oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for determining the film hardness by pushing pencils of known hardness over the film.; The test can be performed on a single coating of a paint, varnish or related product, or on the upper layer of a multi-coat system.; This rapid test has not been found to be useful in comparing the pencil hardness of different coatings. It is more useful in providing relative ratings for a series of coated panels exhibiting significant differences in pencil hardness.; The method is applicable only to smooth surfaces.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 01-Nov-2026
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: IBLP - Paints and varnishes
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 16-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 03-Feb-2027
• Ref Project: prEN ISO 15184 - Paints and varnishes - Determination of film hardness by pencil test (ISO/DIS 15184:2026)

• Revises: SIST EN ISO 15184:2020 - Paints and varnishes - Determination of film hardness by pencil test (ISO 15184:2020)
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2026

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 is the CEN and ISO draft standard for determining paint-film hardness by the pencil test. It specifies how to push pencils of known hardness across a smooth coating surface and report the hardest pencil that leaves no marking. The method is used for paints, varnishes and related products on a single coating or on the upper layer of a multi-coat system.

What does oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 specify?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 specifies a rapid method for assessing film hardness on smooth surfaces. It is intended for relative ratings, especially when comparing coated panels that show clear differences in hardness.

The document is organized into clauses on scope, normative references, terms and definitions, principle, apparatus, sampling, test panels, procedure, types of defect, precision and test report, plus one informative annex.

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Applicability of the pencil hardness test, based on comparative measurements on different coatings, pencils and operators

What are the key requirements of oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026?

Clause 4 defines the principle: a pencil lead of known geometry is pushed over the coating at an angle of 45° and at a force of (7,35 ± 0,15) N. The pencil hardness is the highest hardness that does not produce visible marking. In practice, this means the test ends when the coating first shows damage.

Clause 5 specifies the apparatus: a test instrument with a level, a non-scratching wheel arrangement and a pencil holder that keeps the force on the surface correct; a set of wooden drawing pencils from 9B to 9H; a special sharpener; 400 grit abrasive paper; and a soft cloth or cotton swab with an inert solvent. This matters because the result depends on the pencil tip shape, force and surface cleanliness.

Clauses 6 and 7 control sampling and test panels. The sample must be representative, the substrate should come from ISO 1514, and the sample must be examined and prepared according to ISO 1513. The coated panel is conditioned at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity for at least 16 h, and coating thickness is determined by ISO 2808. In practice, panel preparation is part of the measurement, not just a pre-test step.

Clause 8 gives the procedure. The panel is tested at standard temperature and humidity, each pencil is freshly sharpened and flattened, the pencil is pushed at a slow constant speed, and the coating is inspected after 30 s under normal corrected vision and specified lighting. A magnifying lens of ×6 to ×10 may be used by agreement and must then be reported. Duplicate determinations are required, and if they differ by one pencil hardness grade or more, the test is repeated.

Clauses 9 and 11 define the observable damage and the reporting content. The defect can be plastic deformation, cohesive fracture, or a combination of both. The report must identify the product, describe panel preparation and coating thickness, state the pencil make and manufacturer, give the result and any agreed defect description, and note deviations, anomalies, magnification used and the test date.

Clause 10 states that no precision data are available.

What terms does oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 define?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 relies on ISO 4618 vocabulary and defines the key test terms it uses.

• Pencil hardness - the resistance of a paint film to marking, or another defect, when a pencil of specified dimensions, shape and hardness is pushed across the surface.
• Plastic deformation - a permanent indentation in the paint surface without cohesive fracture.
• Cohesive fracture - a visible scratch or rupture in the paint film with material removed from the surface.
• Multi-coat system - a coating system tested on its upper layer rather than as a single coating.
• Single coating - one coating layer tested directly on the substrate.

Who uses oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 is used by paint and varnish laboratories, coating manufacturers, and quality control teams that need a quick film-hardness check on coated panels. It is also used by technical service staff and buyers who need a documented relative rating for a series of coatings. The method supports product development, batch comparison, panel evaluation and test reporting.

What changed in oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 from the previous edition?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 replaces ISO 15184:2020 and states that the fourth edition is technically revised. The main changes listed are:

• lighting conditions and the inspection procedure in 8.6 have been specified;
• the way to report results when duplicate determinations differ by one pencil hardness grade has been added;
• an editorial cross-reference in Clause 11 c) 1) has been corrected from 7.2 to 7.3;
• “grades” has been changed to “makes” in Annex A for clarity;
• the normative references have been updated.

