EN 16812:2016
(Main)Textiles and textile products - Electrically conductive textiles - Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard describes a test method for the determination of the linear electric resistance of conductive tracks for textile structures or intended for application in/ to textiles, e.g. yarns, printed or coated tracks, ropes, ribbons and webbing.
This European Standard is designed for materials showing ohmic behaviour.
This European Standard is designed for conductive tracks where electrical contact between the measurement electrodes and the conductive track is possible.
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 26-Apr-2016
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 248/WG 31 - Smart textiles
- Current Stage
- 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
- Start Date
- 14-Feb-2022
- Completion Date
- 17-Sep-2026
Overview
EN 16812:2016 - Textiles and textile products: Electrically conductive textiles - Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks is a CEN test standard that specifies a laboratory method to measure the linear electrical resistance (ohm/m) of conductive tracks used in or on textile structures. It covers conductive yarns, printed or coated tracks, ropes, ribbons and webbing that show ohmic behaviour and where electrical contact with measurement electrodes is feasible.
Key measurement principles:
- Uses a DC current source and the four‑wire (four‑point Kelvin) measurement principle; a two‑electrode / four‑wire variant is allowed where four contacts are not feasible.
- Measured resistance R is obtained from R = U / I (voltage over applied current) and converted to linear resistance by normalizing to the electrode separation.
Key topics and requirements
- Specimen types: yarns, fabric tracks, coated/printed conductive traces, ropes, webbing.
- Conditioning & relaxation: specimens conditioned for at least 24 h at 20 °C / 65 % RH (EN ISO 139); fabrics relaxed per EN 12127.
- Specimen geometry: electrode separation (d) must be at least 10× the track width (w); a recommended d is 50 cm. Five representative specimens are tested.
- Test equipment: stable DC current source, sensitive voltmeter (or Ohm meter suitable for four‑wire), clean oxide‑free electrodes (chrome/gold‑plated copper recommended), calibrated ruler and insulating support surface.
- Contacting methods: mechanical clamping preferred; where needed use crimp connectors, conductive adhesive and metal foil, or soldering-ensuring methods do not alter track properties. Gold is preferred for contacts to avoid corrosion.
- Tensioning: yarn pre‑tension ~0.5 cN/tex recommended; fabric pre‑tension guidance provided (mass‑based values and 0.5 N/5 cm for stretch fabrics).
- Measurement checks: verify ohmic contact (linear V vs. I, reversible on polarity change) and avoid heating errors by selecting appropriate test currents.
Practical applications
- Characterizing conductive yarns and printed/coated textile traces for e-textiles, wearable electronics, sensors, EMI shielding strips and smart garments.
- Quality control in manufacturing of conductive textiles and laminated traces.
- R&D for textile-based interconnects and evaluation of new conductive coatings or inks.
- Compliance testing in laboratories to provide traceable, repeatable linear resistance values for product datasheets.
Who uses this standard
- Textile and smart-textile manufacturers
- E‑textile component and conductive-ink suppliers
- Test laboratories and quality assurance teams
- Product designers and R&D engineers working on wearable electronics and textile sensors
- Regulatory/compliance professionals evaluating electroconductive textile performance
Related standards
- EN 12127 - mass per unit area of fabric (small samples)
- EN ISO 139 - standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
- EN 60051‑6 (referenced for Ohm meters suitable for four‑wire measurements)
Keywords: EN 16812:2016, electrically conductive textiles, linear electrical resistance, conductive tracks, four‑wire Kelvin, e-textiles, test method, textile conductivity.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 16812:2016 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Textiles and textile products - Electrically conductive textiles - Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks". This standard covers: This European Standard describes a test method for the determination of the linear electric resistance of conductive tracks for textile structures or intended for application in/ to textiles, e.g. yarns, printed or coated tracks, ropes, ribbons and webbing. This European Standard is designed for materials showing ohmic behaviour. This European Standard is designed for conductive tracks where electrical contact between the measurement electrodes and the conductive track is possible.
This European Standard describes a test method for the determination of the linear electric resistance of conductive tracks for textile structures or intended for application in/ to textiles, e.g. yarns, printed or coated tracks, ropes, ribbons and webbing. This European Standard is designed for materials showing ohmic behaviour. This European Standard is designed for conductive tracks where electrical contact between the measurement electrodes and the conductive track is possible.
EN 16812:2016 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 59.080.01 - Textiles in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 16812:2016 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN ISO 139:2005, EN 12127:1997, CEN/TR 17945:2023. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 16812:2016 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.Textilien und textile Erzeugnisse - Elektrisch leitfähige Textilien - Bestimmung des elektrischen Widerstands von textilbasierenden StrukturenTextiles et produits textiles - Textiles électriquement conducteurs - Détermination de la résistance électrique linéaire des pistes conductricesTextiles and textile products - Electrically conductive textiles - Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks59.080.01Tekstilije na splošnoTextiles in generalICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16812:2016SIST EN 16812:2016en,fr,de01-julij-2016SIST EN 16812:2016SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16812
April
t r s x ICS
w {ä r z rä r s English Version
Textiles and textile products æ Electrically conductive textiles æ Determination of the linear electrical resistance of conductive tracks Textiles et produits textiles æ Textiles électriquement conducteurs æ Détermination de la résistance électrique linéaire des pistes conductrices
Textilien und textile Erzeugnisse æ Elektrisch leitfähige Textilien æ Bestimmung des linearen elektrischen Widerstands von Leiterbahnen This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s u February
t r s xä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey andUnited Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels
t r s x CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s x z s tã t r s x ESIST EN 16812:2016
Four point (wire) Kelvin method . 13 A.1 “Four electrode – four wire method” . 13 A.2 “Two electrode – four wire method” . 14 Bibliography . 15
Figure 1 — Different types of conductive tracks, with indication on how to determine the width (W) and the length (L) of the track. Images adapted from EN ISO 8388 4 Principle of test This test describes a procedure to measure the linear electrical resistance of textile based electrically conductive tracks using the measurement principle of the four wire (four point) Kelvin method and a DC current source. This test method can be performed as “four electrode - four wire method” or “two electrode - four wire method”. By using four electrodes the contact resistances between the electrodes and the sample are compensated. As a result this method requires less measurements and calculations as compared to the “two electrode – four wire method”. This is why the “four electrode - four wire method” is preferred. In cases where it is not feasible to prepare the necessary four contacts for the electrodes, “the two electrode – four wire method” can be used. 5 Test equipment The test equipment shall consist of: — an electrical current source able to deliver a stable DC current in the range necessary for the measurement; — a volt-meter capable of measuring voltages in the range necessary for the measurement. NOTE An Ohm meter in accordance with EN 60051–6, suitable for four wire measurements, can also be used. — Contacting electrodes, which shall be clean, oxide free and undamaged, and suitable for low-resistance measurements e.g. made of chrome or gold finished copper. The electrodes shall be suitable for soft materials e.g. have a flat contact surface. — A calibrated ruler to measure the distance between the voltage electrodes (edge to edge), with the resolution of at least 3 significant digits in relation to the sample length. The ruler should preferably be integrated in the clamping device. SIST EN 16812:2016
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