BS EN ISO 536:2020

What is ISO 536 about? 

ISO 536 provides technical specifications and methods for determining the grammage of paper and board. 

ISO 536 provides information on terms and definitions, principles, apparatus, sampling, conditioning and procedure for determining grammage in paper and board. 

Who is ISO 536 for? 

ISO 536 on the determination of grammage in paper and board is applicable to: 

• Papermill and factories 
• Dealers and importers of paper and board 
• Quality control personnel 

Why should you use ISO 536? 

Grammage, also known as GSM (Gram per square meter) is the area density of a paper. It is used to determine the quality of paper, the higher the GSM, the thicker and sturdier the paper. 

ISO 536 helps you perform the test method to determine grammage in papers by providing a detailed account of the requirements and the procedure for the method. 

This test method described in ISO 536 enables you to enhance the thickness and sturdiness of paper and paper products. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN ISO 536:2020 supersedes BS EN ISO 536:2012, which is now withdrawn. 

Changes in BS EN ISO 536:2020 include – 

• Several inconsistencies and imprecisions have been addressed e.g. 5.1 permits the nominal area of test pieces cut by the cutter to be used in calculating grammage rather than for the area of each test piece to be determined, in certain circumstances, but this was not recognised in subsequent clauses 
• Sharper wording in Clause 8 when a reduced test area is used 
• Additional information required in Clause 10 
• A more accurate description of the determinate of “as-taken” grammage near the top of a reel in A.2