ISO IEC TR 18781-2015 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015 — Identification cards — Laundry testing of ID Cards. This technical report gives guidance on principles and methods for laboratory testing of identity cards to simulate accidental exposure to domestic washing and drying conditions, and for assessing the resulting effects on card materials and construction.

Abstract

ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015 describes test principles and a reproducible test method to simulate a typical single washing and drying cycle experienced when identity cards are accidentally laundered with clothing. The report explains sample preparation, a representative wash/dry cycle (chosen to reflect common domestic machine behaviour), and criteria for evaluating physical and functional degradation. The methods are intended for comparative assessment of card materials, constructions and manufacturing processes and allow additional cycles or altered temperature conditions when comparative information is required.

General information

• Status: Published (Technical Report)
• Publication date: 13 October 2015
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (ISO in cooperation with IEC) — prepared by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 17 (Cards and security devices for personal identification)
• ICS / categories: 97.060
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2015)
• Number of pages: 4

Scope

The report provides guidance on the principles and practical methods for testing identity cards to simulate accidental washing and drying in domestic laundry equipment. It is intended to be used where accidental laundering is a credible risk and where assessment of card material durability, printing/marking permanence, lamination and overall integrity after exposure is required. For simplicity a single representative washing and drying cycle is specified in the report; laboratories and manufacturers may apply additional cycles or vary temperatures for comparative or endurance testing.

Key topics and requirements

• Purpose and rationale for laundry simulation testing of ID cards (assessing material and construction robustness).
• Specification of a representative single domestic washing and drying cycle (wash, rinse, water removal and drying) chosen for reproducibility and comparability.
• Sample selection and preparation, including mounting, marking and pre-conditioning of test specimens.
• Recommended test parameters (programme type, temperature band, spin/rinse characteristics, detergent class and drying method) to reflect typical domestic conditions.
• Inspection and evaluation criteria after testing: visual appearance, dimensional change, surface/print durability, laminate adhesion/delamination, edge integrity and other physical properties.
• Guidance to include functional checks where relevant (for example, basic operability checks of printed or encoded data, and simple verification of contact/contactless components if applicable).
• Guidance on reporting test conditions and results to ensure repeatability and comparability between laboratories and manufacturers.

Typical use and users

Used by ID‑card and smart‑card manufacturers, material and laminate suppliers, independent test laboratories, certification bodies, government agencies and procurement teams to verify durability and to compare materials and processes. It is also used by quality assurance teams and design engineers to reduce risks associated with accidental laundering and to improve card longevity.

Related standards

Commonly used alongside other card-related ISO/IEC standards such as ISO/IEC 7810 (ID card physical characteristics), ISO/IEC 7811 (recording techniques), ISO/IEC 7816 (contact integrated circuit cards), ISO/IEC 14443 (contactless proximity cards), and relevant ISO/IEC 10373 series test methods. It complements standards and specifications covering card materials, printing durability and functional testing of smart card components.

Keywords

laundry testing, ID cards, identity cards, washing, drying, durability, delamination, laminate adhesion, card materials, test method, ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015, JTC 1/SC 17

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015 is a technical report that provides guidance and a reproducible method to simulate accidental domestic washing and drying of identity cards so their physical and (where relevant) functional performance after laundering can be assessed.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the principles, a representative single wash/dry cycle, sample preparation, recommended test parameters and evaluation criteria for assessing the effects of laundering on card materials, printing/marking, lamination and general integrity. It also gives guidance on reporting results and on using additional cycles or altered conditions for comparative testing.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Card manufacturers, material suppliers, independent testing laboratories, government ID authorities, procurement and QA teams, and anyone needing to verify how card constructions behave after accidental laundering.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO/IEC TR 18781:2015 was published in October 2015 as Edition 1.0. Users should check the official standards catalogues or national standards bodies for any reviews, confirmations or superseding documents published after 2015 to confirm current status before relying on it for formal compliance work.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is a standalone Technical Report within the family of ISO/IEC standards addressing identification cards and related test methods and is intended to be used in conjunction with the broader set of ISO/IEC card standards (for example, ISO/IEC 7810, 7811, 7816, 14443 and the ISO/IEC 10373 test series).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Laundry testing, ID cards, durability, washing, drying, delamination, laminate adhesion, test method, card materials, ISO/IEC 18781.