CEN/TS 17394-4:2021
(Main)Textiles and textile products - Part 4: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of components except buttons and metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method
General Information
- Abstract
The method described in this document complements
- EN 17394 2:2020, Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method
- CEN/TS 17394 3:2021, Textiles and textile products - Part 3: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method
and is applicable to all other components including labels, badges, sequins, rhinestones, rivets, eyelets and non-metal press fasteners, which are too small to be gripped in test equipment jaws or their integrity is disrupted by gripping.
The performance requirements are provided in CEN/TS 17394 1:2021.
The method is an extremely aggressive wash method has been developed to assess if the components remain attached.
It is specifically applicable to clothing, where the detachment of these components might result in accidents to children.
This document does not apply to:
a) child care articles;
b) shoes, boots and similar footwear;
c) toys (see NOTE 2);
d) other articles sold with clothing.
NOTE 1 The above items are covered by other CEN Technical Committees and as such are out of the scope of this document.
NOTE 2 Disguise costumes including carnival costumes are examples of clothing which are also toys and fall within the scope of the Toy Safety Directive.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 12-Jan-2021
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 248/WG 20 - Safety of children's clothing
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 07-Apr-2026
- Completion Date
- 23-Sep-2026
Overview
CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 specifies a test method to assess the security of attachment of components on children’s clothing - excluding sewn buttons and metal mechanically applied press fasteners. It defines an aggressive wash-and-dry procedure to evaluate whether small or delicate components (labels, badges, sequins, rhinestones, rivets, eyelets, non‑metal press fasteners) remain attached after severe laundering. The document complements EN 17394-2:2020 and CEN/TS 17394-3:2021 and refers to performance criteria in CEN/TS 17394-1:2021.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and exclusions: Applies to garments for children up to 14 years; excludes child care articles, footwear, toys and articles sold with clothing.
- Sampling: Test five specimens for each component type, size and component/substrate combination; retain an untreated reference specimen.
- Aggressive wash method: Uses a single-bath Durawash‑type machine (continuous wash action) with a 40 L load, ballast pieces, reference detergent and sodium perborate tetrahydrate. The wash cycle runs for approximately 15 minutes followed by rinsing, short spin and tumble drying (90 min at the hottest setting).
- Temperature selection: Wash temperature is set to 10 °C above the garment’s maximum recommended wash temperature (minimum 40 °C for hand‑wash-only items).
- Assessment criteria: Components are examined before and after testing and compared to the reference specimen. Results are recorded using defined change categories (no change, negligible, slight, distinct, etc.).
- Apparatus and materials: Machine specifications, ballast composition, detergent formulation (Annex A), and rationale for machine selection (Annex B) are provided. EN ISO 6330:2012 is referenced for related domestic washing/drying procedures.
Applications and who uses it
- Testing laboratories: Use the method for reproducible security-of-attachment testing and reporting.
- Manufacturers and brands: Incorporate the test in quality assurance and product development to reduce detachment/choking hazards.
- Product safety and compliance teams: Demonstrate conformity with European guidance on children’s clothing safety and prepare for regulatory review.
- Designers and material suppliers: Evaluate component choices (rivets, badges, trims) and attachment methods during prototype and production stages.
Related standards
- EN 17394-2:2020 - Security of attachment of buttons (test method)
- CEN/TS 17394-3:2021 - Security of attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners (test method)
- CEN/TS 17394-1:2021 - Performance requirements for children’s clothing components
- EN ISO 6330:2012 - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
Keywords: CEN/TS 17394-4:2021, safety of children's clothing, security of attachment, test method, textiles, wash test, Durawash, component attachment, clothing safety testing.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 23-Sep-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
Frequently Asked Questions
CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 is a technical specification published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Textiles and textile products - Part 4: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of components except buttons and metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method". This standard covers: The method described in this document complements - EN 17394 2:2020, Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method - CEN/TS 17394 3:2021, Textiles and textile products - Part 3: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method and is applicable to all other components including labels, badges, sequins, rhinestones, rivets, eyelets and non-metal press fasteners, which are too small to be gripped in test equipment jaws or their integrity is disrupted by gripping. The performance requirements are provided in CEN/TS 17394 1:2021. The method is an extremely aggressive wash method has been developed to assess if the components remain attached. It is specifically applicable to clothing, where the detachment of these components might result in accidents to children. This document does not apply to: a) child care articles; b) shoes, boots and similar footwear; c) toys (see NOTE 2); d) other articles sold with clothing. NOTE 1 The above items are covered by other CEN Technical Committees and as such are out of the scope of this document. NOTE 2 Disguise costumes including carnival costumes are examples of clothing which are also toys and fall within the scope of the Toy Safety Directive.
