CEN/TC 194

Date: 2026-03-26

prEN 12875‑2:2026

Secretariat: AFNOR

Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils — Part 2: Inspection and evaluation

Spülmaschinenbeständigkeit von Gegenständen — Teil 2: Begutachtung und Bewertung

Résistance mécanique au lave-vaisselle des ustensiles — Partie 2: Inspection et évaluation

CCMC will prepare and attach the official title page.

Contents Page

⁠⁠European foreword 3

⁠⁠Introduction 4

1 ⁠⁠Scope 5

2 ⁠⁠Normative references 5

3 ⁠⁠Terms and definitions 5

4 ⁠⁠Principle 5

5 ⁠⁠Inspectors 5

6 ⁠⁠Apparatus 5

7 ⁠⁠⁠Samples 6

8 ⁠⁠⁠Procedure 6

8.1 ⁠⁠⁠General 6

8.2 ⁠⁠⁠Inspection 6

8.2.1 ⁠⁠⁠General 6

8.2.2 ⁠⁠⁠Materials 6

8.2.3 ⁠⁠⁠Inspection criteria 7

8.2.4 ⁠⁠⁠Classification 7

8.2.5 ⁠⁠⁠Number of test cycles 7

9 ⁠⁠⁠Test report 7

10 ⁠⁠⁠Marking 8

10.1 ⁠⁠⁠Testing according EN 12875‑1 8

10.2 ⁠⁠⁠Testing according EN 12875‑4 and EN 12875‑5 8

Annex A ⁠⁠ (informative) Inspection protocol 9

⁠⁠Bibliography 14

⁠⁠European foreword

This document (prEN 12875‑2:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 194 “Utensils in contact with food”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.

This document is currently submitted to the 2nd CEN Enquiry.

This document will supersede EN 12875‑2:2001.

This document includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 12875‑2:2001:

— extension of the scope of application to include non-metallic articles;

— minor adjustments to the evaluation procedure;

— Clarification of the evaluation criteria;

— insertion of the section “Number of test cycles”;

— insertion of an alternative marking;

— insertion of the informative Annex A “Inspection protocol”;

— editorial changes.

⁠⁠Introduction

This document specifies the conditions for visual inspection and evaluation of metallic and non-metallic utensils in connection with the standardized dishwashing resistance tests including the expression of results.

Further parts of EN 12875, under the general title Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils are as follows:

— Part 1: Reference test method for domestic articles

— Part 4: Rapid test for domestic ceramic articles

— Part 5: Rapid test for ceramic catering articles

NOTE The marking based on these test results is primarily intended as consumer information. In the opinion of consumers other features of equivalent importance exist which are not always compatible with high dishwashing resistance requirement.

This document specifies the conditions for the visual inspection of domestic articles made from ceramic, glass, glass ceramic, decorated glass, plastics, rubber, silicones, metal, mineral based and plant-based products, as well as coated or enamelled articles, and others after testing its dishwashing resistance according to the procedures described in the relevant parts of the EN 12875 series.

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

prEN 12875‑1, Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils — Part 1: Reference test method for domestic articles

No terms and definitions are listed in this document.

The surface of at least three samples preferably from different lots, which have been tested are visually inspected under defined conditions in comparison to an unused sample by at least two inspectors. Depending on the type of article, the differences in the surfaces of the tested samples from the surface of the unused sample are recorded.

At least two inspectors are required who are familiar with the inspection procedure described in this document. Each inspector shall be able to see the surface of the specimens clearly with the naked eye (or with a habitual vision aid) and shall have normal colour vision. The clothing of the inspectors should not impact the visual evaluation (e.g. the reflectance of the colour).

NOTE Suitable methods for assessing colour vision are the H-R-R-Pseudoisochromatic Plates or the Ishihara Test for Colour Blindness [1].

6.1 Linen cloth for wiping off surface residues and wiping decorated surfaces.

6.2 Inspection site

An inspection site, which:

— is protected from external light, and illuminated vertically by a diffuse daylight (6 000 to 6 500) K lamp yielding 1 000 lx near the specimens;

— shows grey colour (RGB 146/142/133) and a dull surface finish on all surfaces exposed to the artificial light;

— has sufficient table area to accommodate all of the specimens of one type simultaneously.

For each article at least three unused test specimens of identical shape, size, and surface finish preferably from different lots shall be tested, and a fourth test specimen shall be retained for reference.

Before inspection, easily removable deposits shall be eliminated by wiping with a cloth and/or washing by hand in a mild liquid detergent at about 45 °C followed by rinsing and drying.

Inspection is carried out from a distance of (30 ± 10) cm, while the viewing angle is changed.

Each inspector independently records visible changes in the characteristics listed in 8.2.3, using the classification numbers listed in Table 1.

