ISO 13015-2013 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 13015:2013 — Woven fabrics — Distortion — Determination of skew and bow. This International Standard specifies laboratory methods to determine and express width‑way distortion in woven fabrics (skew and bow) where the weft yarns are intended to be perpendicular to the warp yarns. It defines terms, specimen preparation and conditioning, required apparatus, measurement procedures (overall and local skew, and bow), calculation and reporting of results.

Abstract

ISO 13015:2013 provides a repeatable test procedure for quantifying fabric distortion caused by skew (angular deviation of picks from right angles to the ends) and bow (curvature of warp or weft). The standard covers specimen selection and conditioning, marking or fraying techniques to reveal yarn lines, measurement models (single‑triangle for overall skew; two‑ and three‑triangle models for local skew), calculation of error angles expressed as a percentage, and required reporting information.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed after systematic review).
• Publication date: August 2013 (first edition, 2013‑08‑01).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 59.080.30 (Textiles — Woven fabrics and related tests).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2013).
• Number of pages: 10 pages.

Scope

Specifies laboratory procedures to determine distortion (skew and bow) in woven fabrics in which the weft is intended to be perpendicular to the warp. The standard applies to measurement on full‑width specimens under standardized conditioning, defines specimen preparation (marking or fraying), describes measurement models to calculate overall and local skew and to assess bow, and sets out how to calculate, express and report results for quality control, specification and testing purposes.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions: clear distinction between skew (angular deviation) and bow (curvature) and related terminology.
• Conditioning: specimens to be conditioned and tested in a standard atmosphere (reference to textile conditioning standards) for a specified minimum time.
• Specimen preparation: full‑width specimens of specified minimum length; marking visible weft yarns or fraying to expose a continuous yarn line.
• Apparatus: flat measurement surface, set square (right angle), long metallic ruler (length ≥ fabric width), short ruler, graduated scale (millimetres).
• Measurement principle: trace a selected weft across an untensioned specimen and model its course using triangles; slope = height (a) / base (b); skew/bow expressed as percentage (EA = (a/b) × 100).
• Overall and local evaluation: single‑triangle model for overall skew; two‑ or three‑triangle models for localized skew; bow measured as greatest perpendicular deviation from a straight line joining ends (annex guidance).
• Reporting: include specimen identification, conditioning details, preparation method (marking/fraying), measurement model used, measured values and how results were calculated and expressed.
• Use in specification and acceptance: provides objective numerical criteria for contracts, QC and production control to limit appearance/assembly problems (pattern matching, seam alignment).

Typical use and users

Used by textile and fabric manufacturers, finishing houses, quality control and textile testing laboratories, garment and upholstery manufacturers, buyers and procurement teams, and R&D groups. Typical applications include incoming inspection, process control (weaving/finishing), product specification, dispute resolution between suppliers and buyers, and research into straightening and finishing processes that reduce skew and bow.

Related standards

Commonly referenced alongside other textile testing and conditioning standards. Examples include the ISO standard(s) for standard atmospheres and conditioning used for textile testing (ISO 139 series), regional adoptions such as EN ISO 13015:2013 (CEN adoption of ISO 13015), and alternate or complementary test methods used in some jurisdictions (for example ASTM test methods for bow and skew). ISO 13015 was prepared by ISO/TC 38/SC 24 (conditioning atmospheres and physical tests for textile fabrics).

Keywords

woven fabrics, distortion, skew, bow, fabric distortion, textile testing, specimen conditioning, measurement method, quality control, ISO 13015

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 13015:2013 is an International Standard that specifies laboratory methods to determine and quantify distortion—skew and bow—in woven fabrics where weft yarns are intended to be perpendicular to warp yarns.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers terminology, specimen preparation (marking or fraying), required apparatus, conditioning, measurement procedures for overall and local skew and for bow, calculation methods (error angle expressed as a percentage), and reporting requirements for test results.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Textile mills, finishing plants, independent textile testing laboratories, garment and upholstery manufacturers, product specification and procurement teams, and R&D teams working on fabric straightness and dimensional stability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 13015 was first published in August 2013 and remains the current edition. It underwent ISO systematic review and was confirmed on 26 August 2025, so it was current as of 26 August 2025 and remains in force as of the date of this page (2026‑02‑27).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 13015 is part of the family of textile testing and conditioning standards maintained by ISO/TC 38 (Textiles), subcommittee SC 24; it is typically used together with conditioning and other fabric test methods (for example standards that define standard atmospheres for conditioning and complementary textile test methods).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: skew, bow, fabric distortion, woven fabrics, textile testing, ISO 13015, specimen conditioning, error angle, measurement method.