ISO 13125:2013

Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) - Test method for antifungal activity of semiconducting photocatalytic materials

ISO 13125:2013 specifies a test method covering the determination of the antifungal activity of materials that contain a photocatalyst or have photocatalytic films on their surface, by counting the number of pre-incubated fungal spores that survive exposure to ultraviolet (UV-A) light. ISO 13125:2013 provides for the assessment of different kinds on materials used in various applications, such as construction materials in flat coating, sheet, board or plate form, etc. Powder, granular, fibrous or porous photocatalytic materials are not included. Values expressed in ISO 13125:2013 are in accordance with the International System of Units (SI).

Céramiques techniques — Méthode d'essai pour l'activité antifongique des matériaux photocatalytiques semiconducteurs

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 25-Feb-2013
• ICS: 81.060.30 - Advanced ceramics
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 206 - Fine ceramics
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 206/WG 9 - Photocatalysis
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 13125:2013 specifies a laboratory test method for the antifungal activity of semiconducting photocatalytic materials (fine/advanced ceramics and similar treated surfaces). The method determines antifungal performance by counting the number of pre‑incubated fungal spores that survive exposure to ultraviolet (UV‑A) irradiation on photocatalyst‑treated test pieces. Values are expressed in SI units. Powder, granular, fibrous or porous photocatalytic materials are excluded.

Key SEO keywords: ISO 13125:2013, antifungal activity, photocatalytic materials, fine ceramics, UV‑A test method, semiconducting photocatalyst.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and principle: Measures inactivation or inhibition of fungal spore germination on surfaces that contain or are coated with a photocatalyst (commonly TiO2 based) under UV‑A (300–400 nm) photoirradiation.
• Test organisms: Standard fungal strains specified are Aspergillus niger (WDCM 00144) and Penicillium pinophilum (WDCM 00194). Culture handling requires trained microbiological personnel.
• Test procedure essentials:
  • Photoirradiation of inoculated test pieces with appropriate UV‑A sources (e.g., BLB - black light blue - fluorescent lamps) and measurement of irradiance with a UV radiometer.
  • Recovery of surviving spores after irradiation, cultivation on PDA (Potato‑Dextrose‑Agar) medium, and colony counting to quantify surviving spore numbers.
  • Calculation of antifungal metrics: antifungal activity value in irradiation condition L (log reduction comparing treated vs non‑treated pieces under UV) and antifungal activity value with UV irradiation by removing the effect in the dark (corrected value accounting for dark‑condition effects).
• Materials and apparatus: Specifies test piece size/handling, cleaning, test media (PDA composition given), recovery/dilution solutions, and irradiation setup. Test validation criteria and reporting requirements are defined.
• Safety: Warning - microbiological testing requires competent, trained staff and appropriate containment.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses this standard: Manufacturers and R&D labs of photocatalytic coatings, ceramics, glass and construction surface materials; quality assurance teams; certification bodies; regulatory laboratories assessing antimicrobial claims.
• Where it applies: Evaluation and comparison of antifungal performance for self‑cleaning, antimicrobial, antifouling and building surface treatments used indoors and outdoors (flat coatings, sheets, plates, boards). Useful for product development, performance specification, and claim substantiation.

Related standards

• ISO 27447 - Test method for antibacterial activity of semiconducting photocatalytic materials (methodological alignment).
• ISO 4892‑3 - Exposure to laboratory light sources (fluorescent UV lamps).
• IEC 60068‑2‑10 - Guidance on mould growth testing.

