Overview - ISO 5077:2007 (Textiles: dimensional change in washing and drying)
ISO 5077:2007 specifies a standardized laboratory method to determine the dimensional change (shrinkage or elongation) of fabrics, garments and other textile articles when subjected to specified domestic washing and drying procedures. The method defines conditioning, measurement, treatment and reporting practices to produce reproducible, comparable results for quality control, specification and communication between suppliers and customers.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Measurement of dimensional change after combined washing and drying cycles for fabrics and finished textile articles.
- Specimen preparation: Use the sampling, marking and measuring procedures referenced in ISO 3759. Where possible, test three specimens per sample; one or two are permitted if material is limited.
- Conditioning and atmosphere: Condition specimens in the normal atmosphere specified by ISO 139 before initial measurement and after treatment.
- Washing and drying: Apply one of the domestic laundering cycles described in ISO 6330 as agreed between parties. Equipment and reagents follow ISO 3759 and ISO 6330 requirements.
- Measurement and calculation: Measure length and width before and after treatment. Calculate dimensional change as the percentage change relative to the initial dimension: (dimension after − dimension before) / dimension before × 100. Report reductions (shrinkage) with a minus sign and increases (elongation) with a plus sign.
- Reporting precision: Express mean dimensional changes to the nearest 0.5%.
- Test report content: Must include the standard reference, number of specimens, washing/drying cycle used (per ISO 6330), mean dimensional changes in warp and weft (or designated measurement points for garments), and garment description, brand and size where applicable.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 5077 is used for:
- Textile and garment manufacturers for quality control and verification of dimensional stability.
- Third‑party testing laboratories performing standardized textile testing and issuing test reports.
- Product developers and R&D teams assessing finishes, fabric constructions and pre‑treatment effects on shrinkage.
- Retailers and brands setting specification limits and tolerance for finished garments.
- Supply chain and compliance teams establishing conformance to customer requirements and labeling claims (e.g., “pre‑shrunk”).
Practical benefits include reproducible comparison of fabrics/garments, reduced customer returns, and clearer specification language in procurement and trade.
Related standards
- ISO 139 - Conditioning atmospheres for textile testing.
- ISO 3759 - Preparation, marking and measuring specimens and garments.
- ISO 6330 - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing.
Keywords: ISO 5077, dimensional change, textile testing, washing and drying, fabric shrinkage, garment stability, domestic laundering standard.