🧵 Determination of the mass per unit area of woven and knitted fabrics (also other textile fabrics) using small samples — after relaxation in a tension-free state for at least 24 h, at least 5 specimens of at least 100 cm2 each are cut and weighed in the standard atmosphere (to 1 mg) and/or after drying at (105 ± 3) °C to constant mass; M = m × 10000 / A in g/m2, mean rounded to three significant figures, PN-EN 12127

Materials and NDT PN-EN 12127

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST EN 12127:1999 (text of EN 12127:1997, English, a scan read from page images): from the title page through the foreword, introduction and Clauses 1–10 up to and including A.2 of the informative Annex A. Outside the sample remain the rest of Annex A and Annex B (example of selecting specimens from a laboratory sample).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 12127:1997 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–10, A.1–A.2). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 248 “Textiles and textile products” (secretariat BSI); CEN approved it on 19.07.1997. Introduction: the method is based on measuring small samples in the conditioned and/or oven-dry state; other methods are described in ISO 3801 (woven fabrics — mass per unit length and mass per unit area). Scope (1): mass per unit area using small samples in the standard atmosphere for testing and/or oven-dry; for woven and knitted fabrics, possibly also for fabrics produced by other techniques. References (2): EN 20139:1993 (standard atmospheres), EN 30012-1:1993 (metrological confirmation). Definition (3.1): mass per unit area — mass of a known area of fabric divided by that area, in g/m2. Principle (4): the sample is conditioned in the relaxed state, specimens are cut, weighed in the conditioned and/or oven-dry state and the mass per unit area calculated. Sampling (5): according to the material specification or agreement of the parties, example in Annex A; avoid specimens with folds, creases, selvedges and unrepresentative areas; for non-homogeneous fabrics — specimens from various areas agreed by the parties; from garments — where possible from each part (e.g. from long leg underwear two from each leg and one from the top). Apparatus (6): equipment conforming to EN 30012-1; a cutting device with a cut area of at least 100 cm2 cutting to ± 1 %, or scissors; rule graduated in 0,5 mm; balance accurate to ± 1 mg; weighing bottles; oven maintaining (105 ± 3) °C with air circulation; desiccator. Atmosphere (7): according to EN 20139:1993. Procedure (8): relaxation — the fabric lies flat and tension-free for at least 24 h during conditioning, knitted fabrics may require an additional relaxation treatment agreed by the parties (to be reported); at least five specimens of at least 100 cm2 without distortion; with the cutting device its area is used, with scissors three measurements of length and three of width of each specimen to 1 mm, the area from the means rounded to three significant figures; weighing in the standard atmosphere to 1 mg; oven-dry mass — oven preheated to (105 ± 3) °C, specimens in weighing bottles with lids beside them, drying to constant mass (change not greater than 0,1 % between successive weighings at least 40 min apart; according to the note four hours usually suffice), closing the bottles, cooling in a desiccator, weighing the bottle with specimen and the bottle alone. Results (9): M = m × 10000 / A, where m — mass of the specimen (conditioned or oven-dry) in g, A — area in cm2; mean in g/m2 rounded to three significant figures; if required the coefficient of variation (to the nearest 0,1 %), 95 % confidence limits, minimum and maximum values. Test report (10): among others the conditions (standard atmosphere and/or oven-dry), treatment before testing (especially relaxation of knitted fabrics), mean in g/m2. Annex A (informative): number of pieces from a lot (Table A.1: up to 3 pieces — 1, 4–10 — 2, 11–30 — 3, 31–75 — 4, 76 or more — 5); from each piece a laboratory sample of at least 1 m full width, taken at random at least 3 m from an end.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search (term “PN-EN 12127”, 03.10.2026) shows PN-EN 12127:2000 (Polish version, “Introduces: EN 12127:1997 [IDT]”) without a withdrawal note; the other three items are the standards PN-EN ISO 12127-1 and 12127-2 on clothing protecting against heat — different standards with a similar number. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN 12127:1997 has the status “Published” and stage 90.93 “Decision to confirm — Review Enquiry” (start date 23.04.2024).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 03.10.2026). The number 12127 (excluding ISO 12127-1 and -2) appears in 8 records at 7 laboratories: AB 033, AB 154, AB 164 (2 records), AB 403, AB 1417, AB 1421, AB 1864. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 03.12.2025 to 11.08.2026) the number appears in 8 rows of the same laboratories (AB 164 — 2, at two locations in Łódź, the others 1 each). The form “PN-EN 12127:2000” — at all of them; at AB 033 and AB 154 in one item with PN-P-04613:1997 and PN-EN ISO 9073-1:2023-11 (at AB 154 also PN-ISO 3801:1993). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 12127”) shows 6 laboratories: AB 154, AB 164, AB 403, AB 1417, AB 1421, AB 1864; AB 033 is under the term “PN-P-04613” — checked with tab queries on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Textile fabrics (AB 154, AB 1864; at AB 164 also made-up textile articles; at AB 1421 woven and knitted fabrics; at AB 403 also knitted and woven fabrics, textile products), knitted, woven and nonwoven fabrics (AB 1417), textiles — knitted and stitch-bonded fabrics, nonwovens, textile fabrics (AB 033). Characteristic: mass per unit area, usually “small sample method”; at AB 403 “indirect method”, at AB 154 “mass per unit length and per unit area” together with PN-ISO 3801. Nonwovens are not named explicitly in the scope of the standard (Clause 1: woven and knitted fabrics, possibly fabrics of other techniques). No measuring ranges are given.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With relaxation: at least 24 h flat without tension; additional relaxation of knitted fabrics must be stated in the report (8.1, 10). With specimens: at least 5, each ≥ 100 cm2, without folds, selvedges and unrepresentative areas (5.1, 8.2). With the area: cutting device accurate to ± 1 % or 3 + 3 measurements with scissors to 1 mm (6.1, 8.2). With drying: constant mass — change ≤ 0,1 % after at least 40 min; cooling the closed bottles in a desiccator (8.4). With the result: state whether the mass refers to the conditioned or oven-dry state (9, 10 d).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read the rest of Annex A and Annex B. Nor do we give the parameters of the standard atmosphere from EN 20139 or mass per unit area requirements from product standards.

