ISO/FDIS 17228

• Abstract:

  ISO 17228:2015 specifies various ageing procedures to obtain an indication of the changes that could occur when leather is exposed to a certain environment for a prolonged time. Over time, the surface colour of leather and the leather itself change due to ageing and to the action of the surroundings on the leather. The test conditions to be used depend on the type of leather and its intended use. This procedure can also be used to age specimens for the test of dimensional change according to ISO 17130.

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 59.140.30 - Leather and furs
• Technical Committee: IULTCS - International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies
• Drafting Committee: IULTCS - International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies
• Current Stage: 5020 - FDIS ballot initiated: 2 months. Proof sent to secretariat
• Start Date: 16-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 16-Sep-2026

• Consolidates: FprEN ISO 17228 - Leather - Tests for colour fastness - Change in colour with accelerated ageing (ISO/FDIS 17228:2026)
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026
• Consolidates: ISO 187:2022 - Paper, board and pulps — Standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing and procedure for monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples
• Effective Date: 20-Jul-2024
• Revises: ISO 17228:2015 - Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Change in colour with accelerated ageing
• Effective Date: 06-Jul-2024

Overview

ISO/FDIS 17228:2026 specifies standardized tests for the assessment of colour fastness and the changes in leather colour when subjected to accelerated ageing. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in collaboration with IULTCS and CEN, this standard outlines ageing procedures designed to simulate prolonged exposure of leather products to environmental factors such as heat, humidity, and cyclic temperature variations.

These procedures help characterize how the surface colour and overall appearance of leather products may change over time, supporting manufacturers, suppliers, and customers in evaluating product durability, quality, and suitability for specific applications. ISO/FDIS 17228 can also be used to prepare leather specimens for additional physical or fastness tests, and is referenced as a preparatory step for dimensional stability evaluation under ISO 17130.

Key Topics

• Accelerated Ageing Procedures:
  The standard details three primary regimes for ageing leather:

  • Heat exposure alone
  • Heat and elevated humidity exposure
  • Cyclic variations of temperature and humidity

• Assessment of Colour Change:

  • Visual evaluation using grey scales as specified in ISO 105 series
  • Instrumental measurement of colour differences, including the assessment of yellowing in undyed leather, typically via a spectrophotometer following ISO 22700

• Test Piece Preparation:

  • Standardized preparation and conditioning of leather samples, with reference methods to ensure repeatability and comparability of results

• Reporting Requirements:

  • Test reports must include all essential details: leather type, method used, ageing conditions, measurement scales, deviations, and visible or measured property changes

Applications

ISO/FDIS 17228 is highly relevant in industries where leather products are expected to retain their appearance and physical properties throughout an extended lifespan. Practical applications include:

• Footwear and Accessories: Manufacturers of shoes, belts, and handbags use these tests to verify resistance to discolouration and changes in appearance during storage or wear.
• Automotive Interiors: The accelerated ageing methods are widely used to assess the durability of leathers for vehicle seats, dashboards, and trim, ensuring long-term visual quality under challenging temperature and humidity cycles.
• Upholstery and Furniture: Ensures that leather furniture maintains its aesthetic properties under household and commercial use conditions.
• Apparel: Utilized by clothing manufacturers to check that garment leathers withstand environmental exposure in various climates.
• Quality Control and Compliance: Helps suppliers and purchasing agents specify and confirm the longevity and fastness properties of leathers as a part of material approval and quality assurance processes.

These standard tests enable stakeholders to make informed decisions on product development, specification, and market suitability by understanding potential changes in leather colour and integrity.

Related Standards

For comprehensive leather testing and colour fastness assessment, the following ISO standards are integral and referenced in ISO/FDIS 17228:

• ISO 105 Series: Methods for the assessment of change in colour and staining (including A02, A03, A04, and A05 parts).
• ISO 2418: Guidelines for specimen preparation and positioning for leather testing.
• ISO 2419: Conditioning procedures for test pieces prior to evaluation.
• ISO 7906: General principles for colour fastness testing of leather.
• ISO 17130: Procedures for assessing dimensional change in leather-ISO/FDIS 17228 ageing can serve as a pre-conditioning step.
• ISO 22700: Instrumental measurement of colour and colour difference in finished leather, including the determination of yellowing.

