prEN 18320

Textile floor coverings - Production of changes in appearance by means of Vettermann drum tester with polyurethane studs

This document describes procedures that use the mechanical action of a Vettermann drum tester using polyurethane studs to produce changes in appearance (surface structure and colour) to all types of textile floor coverings. It does not include pilling or colour changes due to other actions.
Changes produced by this drum tester are assessed in accordance with the applicable assessment standard.

Textile Bodenbeläge - Erzeugung optischer Veränderungen mittels Vettermann-Trommelprüfgerät mit Polyurethan-Stopfen

Dieses Dokument beschreibt Verfahren, bei denen die mechanische Wirkung eines Vettermann-Trommelgeräts unter Verwendung von Polyurethanstempeln genutzt wird, um  Änderungen im Erscheinungsbild (Oberflächenstruktur und Farbe) aller Arten von Textil-Bodenbelägen herbeizuführen. Auf Pilling odergen durch andere Einwirkungen wird nicht eingegangen.
Die von diesem Trommelprüfgerät herbeigeführten  Änderungen werden in  Übereinstimmung mit der anwendbaren Bewertungsnorm bewertet.

Revêtements de sol textiles - Production de changements d’aspect au moyen d’un tambour Vettermann avec des plots en polyuréthane

Le présent document décrit les modes opératoires qui utilisent l’action mécanique d’un tambour d’essai Vettermann avec des plots en polyuréthane pour produire des changements d’aspect (structure de surface et couleur) sur tous types de revêtements de sol textiles. Il ne traite pas du boulochage ni des changements de couleur dus à d’autres actions.
Les changements produits par ce tambour d’essai sont évalués conformément à la norme d’évaluation applicable.

Tekstilne talne obloge - Ustvarjanje sprememb v videzu s pomočjo Vettermannovega bobnastega preskusnega stroja s poliuretanskimi izboklinami

Ta dokument opisuje postopke, ki uporabljajo mehansko delovanje Vettermannovega bobnastega preizkuševalnika z uporabo poliuretanskih čepov za povzročanje sprememb v videzu (površinska struktura in barva) vseh vrst tekstilnih talnih oblog. Ne vključuje muckanja (pilling) ali sprememb barve zaradi drugih dejavnikov.
Spremembe, ki jih povzroči ta bobnasti preizkuševalnik, se ocenjujejo v skladu z veljavnim standardom za ocenjevanje.

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 10-Jan-2028
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 134 - Resilient and textile floor coverings
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 134/WG 8 - Textile floor coverings
• Current Stage: 4060 - Closure of enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 04-Jun-2026
• Due Date: 17-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 04-Jun-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 18320:2026 - Textile floor coverings - Production of changes in appearance by means of Vettermann drum tester with polyurethane studs

Overview

prEN 18320 is a draft European Standard developed by CEN that specifies a method for artificially producing changes in the appearance of textile floor coverings by mechanical means. Using the Vettermann drum tester with polyurethane studs, this procedure simulates changes in the surface structure and colour of a range of textile floor coverings-such as carpets and rugs-by controlled mechanical action. The standard provides a consistent approach for evaluating a textile floor covering's resistance to visible changes under simulated wear conditions. Notably, this standard does not address pilling or colour changes arising from factors other than the mechanical test method described.

Key Topics

• Vettermann Drum Tester: Central to the test is the Vettermann drum, equipped with a steel ball fitted with polyurethane studs. These elements create a defined, repeatable abrasion effect on the textile floor covering specimens.
• Testing Procedures: The standard outlines key stages:
  • Specimen selection and preparation: Following ISO 1957, samples are chosen to be representative and prepared in line with standardized atmospheres for conditioning and testing (EN ISO 139).
  • Mechanical Action: Test specimens are placed inside the rotating drum, and the polyurethane-studded ball applies mechanical wear for a specified number of revolutions.
  • Post-Test Assessment: After testing, specimens are evaluated for appearance change (surface structure, colour) using applicable assessment standards such as EN ISO 9405.
• Test Conditions: Conditioning and testing take place at a relative humidity of 65% (±4) and a temperature of 20°C (±2), ensuring consistent and reliable results.
• Reporting Requirements: Includes identification of materials, test conditions, number of revolutions, equipment used, and assessment results.