The method described in this document complements - EN 17394 2:2020, Textiles and textile products - Part 2: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of buttons - Test method - CEN/TS 17394 3:2021, Textiles and textile products - Part 3: Safety of children's clothing - Security of attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners - Test method and is applicable to all other components including labels, badges, sequins, rhinestones, rivets, eyelets and non-metal press fasteners, which are too small to be gripped in test equipment jaws or their integrity is disrupted by gripping. The performance requirements are provided in CEN/TS 17394 1:2021. The method is an extremely aggressive wash method has been developed to assess if the components remain attached. It is specifically applicable to clothing, where the detachment of these components might result in accidents to children. This document does not apply to: a) child care articles; b) shoes, boots and similar footwear; c) toys (see NOTE 2); d) other articles sold with clothing. NOTE 1 The above items are covered by other CEN Technical Committees and as such are out of the scope of this document. NOTE 2 Disguise costumes including carnival costumes are examples of clothing which are also toys and fall within the scope of the Toy Safety Directive.
CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 61.020 - Clothes; 97.190 - Equipment for children. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 6330:2012, EN 16781:2026, CEN/TS 17394-3:2021, EN ISO 23500-4:2024, EN ISO 23500-3:2024, EN ISO 23500-2:2019, EN ISO 23500-3:2019, EN 16779-2:2022, EN ISO 23500-4:2019, EN ISO 23500-2:2024, EN ISO 23500-5:2024, CEN/TS 17394-1:2021, EN ISO 23500-5:2019. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2024
Tekstilije in tekstilni izdelki - 4. del: Varnost otroških oblačil - Varnost pritrditve
pritrjenih delov, razen gumbov in kovinskih pritiskačev - Preskusna metoda
Textiles and textile products - Part 4: Safety of children's clothing - Security of
attachment of components except buttons and metal mechanically applied press
fasteners - Test method
Textilien und textile Produkte - Teil 4: Sicherheit von Kinderbekleidung - Sicherheit der
Befestigung von Komponenten außer Knöpfen und mechanisch befestigten
Druckknöpfen - Prüfverfahren
Textiles et produits textiles - Partie 4 : Sécurité des vêtements d’enfants - Sécurité
d’attache des composants à l’exception des boutons et des boutons-pression
métalliques appliqués mécaniquement - Méthode d’essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 17394-4:2021
ICS:
61.020 Oblačila Clothes
97.190 Otroška oprema Equipment for children
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
CEN/TS 17394-4
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
January 2021
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
ICS 61.020; 97.190
English Version
Textiles and textile products - Part 4: Safety of children's
clothing - Security of attachment of components except
buttons and metal mechanically applied press fasteners -
Test method
Textiles et produits textiles - Partie 4 : Sécurité des Textilien und textile Produkte - Teil 4: Sicherheit von
vêtements d'enfants - Sécurité d'attache des Kinderbekleidung - Sicherheit der Befestigung von
composants à l'exception des boutons et des boutons- Komponenten außer Knöpfen und mechanisch
pression métalliques appliqués mécaniquement - befestigten Druckknöpfen - Prüfverfahren
Méthode d'essai
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 13 December 2020 for provisional application.
The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to
submit their comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.
CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS
available promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in
parallel to the CEN/TS) until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 17394-4:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Principle . 7
5 Sampling . 8
6 Test method . 8
6.1 Apparatus . 8
6.2 Materials . 9
6.3 Procedure. 9
7 Test report . 10
Annex A (normative) Nominal percentage compositon of EN ISO 6330:2012, Annex K non-
phosphate reference detergent 3 . 11
Annex B (informative) Rationale for use of Durawash type machine and not the Type A
washing machine, e.g. Wascator, as specified in EN ISO 6330:2012 . 12
Bibliography . 14
European foreword
This document (CEN/TS 17394-4:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 248
“Textiles and textile products”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
The aim of this document is to assess the security of attachment of components except buttons and metal
mechanically applied press fasteners.
