Overview - ISO/IEC 29183:2021 (digital copying productivity)
ISO/IEC 29183:2021 specifies a standardized method to measure the digital copying productivity of single one‑sided originals on digital copying devices and multifunctional devices (MFDs). Applicable to both black & white (B&W) and colour devices of any marking technology, the standard defines test chart creation, test setup, measurement procedures and reporting requirements for key productivity metrics such as sFCOT (first copy out time), sESAT (estimated saturated throughput) and sEFTP (effective throughput). It is explicitly not intended to replace manufacturer rated speeds.
Key technical topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Single one‑sided original measurements for digital copiers and MFDs; B&W and colour.
- Defined metrics
- sFCOT - first copy out time (from job initiation to exit of first copy).
- sESAT - estimated saturated throughput (steady‑state output rate).
- sEFTP - effective throughput (rate from job initiation through last test set exit).
- Test setup and parameters
- Device setup, sample size, paper grammage, environmental and voltage conditions, maintenance state.
- Preparation and use of test charts / test targets (instructions included).
- Measurement procedures
- Tests from different device states: ready, sleep, off (including specified delays and ready delay time).
- Specific procedures for “1 copy” tests, “1 copy + 30 s”, and “1 copy + 4 min” variants and guidance on repeatability and consistency (±5% criteria).
- Data handling and reporting
- Calculations, data treatment, and presentation formats: minimum declaration, summary report, and full report.
- Annexes provide example reports, test targets and a procedure for establishing ready delay time.
Practical applications - who uses ISO/IEC 29183:2021
- Manufacturers - benchmark device performance, develop product specifications, support marketing claims with standardized test data.
- Test laboratories - conduct reproducible productivity tests for certification, comparison and validation.
- Procurement teams and buyers - compare real‑world productivity between models for purchasing decisions in offices and fleets.
- Service and quality engineers - validate performance after maintenance or firmware updates.
- Reviewers and analysts - produce independent performance evaluations and comparisons.
Related standards and references
- Normative references cited include ISO 536 (paper grammage), ISO 2470‑1 (paper reflectance/brightness) and ISO/IEC 24734 (digital printing productivity methods). Annexes A–D in ISO/IEC 29183 provide report examples, test targets and the procedure to determine ready delay time.
Using ISO/IEC 29183:2021 ensures consistent, reproducible measurement of single‑page copying productivity - enabling fair comparisons, reliable procurement decisions, and consistent performance reporting across digital copying devices and multifunctional equipment.