EN ISO 12945-3:2020

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for the determination of the resistance to pilling, fuzzing, and matting of textile fabrics using the random tumble pilling tester. This method is applicable to most of woven and knitted fabrics, including napped fabrics (fleeces, inlay fabrics).; This method is not applicable to fabrics which cannot tumble freely.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 17-Nov-2020
• Withdrawal Date: 30-May-2021
• ICS: 59.080.01 - Textiles in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 18-Nov-2020
• Completion Date: 18-Nov-2020
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 12945-3:2021 - Textiles- Determination of the fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling method (ISO 12945-3:2020)

• Replaces: EN ISO 12945-3:2014 - Textiles - Determination of the fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling method (ISO 12945-3:2014)
• Effective Date: 25-Nov-2020
• Refers: ISO 139:2005 - Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Refers: ISO 48-2:2018 - Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of hardness — Part 2: Hardness between 10 IRHD and 100 IRHD
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: ISO 12945-4:2020 - Textiles — Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting — Part 4: Assessment of pilling, fuzzing and matting by visual analysis
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN 13480-6:2012/A1:2016 - Metallic industrial piping - Part 6: Additional requirements for buried piping
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 10855-1:2024 - Offshore containers and associated lifting sets - Part 1: Design, manufacture and marking of offshore containers (ISO 10855-1:2024)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13094:2020+A1:2022 - Tanks for the transport of dangerous goods - Metallic gravity-discharge tanks - Design and construction
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13094:2020 - Tanks for the transport of dangerous goods - Metallic gravity-discharge tanks - Design and construction
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 14025:2023 - Tanks for the transport of dangerous goods - Metallic pressure tanks - Design and construction
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Consolidated By: ISO 12945-3:2020 - Textiles — Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting — Part 3: Random tumble pilling method
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

EN ISO 12945-3:2020 - “Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling method” (CEN adoption of ISO 12945-3:2020) defines a laboratory method to evaluate a fabric’s resistance to pilling, fuzzing, and matting using a random-tumble pilling tester. The method applies to most woven and knitted fabrics, including napped textiles (e.g., fleeces, inlay fabrics), but excludes fabrics that cannot tumble freely.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: Specimens are tumbled under defined conditions in a lined cylindrical test chamber to simulate abrasive wear; surface changes are assessed visually after specified tumbling intervals.
• Apparatus: Use of a random tumble pilling tester with lined chambers (polychloroprene liners) and maintenance/verification procedures for apparatus performance. Annex A provides apparatus checking and liner preparation guidance.
• Specimen preparation: Requirements for sampling, specimen edge fixation, number of specimens, marking and pre-treatment of laboratory samples.
• Conditioning and atmosphere: Tests are conducted in controlled atmosphere per ISO 139 (standard conditioning for textiles).
• Assessment: Visual evaluation of pilling, fuzzing and matting is performed following the assessment principles (see ISO 12945-4 for visual analysis procedures referenced in Clause 10).
• Terminology and scope limits: Clear definitions for pill, pilling, fuzzing, matting and jamming (entanglement) are provided to ensure consistent interpretation.
• Documentation: Test report content and result reporting requirements are specified to support reproducibility and traceability.
• Annexes: Annex C gives rationale (notably for napped fabrics) and Annex B outlines an alternative procedure.

Applications

• Quality control of garments, home textiles and technical textiles to measure fabric propensity to pilling, fuzzing, and matting.
• Comparative performance testing during product development, material selection and supplier evaluation.
• Supporting specifications for retail product acceptance, performance claims and warranty assessments.
• Research and R&D labs studying fibre, yarn and fabric interactions that influence surface wear.

Who should use this standard

• Textile manufacturers and mills performing in-house QC
• Independent testing laboratories and certification bodies
• R&D teams and textile engineers developing pill-resistant fabrics
• Retailers and brand quality assurance for product specification and compliance

Related standards

• ISO 12945-4 - Assessment of pilling, fuzzing and matting by visual analysis
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing textiles
• ISO 48-2 - Hardness testing (referenced for liners/material checks)

Keywords: EN ISO 12945-3:2020, ISO 12945-3, random tumble pilling method, pilling test, textile testing, fuzzing, matting, fabric propensity to pilling.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 12945-3:2014
Tekstilije - Ugotavljanje nagnjenja tekstilij k površinskemu pilingu, razvlaknjanju
ali zapletanju - 3. del: Naključna metoda s pilingom bobna (ISO 12945-3:2020)
Textiles- Determination of the fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part
3: Random tumble pilling method (ISO 12945-3:2020)
Textilien - Bestimmung der Neigung von textilen Flächengebilden zur Pillbildung,
Flusenbildung oder der Mattierung auf der Oberfläche - Teil 3: Random-Tumble-Pilling-
Verfahren (ISO 12945-3:2020)
Textiles - Détermination de la propension au boulochage, à l'ébouriffage ou au
moutonnement des étoffes en surface - Partie 3: Méthode de boulochage par projections
aléatoires dans une chambre cylindrique (ISO 12945-3:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 12945-3:2020
ICS:
59.080.01 Tekstilije na splošno Textiles in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 12945-3
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2020
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 59.080.01 Supersedes EN ISO 12945-3:2014
English Version
Textiles - Determination of fabric propensity to surface
pilling, fuzzing or matting - Part 3: Random tumble pilling
method (ISO 12945-3:2020)
Textiles - Détermination de la propension des étoffes Textilien - Bestimmung der Neigung von textilen
au boulochage, à l'ébouriffage ou au moutonnement en Flächengebilden zur Pillbildung, Flusenbildung oder
surface - Partie 3: Méthode d'essai de boulochage par der Mattierung auf der Oberfläche - Teil 3: Random-
chocs aléatoires dans une chambre cylindrique (ISO Tumble-Pilling-Verfahren (ISO 12945-3:2020)
12945-3:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 25 August 2020.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