This document provides a method of test. A document providing performance specification for infants'
clothing is under development.
This document has been developed from Annex C of CEN/TR 16792:2014.
The method given in this document involves a washing and drying process and provides an example of a
wash to assess the durability of attachment of components. It is not to assess the performance of the
garment. For this reason, the test conditions are much more aggressive than the conditions used in
normal laundering. The following is an example of suitable a wash test which gives a very aggressive
wash action. At the time of drafting this document, an equivalent wash programme for the Wascator
washing machine, as specified in EN ISO 6330, is not available.
See Annex B for more details on the background and rationale.
1 Scope
The method described in this document complements
— EN 17394-2:2020, Textiles and textile products – Part 2: Safety of children's clothing – Security of
attachment of buttons – Test method
— CEN/TS 17394-3:2021, Textiles and textile products – Part 3: Safety of children's clothing - Security of
attachment of metal mechanically applied press fasteners – Test method
and is applicable to all other components including labels, badges, sequins, rhinestones, rivets, eyelets
and non-metal press fasteners, which are too small to be gripped in test equipment jaws or their integrity
is disrupted by gripping.
The performance requirements are provided in CEN/TS 17394-1:2021.
The method is an extremely aggressive wash method has been developed to assess if the components
remain attached.
It is specifically applicable to clothing, where the detachment of these components might result in
accidents to children.
This document does not apply to:
a) child care articles;
b) shoes, boots and similar footwear;
c) toys (see NOTE 2);
d) other articles sold with clothing.
NOTE 1 The above items are covered by other CEN Technical Committees and as such are out of the scope of this
document.
NOTE 2 Disguise costumes including carnival costumes are examples of clothing which are also toys and fall
within the scope of the Toy Safety Directive.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN ISO 6330:2012, Textiles - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing (ISO 6330:2012)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. ISO and IEC maintain
terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
child or young person
person aged from birth to aged up to age 14 years (that is up to and including 13 years and 11 months)
which includes all boys of height up to 182 cm and all girls up to 176 cm
[SOURCE: EN 14682:2014, modified — merged Clauses 2.1 and 2.2]
3.2
children's clothing
all garments intended by design, production route or selling route to be worn by children up to age of 14
years
[SOURCE: EN 14682:2014, 2.3]
3.3
garment assembly
section of a garment, made under production conditions, using production equipment and the
components that are to be used in production
[SOURCE: CEN/TR 16792:2014, 3.10]
3.4
press fastener
fastening device consisting of a male component and a female component that are attached to different
parts of a garment and which are fastened by aligning the two components and pressing them together
Note 1 to entry: Press fasteners include poppers and snaps.
Note 2 to entry: These may be functional or decorative.
[SOURCE: CEN/TS 17394-3:2021, 3.1]
3.5
rivet
component with two-part assembly, comprising a part (referred to as a burr) which is attached to the
outer surface of the garment by a tack which passes through the fabric from the reverse side
Note 1 to entry: Rivets are usually used as reinforcements, particularly on the corners of pockets on denim and
other casual garments.
Note 2 to entry: These may be functional or decorative.
[SOURCE: CEN/TS 17394-3:2021, 3.2]
3.6
eyelet
component used, for example, to reinforce a hole through a part of a garment, comprising a short metal
tube with a flange at one end which is fastened to the garment by pushing it through the hole and
compressing it against a die
Note 1 to entry: An eyelet may also include a washer on the reverse side.
Note 2 to entry: Eyelets are used to facilitate lacing or the insertion of a drawstring, to drain pockets or to ventilate
a garment.
Note 3 to entry: Eyelets may be functional or decorative.
[SOURCE: CEN/TS 17394-3:2021, 3.3]
3.7
sewn-on button
knob or disc which can be attached to the garment by means of, for example, a sewing thread
Note 1 to entry: The sewn-on button may be a means of fastening or decoration.
[SOURCE: EN 17394-2:2020, 3.3]
3.8
toggle button
cylindrical, elliptical or similar shaped button, made from hard material often wood, plastic or
...