolingbd | No | Yes | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | No | |
| Rinsing 1 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:15 | 1:15 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 2 | |||
| Liquid ratio | 1:15 | 1:15 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 3 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Timec | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Final spin (estimated time) | 6 min | 6 min | |
| Residual moisture | 50 – 55 % | 35 – 40 % | |
| E.g. cotton
E.g. polyester/cotton c The time begins when the temperature is reached d Cooling: filled with cold H2O for approx. 10 min. In order to lower the temperature to a maximum of 55 °C (max 3 °C/min) e The rinse time is counted from the moment the bath level is reached |
|||
*Ratio of dry load to total amount of water (kg/l)
Table 4
Washing procedure for coloured workgarments
| 1. Full Charge | 2. Reduced loadb | ||
| Load Ratio | 1:12 | 1:17 | |
| Agitation during heating, washing and rinsing |
normal |
normal |
|
| Washing | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:4 | 1:4 | |
| Detergents | 5 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) |
5 g/l (see paragraphs 6.1.1
and 6.1.2) |
|
| Temperature | 85 ºC ± 2 ºC | 75 ºC ± 2 ºC | |
| Timeac | 20 min | 20 min | |
| Coolingbd | no | Yes | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | no | |
| Rinsing 1 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time ce | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 2 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time ce | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Intermediate Spin | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Rinse 3 | |||
| Swim ratio* | 1:5 | 1:5 | |
| Time | 3 min | 3 min | |
| Drainage | 1 min | 1 min | |
| Final spin (estimated time) | 6 min | 6 min | |
| Residual moisture | 50 – 55 % | 35 – 40 % | |
| E.g. cotton
E.g. polyester/cotton c The Wash time begins when the temperature is reached d Cooling: filled with cold H2O for approx. 10 min. In order to lower the temperature to a maximum of 55 °C (max 3 °C/min) e The rinse time is counted from the moment the bath level is reached |
|||
*Ratio of dry load to total amount of water (kg/l)
DRYING
-The entire load is dried following one of the two permitted procedures:
-Drum drying. Procedure A
Whole load (load ratio 1:25 to 1:35) with the outlet temperature regulated so as not to exceed 90 ºC. The dryer is allowed to run until the load is dry and the drying continues for 5 minutes after the heating (cooling) has stopped. The load is dry when the final moisture rate depending on the conditioned specimens is 0 ± 3 %.
-Tunnel/Closet Drying. Procedure B
The specimens, with the appropriate hangers, are placed in the preheated steam cabinet. The steam cabinet should operate at full load and with at least one load of ballast at the ends. The finisher must be set to 155 °C air temperature and a minimum operating time of 3 minutes
PICTOGRAMS ACCORDING TO EN ISO 30023
