ISO 20690-2018 PDF

Full title and description

Graphic technology — Determination of the operating power consumption of digital printing devices. ISO 20690:2018 specifies methods and requirements for measuring the electrical power and energy consumption of digital production printing presses in defined modes of operation to enable comparison of energy performance between devices and machine configurations.

Abstract

ISO 20690:2018 provides requirements and recommendations for measuring the electricity consumption of small-format and wide-format digital production presses printing in different modes of operation. It is intended for use on equipment declared by the manufacturer as suitable for use as a digital production printing press and allows comparison of energy efficiency figures for characteristic machine combinations (for example, best quality or best productivity modes).

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: February 2018.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 37.100.10 (Reproduction equipment / Graphic technology).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2018).
• Number of pages: 23.

Key bibliographic and administrative details above are taken from the ISO record and technical standard listings.

Scope

Specifies procedures to determine the operating power consumption of digital printing devices when used as production presses. The standard covers measurement conditions, test patterns, operating modes (production and characteristic modes such as best quality or highest productivity), and calculation methods for energy per unit of printed output. It excludes measurements of individual internal components and excludes presses intended for printing textiles for clothing or machines relying on additional downstream processes.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of test modes and characteristic machine combinations (e.g., Best Quality, Best Productivity) for comparable energy reporting.
• Procedure for measuring power and energy consumption during defined print jobs and idle/transitional periods.
• Specification of test artefacts, sample sizes and measurement instrumentation tolerances.
• Calculation methods to express energy consumption per defined quantity of output (for example kWh per 1 000 A4 sheets or equivalent).
• Exclusions and limitations (not intended for component-level power measurement or textile-printing machines with additional processes).

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers of digital production presses to characterize and publish device energy performance; by purchasers and procurement teams comparing total cost of ownership and environmental impact; by testing laboratories and certification bodies performing independent energy tests; and by sustainability officers integrating device energy metrics into carbon footprint or eco-design assessments. Industry commentary highlights its use for comparing operating costs and supporting investment decisions.

Related standards

Closely related to other ISO graphic-technology energy and footprint standards such as ISO 21632 (Determination of the energy consumption of digital printing devices including transitional and related modes) and ISO 16759 (quantification and communication for calculating the carbon footprint of print media products). These documents together form a family of guidance for measuring energy use and reporting environmental metrics for printing equipment and printed products.

Keywords

digital printing, energy consumption, power measurement, graphic technology, operating power, production press, energy efficiency, kWh per output, ISO 20690.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 20690:2018 is an international standard that defines test methods and reporting formats to determine the operating power consumption of digital printing devices used as production presses.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers measurement procedures for printing operation modes (production and characteristic modes), required test artefacts and measurement practices, and calculation of energy per unit of printed output. It excludes component-level measurements and certain specialised printing applications (for example, textile printing for clothing).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, test laboratories, procurement teams, sustainability and facilities managers, and certification bodies use the standard to compare device energy performance, estimate operating costs, and support environmental reporting.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published edition is ISO 20690:2018 (first edition). National and international records list it as the 2018 published version; users should check with ISO or national bodies for any subsequent confirmations or amendments before purchase.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of a family of ISO graphic-technology standards addressing energy measurement and environmental footprinting for digital printing devices (examples include ISO 21632 and ISO 16759). These complementary standards address extended modes, additional measurement needs and carbon-footprint communication.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: digital printing, energy measurement, operating power, production press, energy per output, graphic technology, ISO 20690.