EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022

Wearable electronic devices and technologies - Part 201-1: Electronic textile - Measurement methods for basic properties of conductive yarns

IEC 63203-201-1:2022 specifies provisions and test methods for measurement of properties of conductive yarns. Conductive yarns covered in this document have conductivity of a level that can be used for transmission of electric signals, supply of electric power and electromagnetic shield. They do not include high-resistance conductive yarn used for anti-static and heating use. Conductive yarns are the basic material in electronic textiles and are mainly used as conductive traces in clothes-type wearable devices, as well as with secondary processing (woven, knitted, embroidered, nonwoven, etc.) to provide conductive fabrics. This document does not define the required characteristics of the conductive yarn; rather, it specifies the handling and measurement methods for general and electrical properties of conductive yarn.

Tragbare elektronische Geräte und Technologien - Teil 201-1: Elektronische Textilien - Messverfahren für die grundlegenden Eigenschaften von leitfähigen Garnen

Technologies et dispositifs électroniques prêts-à-porter - Partie 201-1: Textile électronique - Méthodes de mesure des propriétés fondamentales des fils conducteurs

L’IEC 63203-201-1:2022 spécifie les dispositions applicables aux fils conducteurs et les méthodes d’essai pour le mesurage de leurs propriétés. Les fils conducteurs traités dans la présente norme présentent un niveau de conductivité qui peut être utilisé pour la transmission des signaux électriques, ou la fourniture de puissance électrique et d’un écran électromagnétique. Ces fils ne comportent pas de fil conducteur à haute résistance utilisé pour une utilisation antistatique et à des fins de chauffage. Les fils conducteurs constituent le matériau de base des textiles électroniques et sont utilisés principalement comme traces conductrices dans les dispositifs prêts-à-porter de type vêtements, ainsi qu’avec un traitement secondaire (en modes tissé, tricoté, brodé, non tissé, etc.), afin de fournir des étoffes conductrices. Le présent document ne définit pas les caractéristiques exigées du fil conducteur, mais spécifie les méthodes de manipulation et de mesurage liées aux propriétés générales et électriques du fil conducteur.

Nosljive elektronske naprave in tehnologije - 201-1. del: Elektronski tekstil - Metode merjenja osnovnih lastnosti prevodnih prej (IEC 63203-201-1:2022)

Ta del standarda IEC 63203-201 podaja določila in preskusne metode za merjenje lastnosti prevodnih prej. Ta dokument zajema prevodne preje, katerih stopnja prevodnosti omogoča njihovo uporabo za prenos električnih signalov, dobavo električne energije ter elektromagnetno zaščito. To ne zajema prevodne preje z visoko odpornostjo, ki se uporabljajo pri preprečevanju statične naelektritve in ogrevanju. Prevodna preja je osnovni material za elektronski tekstil ter se uporablja predvsem kot prevodna sled v nosljivih napravah za oblačenje, ter se v sekundarni obdelavi (tkanje, pletenje, vezenje, netkani tekstil itd.) uporablja za izdelavo prevodnih tkanin. Ta dokument ne opredeljuje zahtevanih lastnosti prevodne preje, temveč določa metode za ravnanje in mejenje splošnih ter električnih lastnosti prevodne preje.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 02-Jun-2022
• ICS: 59.080.20 - Yarns
• ICS: 59.080.80 - Smart textiles
• Technical Committee: CLC/SR 124 - Wearable Electronic Devices and Technologies
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 124 - Wearable electronic devices and technologies
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 03-Jun-2022
• Completion Date: 03-Jun-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022 - Wearable electronic devices and technologies - Part 201-1: Electronic Textile - Measurement methods for basic properties of conductive yarns (IEC 63203-201-1:2022)

Overview

EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022 - Wearable electronic devices and technologies, Part 201-1: Electronic textile - Measurement methods for basic properties of conductive yarns - provides standardized procedures for handling and measuring the fundamental properties of conductive yarns used in e-textiles and wearable electronic devices. It focuses on yarns with sufficient conductivity for signal transmission, power supply and electromagnetic shielding, and explicitly excludes high-resistance yarns intended only for anti‑static or heating functions. The standard defines measurement environments and test methods rather than performance requirements.

Key topics

• Scope and classification
  • Defines conductive fibres and yarn structures (metallic coatings, core-sheath, blended constructions) and classifications relevant to e-textiles.
• Environmental conditioning
  • Specifies atmospheric conditions and specimen conditioning for reproducible measurements (aligned with textile testing practice).
• Electrical measurements
  • Methods to measure linear and bulk electrical resistance of conductive yarns and procedures for recording results.
  • Fusing current test to assess current carrying limits and failure behavior.
• Durability tests
  • Perspiration resistance: specimen preparation, artificial perspiration solutions and test procedure to evaluate corrosion and conductivity changes.
  • Detergent/wash resistance: washing procedures and reporting to assess wash durability of conductive yarns.
• Reporting and handling
  • Guidance on specimen preparation, test reporting, and referencing normative documents to ensure reproducibility.

