DIN EN ISO 8589:2010-06

The testing or detection of sensory perceptible characteristics of food and other products by human senses is an essential part of quality inspection and product development, especially in the area of food and cosmetics. Test rooms and testing areas, which are designed and set up for this specific purpose, are a prerequisite for a standardized procedure of such tests and for achieving comparable and useful results. This document provides general guidance for the design and set up of test rooms intended for the sensory analysis of products. These test rooms can be used for conducting sensory tests of food and other products that are evaluated using sensory methods. However, the test rooms might need to be adapted for each specialized use. Modifications to the design are often needed for specific products and for specific types of testing. This is particularly true if the test rooms are to be used for the evaluation of non-food products. The standard contains the requirements to set up a test room comprising a testing area, a preparation area, and an office, specifying those that are essential or those that are merely desirable. In addition to the requirements for room design and set up of testing booths, the standard gives information on decoration, lighting and room climate (humidity and room temperature). Floor plans and plans for the layout of testing booths, as well as recommendations for their set-up and equipment are given in the informative Annex. This document contains the unchanged International Standard ISO 8589:2007, which has been prepared by ISO/TC 34 "Food products" (secretariat: AFNOR, France), Subcommittee SC 12 "Sensory analysis" (secretariat: IRAM, Argentina). Due to the resolution of CEN/SS C01 "Food products" ISO 8589:2007 has been adopted under the Unique Acceptance Procedure (UAP) as a European Standard without changes. DIN collaborates with CEN via Working Committee NA 057-01-01 AA "Sensorik" ("Sensory analysis") of NAL which mirrors CEN/SS C01 "Food products" (secretariat: CEN Management Centre (CMC)).