Which standards are used with oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 cites these normative references:

• ISO 1513 - examination and preparation of test samples.
• ISO 1514 - standard panels for testing.
• ISO 2808 - determination of film thickness.
• ISO 4618 - vocabulary for paints and varnishes.
• ISO 13076 - lighting and procedure for visual assessments of coatings.
• ISO 15528 - sampling of paints, varnishes and raw materials.

What does the oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 document contain?

oSIST prEN ISO 15184:2026 includes a pencil hardness scale in Table 1, covering pencils from 9B to 9H and explaining the B, HB, F and H marks. Figure 1 shows the test instrument layout, including the wheels, level, clamp and pencil angle, and Figure 2 shows the sharpened pencil tip shape.

Annex A gives an applicability study with measurements by four people, on nine coatings, using seven pencil makes. The document also spells out the visual inspection method, the duplicate-test rule, the defect types to look for, and the items that must appear in the test report.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Barve in laki - Ugotavljanje trdote plasti filma s preskusom s svinčnikom (ISO/DIS
15184:2026)
Paints and varnishes - Determination of film hardness by pencil test (ISO/DIS
15184:2026)
Beschichtungsstoffe - Bestimmung der Härte von Beschichtungen durch Testen mit
Bleistiften (ISO/DIS 15184:2026)
Peintures et vernis - Détermination de la dureté du feuil par l'essai de dureté crayon
(ISO/DIS 15184:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 15184
ICS:
87.040 Barve in laki Paints and varnishes
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 15184
ISO/TC 35/SC 9
Paints and varnishes —
Secretariat: BSI
Determination of film hardness by
Voting begins on:
pencil test
2026-09-09
Peintures et vernis — Détermination de la dureté du feuil par
Voting terminates on:
l'essai de dureté crayon
2026-12-02
ICS: 87.040
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
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.
Reference number
ISO/DIS 15184:2026(en)
DRAFT
ISO/DIS 15184:2026(en)
International
Standard
ISO/DIS 15184
ISO/TC 35/SC 9
Paints and varnishes —
Secretariat: BSI
Determination of film hardness by
Voting begins on:
pencil test
Peintures et vernis — Détermination de la dureté du feuil par
Voting terminates on:
l'essai de dureté crayon
ICS: 87.040
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
FOR COMMENTS AND APPROVAL. IT
IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AND MAY NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD UNTIL
PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
This document has not been edited by the ISO Central Secretariat.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
© ISO 2026
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
Phone: [phone]
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/DIS 15184:2026(en)
ii
ISO/DIS 15184:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Apparatus . 2
6 Sampling . 3
7 Test panels . 3
7.1 Substrate .3
7.2 Shape and dimensions .4
7.3 Preparation and coating .4
7.4 Drying and conditioning .4
7.5 Thickness of coating .4
8 Procedure . 4
9 Types of defect . 5
10 Precision . 5
11 Test report . 5
Annex A (informative) Applicability of the pencil hardness test . 7

iii
ISO/DIS 15184:2026(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).
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 any patent
rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of
patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
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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 35, Paints and varnishes, Subcommittee
SC 9, General test methods for paints and varnishes, in collaboration with the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 139, Paints and varnishes, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 15184:2020), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— in 8.6, the lighting conditions and procedure for the inspection of paint film surfaces have been specified;
— In 8.7, the representation method for results where the two determination results differ by one pencil
hardness grade has been added;
— in Clause 11, c) 1), the editorial error has been corrected, “7.2” has been changed to “7.3”;
— in Annex A, "grades" has been changed to "makes" for easier understanding;
— the normative references have been updated
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
DRAFT International Standard ISO/DIS 15184:2026(en)
Paints and varnishes — Determination of film hardness by
pencil test
1 Scope
WARNING — The electronic file of this document contains colours which are considered to be
useful for the correct understanding of the document. Users should therefore consider printing this
document using a colour printer.
This document specifies a method for determining the film hardness by pushing pencils of known hardness
over the film.
The test can be performed on a single coating of a paint, varnish or related product, or on the upper layer of
a multi-coat system.
This rapid test has not been found to be useful in comparing the pencil hardness of different coatings. It is
more useful in providing relative ratings for a series of
...