Overview
EN ISO 12625-12:2023 establishes a standardized method for testing the tensile strength of perforated lines in tissue paper and tissue products, as well as for calculating perforation efficiency. The standard was developed by CEN and ISO technical committees and represents an essential reference for laboratories and producers in the tissue paper industry. The method outlined uses a tensile-testing apparatus operating under constant rate of elongation, delivering reliable, repeatable results for assessing the performance of cross-direction perforations in tissue products.
This part of the ISO 12625 series ensures comparability and quality control across manufacturers by providing unified procedures for tensile testing in the machine direction, informing decisions around both product safety and user convenience.
Key Topics
- Machine-direction tensile strength: Focuses on measuring the breaking strength of tissue paper along perforated lines produced in the sample’s cross-direction.
- Tensile-testing apparatus: Specifies use of calibrated test machines to ensure accurate elongation and force measurement under strictly controlled conditions.
- Sample preparation and conditioning: Details the requirements for sample size, conditioning environment, and handling to ensure representative and consistent results.
- Perforation efficiency calculation: Explains the mathematical process for determining how efficiently a perforation line enables sheet separation, balancing product cohesion with ease of dispensing.
- Reporting requirements: Includes standardized data reporting, ensuring transparency and traceability of test results for quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
Applications
EN ISO 12625-12:2023 is highly relevant for:
- Tissue paper manufacturers: Helps standardize in-house quality control practices for products such as toilet paper, kitchen towels, and industrial wipes, ensuring that perforated products meet both regulatory and customer expectations.
- Quality assurance laboratories: Provides a consistent method for verifying the strength and usability of tissue products, critical for both routine checks and R&D evaluation of new materials or designs.
- Product development: Assists engineers and designers in optimizing perforation patterns for balancing sheet separation performance with product integrity.
- Market surveillance and benchmarking: Enables fair comparison between different tissue products and brands using a unified approach, supporting procurement and certification processes.
- Compliance and certification: Forms the basis for meeting European and international compliance requirements for tissue product testing and documentation.
Related Standards
The following standards complement EN ISO 12625-12:2023 in tissue paper and related product testing:
- ISO 186: Paper and board - Sampling to determine average quality
- ISO 187: Paper, board and pulps - Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing
- ISO 1924-2: Paper and board - Determination of tensile properties - Constant rate of elongation method
- ISO 7500-1: Metallic materials - Calibration and verification of static uniaxial testing machines
- ISO 12625-1: Tissue paper and tissue products - Vocabulary
- ISO 12625-4: Tissue paper and tissue products - Determination of tensile strength, stretch at maximum force, and tensile energy absorption
EN ISO 12625-12:2023 is an integral tool for the tissue paper industry, supporting consistent product quality, consumer safety, and efficient market operations through reliable measurement of perforated line strength and perforation efficiency.