Applications

prEN 18320 provides significant value in several practical contexts:

• Product Development and Quality Control: Manufacturers of textile floor coverings can use this method to benchmark the appearance retention of products during design and production. By simulating long-term and early-stage wear, potential weaknesses in flooring materials can be identified and improved before market release.
• Specification and Procurement: Flooring specifiers, architects, and building owners gain a reliable tool for comparing the surface durability of competing textile floor coverings. The standardized results help in making informed decisions regarding product suitability for different traffic levels and applications.
• Regulatory and Certification Testing: Testing in accordance with prEN 18320 supports claims for product certification and compliance with European or international standards, ensuring products meet recognized performance criteria for appearance retention.
• Research and Comparative Studies: Academic and industry research teams can apply this method for comparative analysis of new materials, finishes, or construction techniques affecting the durability and visual longevity of textile floor coverings.

Related Standards

For comprehensive evaluation and consistency in testing, prEN 18320 references and aligns with several international standards:

• ISO 48-4: Rubber and thermoplastics - Determination of hardness (Shore hardness)
• EN ISO 139: Textiles - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 1957: Machine-made textile floor coverings - Selection and cutting of specimens for physical tests
• ISO 2424: Textile floor coverings - Vocabulary
• EN ISO 9405: Textile floor coverings - Assessment of changes in appearance

Adhering to these related standards ensures test accuracy, repeatability, and international compatibility across laboratories, manufacturers, and certification bodies.

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Keywords: textile floor coverings, Vettermann drum tester, polyurethane studs, appearance retention, surface durability, standard testing methods, CEN, EN 18320, carpet testing, flooring certification, quality control

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Tekstilne talne obloge - Ustvarjanje sprememb v videzu s pomočjo
Vettermannovega bobnastega preskusnega stroja s poliuretanskimi izboklinami
Textile floor coverings - Production of changes in appearance by means of Vettermann
drum tester with polyurethane studs
Textile Bodenbeläge - Erzeugung optischer Veränderungen mittels Vettermann-
Trommelprüfgerät mit Polyurethan-Stopfen
Revêtements de sol textiles - Production de changements d’aspect au moyen d’un
tambour Vettermann avec des plots en polyuréthane
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18320
ICS:
97.150 Talne obloge Floor coverings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2026
ICS 97.150
English Version
Textile floor coverings - Production of changes in
appearance by means of Vettermann drum tester with
polyurethane studs
Revêtements de sol textiles - Production de Textile Bodenbeläge - Erzeugung optischer
changements d'aspect au moyen d'un tambour Veränderungen mittels Vettermann-Trommelprüfgerät
Vettermann avec des plots en polyuréthane mit Polyurethan-Stopfen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 134.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 18320:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 4
4.1 General. 4
5 Vettermann drum method . 4
5.1 Apparatus . 4
5.2 Atmosphere for conditioning and testing . 8
5.3 Selection and preparation of test specimens . 8
5.3.1 Selection . 8
5.3.2 Number and dimensions . 8
5.3.3 Preparation . 8
5.4 Procedure . 8
6 Test report . 9

prEN 18320:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 18320:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 134 “Resilient,
textile, laminate and modular mechanical locked floor coverings”, the secretariat of which is held by
NBN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
1 Scope
This document describes procedures that use the mechanical action of a Vettermann drum tester using
polyurethane studs to produce changes in appearance (surface structure and colour) to all types of
textile floor coverings. It does not include pilling or colour changes due to other actions.
Changes produced by this drum tester are assessed in accordance with the applicable assessment
standard.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all 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 48-4:2018, Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of hardness — Part 4: Indentation
hardness by durometer method (Shore hardness)
EN ISO 139:2005, Textiles — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 1957, Machine-made textile floor coverings — Selection and cutting of specimens for physical tests
ISO 2424, Textile floor coverings — Vocabulary
EN ISO 9405, Textile floor coverings — Assessment of changes in appearance
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 2424 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Principle
4.1 General
A steel ball with polyurethane studs rolls randomly inside a rotating drum which is lined with the
textile floor covering specimens.
After fat
...