scope:

The first edition of this Technical Specification provides a test method for measuring the microbial contamination reduction performance of household washing machines with textile pieces contaminated with test microorganisms under standardized conditions. The microbial numbers on the contaminated textile pieces are measured before and after the washing programme and the reduction is calculated. Furthermore, a potential cross contamination from contaminated to uncontaminated textile pieces within the washing programme is measured. This Technical Specification does not address the microbial contamination reduction due to any potential or claimed antimicrobial action of detergents as well as of bleach systems or any additives. This Technical Specification applies to washing machines for household use, according to the definition of this term in the scope of TC 59, including the washing related functions of washerdryers. This Technical Specification does not apply to professional washing machines nor to commercial laundry operations associated with food service, hospital linens or other nonresidential applications. This document does not apply to appliances intended to be used in medical, veterinary, or pharmaceutical applications. It does not address hygiene, sanitization, disinfection and/or sterilisation measures. It also does not address the needs of persons with special health conditions requiring special sanitization and/or disinfection techniques. The Technical Specification specifies methods that enable reproducible measurements. These measurement and calculation results can only be used for a relative statement (purely de facto). Absolute statements, i.e., health-related claims or conclusions about prevention or treatment of a disease or health improvement, are reserved for explicit regulatory action, after a medical assessment applies.