Current Edition Checked October 24, 2026
The international counterpart to the AATCC methods, and rarely numerically identical to them.
What It Covers
Color fastness tests grouped by lettered parts: A (general principles and gray scales), B (light and weathering), C (washing), E (water and perspiration), X (rubbing and other) and J (instrumental color measurement).
Who It Applies To
Mills, brands, and laboratories working to European and international buyer specifications.
Key Requirements
- ISO 105-A02 and A03 gray scales for change in color and staining.
- ISO 105-B02 light fastness with a xenon arc lamp.
- ISO 105-C06 domestic and commercial laundering; ISO 105-E04 perspiration; ISO 105-X12 rubbing.
- A written equivalence analysis before substituting an ISO method for an AATCC one.
What an Auditor Asks to See
- Which method each buyer specifies, and the evidence of equivalence when a different one was used.
Where Systems Fall Short
- Treating ISO and AATCC ratings as interchangeable.
How QES Helps
Method maps that show where ISO and AATCC results can and cannot be compared.
Related Standards
Sources. ISO — ISO 105 series search (opens in a new tab). Status checked October 24, 2026. This page summarizes ISO 105 Series; it does not reproduce or replace it. Buy the standard from its publisher, or read the regulation in its official text, before relying on a detail. Not legal advice.