What is BS EN 16711-3 - test for metal content in textiles about?
As far as possible, efforts need to be made to prevent lead from coming in contact with growing children. Repeated exposure to lead from mouthing of articles containing lead or its compounds can result in severe and irreversible neurobehavioural and neurodevelopmental effects to which children are particularly sensitive given that their central nervous system is still under development. The placing on the market and use of lead and its compounds in articles that are supplied to the general public, and which can be placed in the mouth by children needs to be prohibited if the concentration of lead (expressed as metal) in that article, or part of the article, exceeds a certain threshold. 
BS EN 16711-3 describes a testing procedure to determine the rate of lead release from all materials of textile articles.
Note: Exposure from swallowing lead-containing materials is not explicitly addressed in this regulation. This type of exposure is considered in the frame of testing of toys (EN 713:2013+A3:2018).
Who is BS EN 16711-3 - test for metal content in textiles for?
BS EN 16711-3 that contains the test for metal content in textiles is useful for:
- Textile mills
- Manufacturers of garments / children’s clothes
- Manufacturers of children’s items / toys / accessories that may contain textile
- Health and safety bodies
- Quality control personnel
- Product development teams
Why should you use BS EN 16711-3 - test for metal content in textiles?
As adults who manufacture products for children, safeguarding the mental and physical health of children is a priority. The test described in BS EN 16711-3 helps you to ensure that your products are not adversely affecting the children who use them. The testing follows the instructions for the determination of nickel-release from materials with direct and prolonged skin contact, EN 1811. The limit value for nickel release is defined in the unit µg/cm2/week and is tested over the period of one week.
As the limit value of the present regulation applies the unit µg/cm2/h, the test period is correspondingly set to 1 h. For coated articles it should be ensured that the release rate is not exceeded for a period of at least two years of normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use of the article. Such articles/materials are treated following the abrasion-test EN 12472 before the test procedure for lead-release.
Testing is performed using an artificial saliva solution, because the EU regulation applies to materials that can be taken into the mouth by children (mouthing). Following BS EN 16711-3 guidelines helps you to comply with safety requirements and keep children safe from lead poisoning, by assessing the lead content in textile.
