Overview
EN ISO 105-E07:2010 - Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part E07: Colour fastness to spotting: Water (ISO 105-E07:2010) is a CEN-endorsed ISO method for assessing how resistant textile colours are to spotting by water. The standard defines a repeatable laboratory procedure to produce and evaluate water spots on textile specimens, using both visual grey-scale assessment and instrumental colour measurement.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope: Applies to textiles of all kinds and in all forms for determining resistance of colour to spotting by water.
- Test principle: Drops of grade 3 (analytical) water are worked into the specimen with a rounded glass rod to form an approximate 20 mm diameter spot; colour change is assessed after 2 minutes and again after drying.
- Specimen preparation:
- Fabric: (40 ± 2) mm × (100 ± 2) mm.
- Yarn: knit into fabric of the same dimensions or formed into a wick (~100 mm × ~5 mm diameter).
- Loose fibre: combed/compressed into a sheet of the same dimensions.
- Apparatus and reagents:
- Pipette/dropper, rounded glass rod.
- Grey scale (ISO 105-A02) for visual assessment.
- Spectrophotometer/colorimeter for instrumental assessment (ISO 105-A05).
- Grade 3 water complying with ISO 3696.
- Special cases: For water-repellent fabrics, applied water shall not exceed 0.5 ml.
- Reporting: Test reports must reference ISO 105-E07:2010, identify the sample, give numerical grey-scale ratings and/or instrumental assessments after 2 minutes and after drying, and note any deviations from the procedure.
Practical applications
- Quality control in textile and apparel manufacturing to verify resistance to water-induced spotting.
- Product development when selecting dyes, finishes or water-repellent treatments.
- Conformity testing for retailers, specifiers and certification bodies concerned with appearance retention.
- Comparative laboratory testing between materials, dye systems or finishing processes.
- Useful for textile testing laboratories, R&D teams, procurement specialists and sustainability/quality managers.
Who uses this standard
- Textile and garment manufacturers
- Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies
- Fabric finishers and dye houses
- Retail quality assurance and product development teams
- Standards and compliance officers
Related standards
- ISO 105-A02 - Grey scale for assessing change in colour
- ISO 105-A05 - Instrumental assessment of change in colour
- ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
- ISO 105-A01, ISO 105-J01, ISO 105-J03 and comparable methods (e.g., AATCC TM 104)
This standard is essential for reliable, repeatable colour fastness, spotting tests, and ensures consistent evaluation using both visual and instrumental methods.