ISO 22958:2021

Textiles - Water resistance - Rain tests: exposure to a horizontal water spray

This document specifies a test for measuring the resistance of fabrics to the penetration of water by impact. It can be used to predict the probable rain penetration resistance of textile fabrics. This document is applicable to any textile fabric, whether or not it has been given a water-resistant or water-repellent finish. It is especially suitable for measuring apparel fabrics. Testing at different intensities of water impact gives a complete picture of the penetration resistance of a single fabric or combination of fabrics. The test is particularly suitable when measuring highly water-resistant fabrics with low amounts of water penetration.

Textiles — Résistance à l'eau — Essai d'arrosage: exposition à une pulvérisation horizontale

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-2021
• ICS: 59.080.01 - Textiles in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 38/SC 2 - Cleansing, finishing and water resistance tests
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 38/SC 2/WG 8 - Water resistance tests
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 10-Aug-2021
• Due Date: 15-Mar-2022
• Completion Date: 10-Aug-2021

Relations

• Revises: ISO 22958:2005 - Textiles - Water resistance - Rain tests: exposure to a horizontal water spray
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 22958:2021 - Textiles - Water resistance - Rain tests: exposure to a horizontal water spray - defines a standardized laboratory method to measure the water resistance of textile fabrics against impact (rain). The test predicts probable rain penetration by directing a controlled horizontal water spray at a fabric specimen and measuring the amount of water that penetrates onto a weighed blotting paper backing. It is especially suited to apparel fabrics and highly water‑resistant materials where small amounts of penetration are critical.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test principle: A fabric specimen backed by a pre‑weighed blotter is exposed to a horizontal water spray for 5 minutes; the blotter is reweighed to determine water penetration.
• Specimen and blotter sizes: Typical specimen ≈ 200 × 200 mm; blotter ≈ 150 × 150 mm.
• Spray geometry: Specimen positioned centrally at 305 mm from the spray nozzle.
• Pressure head / spray intensity: Typical heads range from 610 mm to 1 830 mm. If unspecified, 600 mm can be used initially. Varying the head in 300 mm increments helps determine maximum no‑penetration head, penetration change with head, and the minimum head causing “breakdown” (> 5 g water).
• Test media and instrumentation: Use grade 3 water per ISO 3696 at specified temperatures (20 ±2 °C or 27 ±1 °C) and a laboratory balance accurate to 0.1 g.
• Conditioning and atmosphere: Follow ISO 139 for specimen and blotter conditioning (minimum 4 h).
• Evaluation and reporting: Report individual results and the mean for at least three specimens; include test parameters, water temperature, conditioning/ testing atmosphere, and any deviations.

Applications and users

ISO 22958:2021 is used to:

• Assess rain penetration performance of outdoor apparel, rainwear, lightweight coated fabrics, laminated composites, and certain textile combinations.
• Compare finishes (water‑resistant vs water‑repellent) or production lots during quality control.
• Support product specification, R&D, and claims about rain resistance for manufacturers, test labs, material scientists, and apparel designers.

Typical users: textile testing laboratories, outdoor and performance apparel manufacturers, quality assurance teams, technical designers, and standards compliance officers.

Related standards

• ISO 9865 - Bundesmann rain‑shower test (comparison/alternative method)
• ISO 139 - Conditioning and testing atmospheres for textiles
• ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use
• AATCC TM 35 - Rain resistance test method

Keywords: ISO 22958:2021, water resistance, rain tests, horizontal water spray, textile testing, apparel fabrics, pressure head, blotting paper, penetration resistance.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22958
Second edition
2021-08
Textiles — Water resistance — Rain
tests: exposure to a horizontal water
spray
Textiles — Résistance à l'eau — Essai d'arrosage: exposition à une
pulvérisation horizontale
Reference number
©
ISO 2021
© ISO 2021
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
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Safety precautions . 1
6 Apparatus . 2
7 Test specimens. 5
8 Procedure. 6
9 Evaluation . 6
10 Test report . 6
Bibliography . 7
Foreword
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through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
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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
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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.
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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 2, Cleansing,
finishing and water resistance tests.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 22958:2005), which has been technically
revised. It also incorporates the Technical Corrigendum ISO 22958:2005/Cor 1:2009.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— Figure 2 b) has been revised to more accurately reflect the relative dimensions of the square
specimen;
— editorial changes have been applied throughout for clarity.
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 2021 – All rights reserved

Introduction
ISO 9865 is not always accurate when measuring water resistance (penetration) when testing the latest
tightly woven or lightly coated fabrics in the market today. The rain test specified in this document is
more suitable for measuring relatively low amounts of water penetrating highly water-resistant fabric.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22958:2021(E)
Textiles — Water resistance — Rain tests: exposure to a
horizontal water spray
1 Scope
This document specifies a test for measuring the resistance of fabrics to the penetration of water by
impact. It can be used to predict the probable rain penetration resistance of textile fabrics.
This document is applicable to any textile fabric, whether or not it has been given a water-resistant
or water-repellent finish. It is especially suitable for measuring apparel fabrics. Testing at different
i
...