Together, these standards facilitate a robust and technically consistent approach to leather testing, ensuring product quality and performance across international markets.

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 17228
IUF 412
IULTCS
Leather — Tests for colour
Voting begins on:
fastness — Change in colour with
2026-09-16
accelerated ageing
Voting terminates on:
2026-11-11
Cuir — Essais de solidité des coloris — Changement de couleur
avec vieillissement accéléré
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 SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
IUF 412:2026(en) © ISO 2026
FINAL DRAFT
IUF 412:2026(en) International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 17228
IUF 412
IULTCS
Leather — Tests for colour
Voting begins on:
fastness — Change in colour with
accelerated ageing
Voting terminates on:
Cuir — Essais de solidité des coloris — Changement de couleur
avec vieillissement accéléré
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 SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2026
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Reference number
Published in Switzerland ISO/FDIS 17228:2026(en)
IUF 412:2026(en) © ISO 2026
ii
IUF 412:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Apparatus . 2
6 Test piece preparation . 2
7 Ageing by heat alone . 3
7.1 Principle .3
7.2 Procedure .3
8 Ageing by heat and elevated humidity . 4
8.1 Principle .4
8.2 Procedure .4
9 Cyclic variation in heat and elevated humidity . 5
9.1 Principle .5
9.2 Procedure .5
10 Test report . 7
Annex A (normative) Evaluation of yellowing towards instrumental colour measurement . 8
Bibliography . 9

iii
IUF 412:2026(en)
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).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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.
IULTCS, originally formed in 1897, is a world-wide organization of professional leather societies to further
the advancement of leather science and technology. IULTCS has three Commissions, which are responsible
for establishing international methods for the sampling and testing of leather. ISO recognizes IULTCS as an
international standardizing body for the preparation of test methods for leather.
This document was prepared by the Fastness Tests Commission of the International Union of Leather
Technologists and Chemists Societies (IUF Commission, IULTCS) in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 289, Leather, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
It is based on IUF 412 published in J. Soc. Leather Tech. Chem., 86, pp. 325-331, 2002, and declared an official
method of the IULTCS in May 2003.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 17228:2015) which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the method was updated to the latest versions of ISO 2418, ISO 2419, ISO 7906;
— added reference ISO 22700 for instrumental measurements of colour differences and yellowing
calculations.
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
FINAL DRAFT International Standard
IUF 412:2026(en)
Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Change in colour with
accelerated ageing
1 Scope
This document specifies various ageing procedures to obtain an indication of the changes that can occur
when leather is exposed to a certain environment for a prolonged time. Over time, the surface colour of
leather and the leather itself change due to ageing and to the action of the surroundings on the leather.
This procedure can also be used to age specimens for the test of dimensional change according to ISO 17130.
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 105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
ISO 105-A03, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A03: Grey scale for assessing staining
ISO 105-A04, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A04: Method for the instrumental assessment of the
degree of staining of adjacent fabrics
ISO 105-A05, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A05: Instrumental assessment of change in colour for
determination of grey scale rating
ISO 2418, Leather — Chemical, physical, mechanical and fastness tests — Position and preparation of specimens
for testing
ISO 2419, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Specimen and test piece conditioning
ISO 7906, Leather — Tests for colour fastness — General principles of testing
ISO 17130, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of dimensional change
ISO 22700, Leather — Measuring the colour and colour difference of finished leather
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
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
A test piece of leather is exposed to at least one of the three following conditions:
— heat (see Clause 7);
IUF 412:2026(en)
— heat and humidity (see Clause 8);
— cycles of different temperature and humidity (see Clause 9).
One or more of these procedures may take place simultaneously. The change in colour of the test piece is
assessed with the standard grey scale and, if applicable, any changes in the finish or appearance are noted.
These procedures can also be used to prepare the leather specimen for other physical or fastness tests after
accelerated ageing. The assessment of dimension change is specified in ISO 17130.
The test conditions to be used depend on the type of leather and its intended use.
NOTE Accelerated ageing tests are for guidance only and they are not necessarily representative of long-term use
at ambient temperatures.
The general colour fastness testing principles shall be in accordance with those specified in ISO 7906.
5 Apparatus
Use normal laboratory apparatus and the following.
5.1 Oven, fitted with a central rack, capable of maintaining a temperature within ±2 °C of the defined
temperature. The oven should have a vent, preferably with a circulating fan, and an inside made of inert
materials.
5.2 Climate chamber, fitted with a central rack, capable of maintaining a temperature within ±2 °C of the
defined temperature and a relative humidity within ±5 % of the defined relative humidity, as specified in
ISO 17130.
5.3 Suitable system for holding the test piece and preventing contact with the oven or climate chamber
sides.
5.4 Grey scale for assessing change in colour, conforming with ISO 105-A02, or an instrumental
system for assessing change in colour, conforming with ISO 105-A05.
5.5 Grey scale for assessing staining, conforming with ISO 105-A03, or an instrumental system for
assessing staining, conforming with ISO 105-A04.
5.6 Stop clock, readable to 1 s.
5.7 Spectrophotometer as specified in ISO 22700.
5.8 Support, glass plate or suitable stainless-steel mesh, that keeps the test piece flat. Support shall be
covered with a polyester nonwoven fabric, as specified in ISO 17130, to prevent the test piece from sticking.
6 Test piece preparation
6.1 Prior to cutting out test pie
...