Practical applications

Who uses EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022 and why:

• E-textile and wearable product designers - to select and specify conductive yarns for signal traces, power distribution and electromagnetic shielding in garments and wearable systems.
• Textile and yarn manufacturers - to characterize products consistently for datasheets and quality control.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform repeatable electrical and durability testing for compliance, R&D validation and supplier qualification.
• R&D teams and integrators - to compare conductive yarn options, evaluate wash and perspiration durability, and determine safe current-carrying limits.

Practical benefits include improved interoperability between materials and devices, predictable electrical performance in clothing-type wearables, and quantifiable metrics for reliability and wash durability.

Related standards

Normative references and closely related documents include:

• IEC 60468 - Method of measurement of resistivity of metallic materials
• ISO 105‑E04 - Colour fastness to perspiration
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
• ISO 6330 - Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
• EN 16812:2016 - Determination of linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks

Using EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022 helps stakeholders ensure reliable measurement of conductive yarn properties essential for robust, safe and durable wearable electronics and smart textiles.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2022
Nosljive elektronske naprave in tehnologije - 201-1. del: Elektronski tekstil -
Metode merjenja osnovnih lastnosti prevodnih prej (IEC 63203-201-1:2022)
Wearable electronic devices and technologies - Part 201-1: Electronic Textile -
Measurement methods for basic properties of conductive yarns (IEC 63203-201-1:2022)
Tragbare elektronische Geräte und Technologien - Teil 201-1: Elektronische Textilien -
Messverfahren für die grundlegenden Eigenschaften von leitfähigen Garnen (IEC 63203-
201-1:2022)
Technologies et dispositifs électroniques prêts-à-porter - Partie 201-1: Textile
électronique - Méthodes de mesure des propriétés fondamentales des fils conducteurs
(IEC 63203-201-1:2022)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022
ICS:
59.080.80 Inteligentne tekstilije Smart textiles
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 63203-201-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM June 2022
ICS 59.080.80; 59.080.20
English Version
Wearable electronic devices and technologies - Part 201-1:
Electronic textile - Measurement methods for basic properties of
conductive yarns
(IEC 63203-201-1:2022)
Technologies et dispositifs électroniques prêts-à-porter - Tragbare elektronische Geräte und Technologien - Teil 201-
Partie 201-1: Textile électronique - Méthodes de mesure 1: Elektronische Textilien - Messverfahren für die
des propriétés fondamentales des fils conducteurs grundlegenden Eigenschaften von leitfähigen Garnen
(IEC 63203-201-1:2022) (IEC 63203-201-1:2022)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2022-05-31. CENELEC 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 CENELEC 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 CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022 E

European foreword
The text of document 124/175/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 63203-201-1, prepared by IEC/TC 124
"Wearable electronic devices and technologies" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and
approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 63203-201-1:2022.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2023-02-28
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2025-05-31
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 63203-201-1:2022 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 63203-101-1:2021 NOTE Harmonized as EN IEC 63203-101-1:2021 (not modified)
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
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.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the
relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60468 1974 Method of measurement of resistivity of - -
metallic materials
ISO 105-E04 - Textiles - Tests for colour fastness - Part EN ISO 105-E04 -
E04: Colour fastness to perspiration
ISO 139 - Textiles - Standard atmospheres for EN ISO 139 -
conditioning and testing
ISO 6330 - Textiles - Domestic washing and drying EN ISO 6330 -
procedures for textile testing
- - Textiles and textile products - Electrically EN 16812 2016
conductive textiles - Determination of the
linear electrical resistance of conductive
tracks
IEC 63203-201-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2022-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Wearable electronic devices and technologies –

Part 201-1: Electronic textile – Measurement methods for basic properties of

conductive yarns
Technologies et dispositifs électroniques prêts-à-porter –

Partie 201-1: Textile électronique – Méthodes de mesure des propriétés

fondamentales des fils conducteurs

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 59.080.80; 59.080.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-1103-6

– 2 – IEC 63203-201-1:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Materials and structure . 7
4.1 Classifications of conductive fibres . 7
4.1.1 Structure . 7
4.1.2 Length . 7
4.1.3 Basic materials for non-conductive components of fibre . 8
4.1.4 Conductive components for conductive fibres . 8
4.2 Structure of conductive yarns . 8
5 Atmospheric conditions for measurement and conditioning . 9
6 Measurement methods for characteristics of conductive yarn . 9
6.1 Electrical properties . 9
6.1.1 Resistance of conductive yarn . 9
6.1.2 Fusing current. 9
6.2 Perspiration resistance . 10
6.2.1 Specimens . 10
6.2.2 Artificial perspiration . 10
6.2.3 Procedure . 10
6.2.4 Report of the results . 10
6.3 Detergent resistance . 11
6.3.1 Specimens . 11
6.3.2 Detergent . 11
6.3.3 Procedure . 11
6.3.4 Report of the results . 11
Bibliography . 12

Table 1 – Typical cross-sectional diagrams of conductive fibres . 7
Table 2 – Constructions of conductive yarns . 8

IEC 63203-201-1:2022 © IEC 2022 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES –

Part 201-1: Electronic textile –
Measurement methods for basic properties of conductive yarns

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 63203-201-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 124: Wearable electronic
devices and technologies. It is an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
124/175/FDIS 124/180/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.

– 4 – IEC 63203-201-1:2022 © IEC 2022
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 63203 series, published under the general title Wearable electronic
devices and technologies, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec
...