Method principle

After tension-free relaxation and conditioning, the textile fabric is cut into at least five specimens of at least 100 cm2 each (with a cutting device or with scissors and measurement of dimensions) and weighed in the standard atmosphere and/or after drying at (105 ± 3) °C to constant mass. Mass per unit area M = m × 10000 / A in g/m2 (m in g, A in cm2); the result is the mean rounded to three significant figures.

Applications

• Woven and knitted fabrics; also fabrics produced by other techniques (1)
• Garments — specimens from individual parts of the article (5.2)
• Textile fabrics, woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics and made-up articles — items in the accreditation scopes of 7 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 12127:2000

Title (PL)

Tekstylia — Płaskie wyroby włókiennicze — Wyznaczanie masy na jednostkę powierzchni z zastosowaniem małych próbek

Title (EN)

Textiles — Fabrics — Determination of mass per unit area using small samples

Step-by-step procedure

1. Relaxation and conditioning

   Fabric flat, tension-free, at least 24 h in the atmosphere according to EN 20139. PN-EN 12127:2000 without a withdrawal note (03.10.2026).

2. Cutting specimens

   At least 5 specimens of ≥ 100 cm2 with a cutting device or scissors (area from three measurements of length and width).

3. Weighing in the standard atmosphere

   Each specimen to 1 mg.

4. Oven-dry mass (if required)

   Drying at (105 ± 3) °C to constant mass, cooling in a desiccator in closed bottles, weighing.

5. Result

   M = m × 10000 / A for each specimen; mean in g/m2 to three significant figures.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Cutting device and scissors — sharp edges
• Oven at 105 °C and hot weighing bottles — hand protection

Frequently asked questions