For each of the criteria listed in 8.2.3, the average is calculated from all figures given by each inspector to each of the three samples. The average value is rounded to one decimal.

If one of the inspection criteria from 8.2.3 receives an average value above 1,0 then the test article is considered to have clearly visible changes and the test for this article is finished. If one of the criteria is judged by each inspector in class 2 for one of the samples the test for this sample failed.

Evaluation of number of test cycles according to prEN 12875‑1, for which none of the criteria from 8.2.3 receives an average value above 1,0 shall be the test result.

If the evaluation gives a number of cycles above the limit given in 8.2.5 for the material the article can be claimed as dishwasher resistant and wear the marking defined in Clause 10. If an article consists of more than one material, the lowest number of cycles shall be used.

Testing articles with or without decoration are:

— ceramic;

— glass, glass ceramic;

— vitreous enamelled;

— plastic (including bio polymers);

— rubber and silicones;

— coated and uncoated metallic;

— mineral based (e.g. slate, granite);

— plant based (e.g. bamboo, wood (olive, birch, …));

— others.

For samples consisting of more than one material, e.g. tea pots with plastic handles, the result may report separately for each material.

The following criteria shall be evaluated, if applicable:

a) colour (If several colours are present on one article to be inspected, the colour with the greatest change shall be chosen.);

b) gloss;

c) clouding/hazing;

d) resistant deposits (For the elimination of easily removable deposits, see 8.1);

e) iridescent layers;

f) corrosion products;

g) deformation (including swelling and loss of shape);

h) cracking (including crazing);

i) delamination/loss of adhesion (The adherence of decorations can be tested by repeated wiping with a moist linen cloth under slight pressure.);

j) other aspects.

For each applicable criteria the samples shall be judged in three categories using the classification numbers listed in Table 1.

Table 1 — Evaluation of inspection criteria

The test items shall not show any clearly visible changes after a minimum number of 100 test cycles. Higher numbers of test cycles may be claimed in multiples of 50. When an article is made from different materials, the dishwasher resistance cycles claimed shall be for the material with the lowest test result.

NOTE 100 cycles refers to a guarantee time of 2 years and a usage once a week.

The test report shall contain:

a) reference to this document, i.e. prEN 12875‑2:2026;

b) identification of the articles tested (description), for example type, origin and designation of the samples and their manufacturer or supplier;

c) place and date of sampling;

d) date of receipt and date of testing the samples;

e) test method applied, e.g. prEN 12875‑1;

f) number of the at least two inspectors and their names;

g) maximum number of test cycles after which the average value 1,0 for each inspected criterion for all inspectors was not exceeded;

h) category of article according to 8.2.3 and average of figures of all inspectors according to Table 1.

Any unusual features noted during the inspection should also be reported.

NOTE Examples of the evaluation documentation are given in Annex A.

The graphical symbol shown in Figure 1 may be used for marking articles tested in accordance with prEN 12875‑1 and evaluated according to Clause 8, for the number of cycles indicated (example in Figure 1 for 100 cycles). Any other description or/and symbol that suggests they can be repeatably cleaned in a dishwasher without clear visible changes up to this number of cycles (for example ‘dishwasher resistant for minimum 100 cycles’) may be used as well for marking such articles. Where a description or symbol is used, the number of test cycles in accordance with prEN 12875‑1 and evaluated according to Clause 8 shall be indicated.

100x

Figure 1 — Graphical symbol to be used for marking containing the number of test cycles (100 in this example) corresponding to the test result

NOTE The article and/or its packaging can be marked by the symbol and/or description using any conventional method.

Ceramic articles tested according to EN 12875‑4 or EN 12875‑5 and evaluated according to Clause 8 may have a description that suggests they can be repeatably cleaned in a dishwasher without clear visible changes.

NOTE The article and/or its packaging can be marked by the description using any conventional method.

1. ⁠⁠
   (informative)
   
   Inspection protocol

A proposal for the classification according to 8.2.4 is shown in the Table A.1 using an undecorated glass and a pan consisting of several materials to be examined as examples. The evaluation of inspection criteria is carried out as in Table 1. The mean value is calculated from the 3 test specimens and the 2 inspections and entered in the Av (Average) column.

Table A.2 shows an example of the entry of the inspection criteria and when they occurred.

The following codes were used for the inspection criteria based on 8.2.3 in the table; other codes are also possible:

Table A.3 and Table A.4 can be used as print templates for the test report in Clause 9 g) and h).

Table A.1 — Example: Classification and evaluation

Table A.2 — Example: Inspection Criteria – Failure Detection

Table A.3 — Classification and evaluation

Table A.4 — Inspection Criteria – Failure Detection

⁠⁠Bibliography

[1] ISHIHARA. S.: Tests for colour blindness. Kanahara Shuppau Co. Ltd, Toyko, Kyoto, 1971

[2] IEC 60417, Graphical symbols for use on equipment