EN 12720:2009+A1:2013
(Main + Amendment)Furniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids
General Information
- Abstract
This European standard specifies a method for the assessment of the resistance to cold liquids of all rigid furniture surfaces regardless of materials.
It does not apply to leather and textile surfaces.
The test is intended to be carried out on a part of the finished furniture, but can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test.
The test shall be carried out on unused surfaces.
The type and number of test liquids (Annex A) and the test periods (Table 1) shall be stated in requirement specifications or shall be agreed upon between purchaser and supplier or interested parties.
Annex A (normative) includes a selection of suitable test liquids. Other liquids can be used if required.
Annex B (informative) describes a direct light source.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 22-Oct-2013
- Withdrawal Date
- 29-Apr-2014
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 207 - Furniture
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 207/WG 7 - Surfaces and surface finishes of furniture
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 11-Jun-2026
- Completion Date
- 23-Sep-2026
Overview
EN 12720:2009+A1:2013 - Furniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids (CEN) specifies a laboratory method to evaluate how rigid furniture surfaces resist exposure to cold liquids. The standard applies to all rigid furniture surfaces (excluding leather and textiles) and can be run on finished furniture or representative test panels finished identically to the product. Test liquids and exposure times are taken from Annex A or agreed between purchaser and supplier.
Keywords: EN 12720, surface resistance to cold liquids, furniture testing, CEN standard, test panels.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & applicability: Rigid furniture surfaces only; unused surfaces; results reported per this standard.
- Principle: Filter-paper discs saturated with a test liquid are placed on the surface and covered with a glass Petri dish for a specified test period. After removal, surfaces are left 16–24 h, cleaned and examined for damage.
- Apparatus & materials: specified discs, glass Petri dish, tweezers, absorbent paper, white cleaning cloth, diffuse light source (illumination ~1 200 ± 400 lx), deionized/distilled water, test liquids (Annex A) and a defined cleansing solution.
- Cleansing agent: composition is defined (e.g., alkyl aryl sulphonate, ethoxylated alcohols, ethanol, water) and preparation/storage rules are given.
- Conditioning & test atmosphere: conditioning ≥1 week at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5)% RH; testing at (23 ± 2) °C.
- Test layout & periods: test spots ≥60 mm apart; test periods range from immediate (10 s) through quick/short removals (2 min, 10 min), to 1 h, 6 h, 16–24 h, 7 days and 28 days to simulate real-world exposure.
- Examination & assessment: visual and tactile inspection under diffuse light and from multiple angles; rated using a numerical 1–5 code where 5 = no change and 1 = strong change or material removal. Observations by experienced observers; average used if three observers.
Applications and who uses it
- Furniture manufacturers and surface finish developers - for product development and QA.
- Independent test laboratories - to provide conformity and durability reports.
- Procurement teams, specifiers and suppliers - to define performance requirements and acceptance criteria.
- Warranty and claims handling - to assess alleged surface damage from spills.
- Regulatory and compliance stakeholders - to reference a harmonized European test method for surface durability.
Keywords: furniture manufacturers, surface durability testing, test labs, procurement, quality assurance.
Related standards
- EN ISO 105‑E04 (colour fastness to perspiration) - normative reference.
- ISO 1065 (cloud point for non‑ionic surfactants) - normative reference.
- EN ISO 3668 (colour matching booths) - referenced for lighting/colour assessment.
EN 12720 is a practical standard for assessing cold-liquid resistance, ideal for integrating into product specifications, supplier agreements and laboratory test protocols.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 18-Jan-2023
- Effective Date
- 17-Jun-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
Frequently Asked Questions
EN 12720:2009+A1:2013 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Furniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids". This standard covers: This European standard specifies a method for the assessment of the resistance to cold liquids of all rigid furniture surfaces regardless of materials. It does not apply to leather and textile surfaces. The test is intended to be carried out on a part of the finished furniture, but can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test. The test shall be carried out on unused surfaces. The type and number of test liquids (Annex A) and the test periods (Table 1) shall be stated in requirement specifications or shall be agreed upon between purchaser and supplier or interested parties. Annex A (normative) includes a selection of suitable test liquids. Other liquids can be used if required. Annex B (informative) describes a direct light source.
This European standard specifies a method for the assessment of the resistance to cold liquids of all rigid furniture surfaces regardless of materials. It does not apply to leather and textile surfaces. The test is intended to be carried out on a part of the finished furniture, but can be carried out on test panels of the same material, finished in an identical manner to the finished product, and of a size sufficient to meet the requirements of the test. The test shall be carried out on unused surfaces. The type and number of test liquids (Annex A) and the test periods (Table 1) shall be stated in requirement specifications or shall be agreed upon between purchaser and supplier or interested parties. Annex A (normative) includes a selection of suitable test liquids. Other liquids can be used if required. Annex B (informative) describes a direct light source.
EN 12720:2009+A1:2013 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 97.140 - Furniture. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 12720:2009+A1:2013 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 12720:2009/FprA1, EN 12720:2009, ISO 1065:1991, EN 13042-1:2007, EN ISO 105-E04:1996, EN ISO 4254-1:2013, EN 15694:2009+A1:2015, EN 13245-3:2025, EN ISO 4254-7:2009, EN 13245-1:2025, CEN/TS 16209:2011, EN ISO 4254-1:2015, CEN/TS 16209:2022, EN ISO 4254-1:2009, EN ISO 4254-7:2017. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 12720:2009+A1:2013 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Möbel - Bewertung der Beständigkeit von Oberflächen gegen kalte FlüssigkeitenMeubles - Évaluation de la résistance de la surface aux liquides froidsFurniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids97.140PohištvoFurnitureICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 12720:2009+A1:2013SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014en,fr,de01-januar-2014SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 12720:20091DGRPHãþD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 12720:2009+A1
October 2013 ICS 97.140 Supersedes EN 12720:2009
English Version
Furniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids
Meubles - Évaluation de la résistance de la surface aux liquides froids
Möbel - Bewertung der Beständigkeit von Oberflächen gegen kalte Flüssigkeiten This European Standard was approved by CEN on 3 January 2009 and includes Amendment 1 approved by CEN on 3 September 2013.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2013 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 12720:2009+A1:2013: E SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014
Liquids for testing surface . 10 A.1 General . 10 A.2 Liquids . 10 Annex B (informative)
Significant technical changes in revised edition of this standard . 13 Bibliography. 14
Tables Table 1 — Test periods . 7 Table 2 — Descriptive numerical rating code . 8 Table A.1 — Liquids. 10
!deleted text" SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014
Informative !Annex B" provides details of significant technical changes between this European Standard and the previous edition. According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014
3 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply. 3.1 test panel panel including the test surface NOTE It may be cut from a finished item of furniture or it may be a separate panel produced in the same manner as the finished item of furniture. 3.2 test surface part of the test panel
3.3 test area part of the test surface under the glass Petri dish (5.2) SIST EN 12720:2009+A1:2014
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