For manufacturers and testing labs seeking to validate antifungal claims for photocatalytic surfaces, ISO 13125:2013 provides a standardized, reproducible UV‑A spore‑survival method for product assessment and certification.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13125
First edition
2013-03-15
Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics,
advanced technical ceramics) —
Test method for antifungal activity
of semiconducting photocatalytic
materials
Céramiques techniques — Méthode d’essai pour l’activité
antifongique des matériaux photocatalytiques semiconducteurs
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols . 2
5 Principle . 2
6 Materials . 3
6.1 Test fungi . 3
6.2 Chemicals and implements . 3
7 Apparatus . 4
7.1 General . 4
7.2 Irradiating equipment . 4
7.3 Black light blue lamp (BLB lamp) . 4
7.4 Ultraviolet light radiometer . 4
7.5 Adhesive film . 4
7.6 Glass pane . 4
7.7 Test vessel . 4
8 Test piece . 5
8.1 Preparation of test pieces . 5
8.2 Use of test pieces . 5
8.3 Cleaning of test pieces . 5
9 Procedure. 5
9.1 Test temperature . 5
9.2 Photoirradiation . 5
9.3 Preparation of fungal spore suspension . 5
9.4 Estimation of the number of surviving spore . 6
9.5 UV Irradiation test . 6
10 Calculation . 8
10.1 Surviving spore concentration of recovery solution . 8
10.2 Number of surviving spores . 8
10.3 Validity of the test . 8
10.4 Antifungal activity value in irradiation condition L .9
10.5 Antifungal activity value with UV irradiation by removing the effect in the dark . 9
11 Test report . 9
Bibliography .11
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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
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.
ISO 13125 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 206, Fine ceramics.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Under the illumination of ultraviolet (UV) light, photocatalysts show diverse functions, such as the
decomposition of air and water contaminants, as well as deodorization, self-cleaning, antifogging,
antibacterial and antifungal actions. These functions of photocatalysts are generally based on the action
of active oxygen species such as hydroxyl (OH) radicals formed on the surface of photocatalysts. The
energy- and labour-saving nature of photocatalysis has attracted keen interest when the photocatalyst
is activated by sunlight (or artificial lighting).
Practical applications of photocatalysts for both indoor and outdoor use have rapidly expanded in recent
years. Many kinds of photocatalytic materials have been proposed or are already commercialized, based
on ceramics, glass, concrete, plastics, paper, etc. Such materials have been proposed by either coating or
mixing of a photocatalyst; in most cases, titanium dioxide (TiO ).
However, the effect of photocatalysis is not easily inspected visually, and no appropriate and standardized
evaluation methods have been available to date. Some confusion has thus arisen as photocatalytic
materials have been introduced. Furthermore, the above-mentioned diverse functions of photocatalysts
cannot be evaluated with a single method: thus it is required to provide different evaluation methods for
air purification, water decontamination, and self-cleaning.
This International Standard applies to testing the antifungal activity of photocatalytic ceramics and
other materials.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13125:2013(E)
Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical
ceramics) — Test method for antifungal activity of
semiconducting photocatalytic materials
WARNING — Handling and manipulation of microorganisms that are potentially hazardous
requires a high degree of technical competence. Only personnel trained in microbiological
techniques should carry out the test.
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a test method covering the determination of the antifungal activity
of materials that contain a photocatalyst or have photocatalytic films on their surface, by counting the
number of pre-incubated fungal spores that survive exposure to ultraviolet (UV-A) light.
This International Standard provides for the assessment of different kinds on materials used in various
applications, such as construction materials in flat coating, sheet, board or plate form, etc. Powder,
granular, fibrous or porous photocatalytic materials are not included.
Values expressed in this International Standard are in accordance with the International System of
Units (SI).
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 27447, Fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) — Test method for antibacterial
activity of semiconducting photocatalytic materials
ISO 4892-3, Plastics — Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources — Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps
IEC 60068-2-10, Environmental testing — Part 2-10: Test J and guidance: Mould growth
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
photocatalyst
substance that carries out many functions based on oxidization and reduction reactions under UV
irradiation, including decomposition and removal of air and water contaminants, deodorization,
antibacterial, antifungal, self-cleaning and antifogging
3.2
photoirradiation
irradiation to ultraviolet (UV-A) light at wavelength 300 nm to 400 nm
3.3
photocatalytic materials
surface or material to which a photocatalyst has been applied with the intention of making it
photocatalytically active; photocatalytic treated materials, samples and pieces are included
3.4
antifungal activity
inhibition of germination or inactivation of fungal spores
3.5
antifungal activity value in irradiation condition L
common logarithm of the ratio of the number of surviving fungal spores on a photocatalytic non-treated
piece after UV irradiation condition L for a given period of time to the number of surviving spores on a
treated piece after the same UV irradiation condition for the same period
3.6
antifungal activity value with UV irradiation by removing the effect in the dark
difference value between antifungal activity value in irradiation condition L and common logarithm of
the ratio of the number of surviving fungal spores on a photocatalytic non-treated piece in the dark to
the number of surviving spores on a treated piece stored in the dark for the same period of time
4 Symbols
S concentration of fungal spores
K average of colony numbers
D dilution factor
F number of surviving spores
V volume of recovery solution
L ultraviolet exposure
A average of colony numbers of photocatalytic non-treated pieces following inoculation
B average of surviving spore numbers of photocatalytic non-treated pieces at exposure L after
L
several hours
C average of surviving spore numbers of photocatalytic non-treated pieces at exposure L after
L
several hours
R antifungal activity value in irradiation condition L
L
C average of surviving spore numbers of photocatalytic treated test pieces in the dark after sev-
D
eral hours
B average of surviving spore numbers of photocatalytic non-treated test pieces in the dark after
D
several hours
ΔR antifungal activity value with UV irradiation by removing the effect in the dark
NOTE The term “several hours” means the period of time between 3 h (minimum) and 24 h (maximum).
5 Principle
This International Standard is for development, comparison, quality assurance, characterization,
[1]
reliability, and design data generation of photocatalytic materials. Photocatalyst is capable of
decomposition of organic substances, including living cells such as fungal spores. A suspension of fungal
spores on photocatalytic treated test piece is inactivated under photoirradiation. After the irradiation,
fungal spores are recov
...