IUF 412:2025(en)
ISO/IULTCS – IUF 412
Secretariat: ISO
Date: 2026-07-0309-01
Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Change in colour with
accelerated ageing
Cuir — Essais de solidité des coloris — Changement de couleur avec vieillissement accéléré
FDIS stage
TThhiis drs draafftt i is s susubbmmiitttteed d ttoo aa ppaarraallellel l vvoottee i inn IISSOO,, CCEEN.N.

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: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
IUF 412:20252026(en)
Contents
Foreword . iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Apparatus . 2
6 Test piece preparation . 2
7 Ageing by heat alone . 3
7.1 Principle . 3
7.2 Procedure . 3
8 Ageing by heat and elevated humidity . 4
8.1 Principle . 4
8.2 Procedure . 4
9 Cyclic variation in heat and elevated humidity . 5
9.1 Principle . 5
9.2 Procedure . 5
10 Test report . 7
Annex A (normative) Evaluation of yellowing towards instrumental colour measurement . 8
Bibliography . 9

iii
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).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights
in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s)
which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not
represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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'sISO’s adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
IULTCS, originally formed in 1897, is a world-wide organization of professional leather societies to further the
advancement of leather science and technology. IULTCS has three Commissions, which are responsible for
establishing international methods for the sampling and testing of leather. ISO recognizes IULTCS as an
international standardizing body for the preparation of test methods for leather.
This document was prepared by the Fastness Tests Commission of the International Union of Leather
Technologists and Chemists Societies (IUF Commission, IULTCS) in collaboration with the European
Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 289, Leather, the secretariat of which is
held by UNI, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna
Agreement).
It is based on IUF 412 published in J. Soc. Leather Tech. Chem., 86, pp. 325-331, 2002, and declared an official
method of the IULTCS in May 2003.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 17228:2015) which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— — Thethe method was updated to the latest versions of ISO 2418, ISO 2419, ISO 7906;
— — added reference ISO 22700 for instrumental measurements of colour differences and yellowing
calculations.
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
FINAL DRAFT International Standard ISO/FDIS 17228:2025(en)
IUF 412:2025(en)
Leather — Tests for colour fastness — Change in colour with
accelerated ageing
1 Scope
This document specifies various ageing procedures to obtain an indication of the changes that can occur when
leather is exposed to a certain environment for a prolonged time. Over time, the surface colour of leather and
the leather itself change due to ageing and to the action of the surroundings on the leather.
This procedure can also be used to age specimens for the test of dimensional change according to ISO 17130.
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 105--A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
ISO 105--A03, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A03: Grey scale for assessing staining
ISO 105--A04, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A04: Method for the instrumental assessment of the
degree of staining of adjacent fabrics
ISO 105--A05, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A05: Instrumental assessment of change in colour for
determination of grey scale rating
ISO 2418, Leather — Chemical, physical, mechanical and fastness tests — Position and preparation of specimens
for testing
ISO 2419, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Specimen and test piece conditioning
