Measurement Method
International testing standards for fabrics define the precise procedures required to measure width and length under controlled tension. The dimensional stability ISO 22198 protocol establishes these baselines before any thermal finishing is applied to linen cloth. It ensures that buyers receive the exact meterage specified in commercial invoices.
Laboratory Routine
Conditioning the fabric in a standard atmosphere of sixty-five percent relative humidity and twenty degrees Celsius is mandatory before any measurement occurs. Laboratory technicians executing dimensional stability ISO 22198 lay the linen sample on a flat surface to eliminate wrinkles without stretching the fibers. They use calibrated metal tapes to record dimensions at three different points along the roll.
These raw measurements are then averaged to determine the official width of the shipment.
Compliance Margin
Finishing mills must monitor these dimensions closely to ensure that subsequent washing does not cause the linen fabric to shrink below the contracted specifications. If the fabric fails to meet the dimensional stability ISO 22198 criteria after conditioning, the mill may need to re-stretch the material on a stenter frame or adjust the warp tension on the looms. Importers routinely reject rolls that deviate by more than one percent from the target width, as even minor variations can disrupt automated cutting and sewing operations in garment factories.
This quality control measure is therefore a necessary safeguard against production waste.
