The "BS 1006 Color fastness testing methods for textiles and leather" standard, developed by the British Standards Institute (BSI), describes a series of washing tests designed to investigate the wash fastness of colored textiles, covering various washing processes from mild to severe.
Color fastness refers to how well dyed or printed materials resist fading, discoloration, or staining when exposed to various environmental factors or stresses during use, washing, or processing.
This standard has largely been withdrawn or, in many contexts, replaced by other standards. Foremost among these is the “ISO 105 Textiles – Colour fastness tests” standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 105 series of standards now serves as the primary reference for colour fastness testing in the UK and Europe. However, the BS 1006 standard retains its historical importance and is still used as a reference in older specifications, test reports, and in some sectors.
The method described in the BS 1006 standard specifies test number 1 of a series of washing tests designed to investigate the wash fastness of colored textiles, encompassing various washing processes from mild to severe. This method is intended solely to determine the effect of washing on the color fastness of the textile. It is not intended to reflect the outcome of a comprehensive laundry process.
In principle, a textile sample in contact with one or two adjacent fabrics is mechanically agitated in a soap solution under specific time and temperature conditions, then rinsed and dried. The color change of the sample and the staining of adjacent fabrics are evaluated using grayscale.
The BS 1006 standard provides a comprehensive framework for color fastness testing against a wide range of factors. These include:
These tests typically involve exposing dyed samples to a stress agent under controlled conditions, and then grading any color change or staining using gray scales (rated from 1-5, 5 indicating no change or staining, 1 indicating significant change or staining) or blue wool standards for light exposure (rated from 1-8, higher values indicating better fastness).
Over time, the BS 1006 method has been harmonized with or directly derived from the ISO 105 standard (the ISO 105 standard uses similar codes such as ISO 105-B02 for lightfastness and ISO 105-X12 for abrasion resistance). Today, laboratories and manufacturers predominantly use equivalents of the BS EN ISO 105 standard instead of the original BS 1006 standard.
The BS 1006 standard is critically important in the following areas:
In short, the BS 1006 standard is considered essential because it provides a standardized and repeatable way to assess how well dyed or printed textiles and leather resist color change, fading, or staining under real-world conditions, and it still retains this feature in certain legacy or specialized contexts. Without such standardized tests, quality comparisons, product specifications, international trade, and consumer expectations become inconsistent and unreliable.
Color fastness directly affects a product's appearance, durability, safety, and commercial value throughout its lifespan. Poor fastness leads to:
The BS 1006 standard addresses this issue by defining precise, repeatable test conditions and rating systems for approximately 70 different exposure situations. These exposure situations include:
This standard ensures objective, comparable results worldwide, rather than subjective visual assessments.
For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the BS 1006 standard.
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