ISO 7906, Leather — Tests for colour fastness — General principles of testing
ISO 17130, Leather — Physical and mechanical tests — Determination of dimensional change
ISO 22700, Leather — Measuring the colour and colour difference of finished leather
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
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
A test piece of leather is exposed to at least one of the three following conditions:
— — heat (see Clause 7Clause 7););
— — heat and humidity (see Clause 8Clause 8););
— — cycles of different temperature and humidity (see Clause 9Clause 9).).
One or more of these procedures may take place simultaneously. The change in colour of the test piece is
assessed with the standard grey scale and, if applicable, any changes in the finish or appearance are noted.
These procedures can also be used to prepare the leather specimen for other physical or fastness tests after
accelerated ageing. The assessment of dimension change is specified in ISO 17130.
The test conditions to be used depend on the type of leather and its intended use.
NOTE Accelerated ageing tests are for guidance only and they are not necessarily representative of long-term use at
ambient temperatures.
The general colour fastness testing principles shall be in accordance with those specified in ISO 7906.
5 Apparatus
Use normal laboratory apparatus and the following:.
5.1 5.1 Oven, fitted with a central rack, capable of maintaining a temperature within ±2 °C of the
defined temperature. The oven should have a vent, preferably with a circulating fan, and an inside made of
inert materials.
5.2 5.2 Climate chamber, fitted with a central rack, capable of maintaining a temperature
within ±2 °C of the defined temperature and a relative humidity within ±5 % of the defined relative humidity,
as specified in ISO 17130.
5.3 5.3 Suitable system for holding the test piece and preventing contact with the oven or climate
chamber sides.
5.4 5.4 Grey scale for assessing change in colour, conforming with ISO 105--A02, or an
instrumental system for assessing change in colour, conforming with ISO 105--A05.
5.5 5.5 Grey scale for assessing staining, conforming with ISO 105--A03, or an instrumental
system for assessing staining, conforming with ISO 105--A04.
5.6 5.6 Stop clock, readable to 1 s.
5.7 5.7 Spectrophotometer as specified in ISO 22700.
5.8 5.8 Support, glass plate or suitable stainless-steel mesh, that keeps the test piece flat. Support shall be
covered with a polyester nonwoven fabric, as specified in ISO 17130, to prevent the test piece from sticking.
6 Test piece preparation
6.1 6.1 Prior to cutting out test pieces, condition the specimen in accordance with ISO 2419 using the
standard reference atmosphere.
© ISO #### 2026 – All rights reserved
IUF 412:20252026(en)
6.2 6.2 Where only change in colour is to be determined, cut out two representative test pieces
measuring not less than 100 mm × 100 mm.
Where change in dimension is also to be considered, then test piece size shall be in accordance with ISO 17130.
If the specimen of leather available for testing is a whole hide or skin, then the test pieces shall be taken in
accordance with standard procedures given in ISO 2418.
NOTE If other properties, such as dimensional change, are to be measured, then additional test pieces are used due
to different kind of storage during the ageing step.
7 Ageing by heat alone
7.1 Principle
The purpose of this procedure is to simulate ageing by the application of heat. Two different types of change
can be involved:
a) a) the change in colour of the substances in the leather;
b) b) the evaporation of volatile substances or the migration of substances, leading to a change in
the colour or other properties of the leather or finish, or both.
As both the exposure time and the temperature can be varied, this procedure can be used for a variety of
purposes, including preparing specimens for other tests.
Procedure
7.2
7.2.1 7.2.1 Pre-heat the oven (5.1(5.1)) to the
...