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
© 2020 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 12945-3:2020 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 12945-3:2020) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38
"Textiles" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 248 “Textiles and textile products” the
secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2021, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by May 2021.
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.
This document supersedes EN ISO 12945-3:2014.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 12945-3:2020 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 12945-3:2020 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12945-3
Second edition
2020-10
Textiles — Determination of fabric
propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing
or matting —
Part 3:
Random tumble pilling method
Textiles — Détermination de la propension des étoffes au boulochage,
à l'ébouriffage ou au moutonnement en surface —
Partie 3: Méthode d'essai de boulochage par chocs aléatoires dans
une chambre cylindrique
Reference number
ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020
ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Apparatus and auxiliary materials . 2
5.1 Apparatus . 2
5.2 Auxiliary materials . 3
6 Preparation of test specimens . 5
6.1 Pretreatment of the laboratory sample . 5
6.2 Sampling of test specimens . 5
6.3 Fixation of test specimen edges . 5
6.4 Number of test specimens and marking . 5
7 Preparation of polychloroprene liners . 5
8 Conditioning and testing atmosphere . 6
9 Procedure. 6
10 Assessment of pilling, fuzzing and matting . 6
11 Results . 6
12 Test report . 7
Annex A (normative) Checking of apparatus and preparation of liners . 8
Annex B (informative) Alternative procedure . 9
Annex C (informative) Rationale .10
Bibliography .12
ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 38, Textiles, Subcommittee SC 24,
Conditioning atmospheres and physical tests for textile fabrics, in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 248, Textiles and textile products,
in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12945-3:2000), which has been
technically revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— in Clause 10, visual assessment of pilling, fuzzing, and matting have been carried out according to
ISO 12945-4.
A list of all parts in the ISO 12945 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
Introduction
Pills are formed when fibres on a fabric surface “tease out” and become entangled during wear. Such
surface deterioration is generally undesirable, but the degree of consumer tolerance for a given level of
pilling will depend on the garment type and fabric end use.
Generally, the level of pilling which develops is determined by the rates of the following parallel
processes:
a) fibre entanglement leading to pill formation;
b) development of more surface fibre;
c) fibre and pill wear-off.
The rates of these processes depend on the fibre, yarn and fabric properties. Examples of extreme
situations are found in fabrics containing strong fibres versus fabric containing weak fibres. A
consequence of the strong fibre is a rate of pill formation that exceeds the rate of wear-off. This results
in an increase of pilling with an increase of wear. With a weak fibre the rate of pill formation competes
with the rate of wear-off. This would result in a fluctuation of pilling with an increase of wear. There are
other constructions that the surface fibre wear-off occurs before pill formation. Each of these examples
demonstrates the complexity of evaluating the surface change on different types of fabric.
The ideal laboratory test would accelerate the wear processes a), b), and c) by exactly the same factor
and would be universally applicable to all fibre, yarn, and fabric types. No such test has been developed.
However, a test procedure has been established in which fabrics can be ranked in the same order of
pilling, fuzzing, and matting propensity as is likely to occur in end use wear.
Particular attention is drawn to Annex A which gives advice on the maintenance and checking of the
apparatus and liners. It is recommended that Annex A be studied prior to carrying out the procedure.
Annex C gives rationale especially regarding the testing of napped fabrics.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
Textiles — Determination of fabric propensity to surface
pilling, fuzzing or matting —
Part 3:
Random tumble pilling method
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the determination of the resistance to pilling, fuzzing, and
matting of textile fabrics using the random tumble pilling tester. This method is applicable to most of
woven and knitted fabrics, including napped fabrics (fleeces, inlay fabrics).
This method is not applicable to fabrics which cannot tumble freely.
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.
ISO 48-2, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of hardness — Part 2: Hardness between
10 IRHD and 100 IRHD
ISO 139, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 12945-4, Textiles — Determination of fabric propensity to surface pilling, fuzzing or matting — Part 4:
Assessment of pilling, fuzzing and matting by visual analysis
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:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
pill
entangling of fibres into balls (pills) which stand proud of the fabric and are of such density that light
will not penetrate and will cast a shadow
Note 1 to entry: This change can occur during washing, dry cleaning, and/or wearing.
[SOURCE: ISO 12945-4:2020, 3.1]
3.2
pilling
generation of pills (3.1) over the surface of the fabric
[SOURCE: ISO 12945-4:2020, 3.2]
ISO 12945-3:2020(E)
3.3
fuzzing
roughing up of the surface
...