Industry Methods @

Industry Methods & Accepted Criteria

Casual Furniture Fabric Association Performance Standards
(Outdoor Furniture)

Acrylic, Olefin, and Woven PVC

Characteristic	Test Method	Acceptance Criteria
Abrasion	ASTM D4157	Acrylic – 15,000 Double Rubs (Cotton Duck #10) Olefin – 9,000 Double Rubs (Wire Screen) PVC – 1,000 Cycles (1 KG weight, CS 10 Abrader)
	ASTM D3884	PVC, Acrylic and Olefin – One Inch accepted
Bow & Skew	ASTM D3882	PVC Cushion (Open Mesh) – 300 lb warp 1200 lb fill
Breaking Strength	ASTM D5034	PVC, Slingable – 350 lb warp/225 lb fill PVC, Wicker – 450 lb warp/450 lb fill PVC/Olefin Slingable – 300 lb warp/225 lb fill PVC, Acrylic – 350 lb warp/225 lb fill Acrylic Cushion – 225 lb warp/100 lb fill Olefin (Cushion) – 225 lb warp/100 lb fill
Colorfastness to Light	ASTM G154, Cycle 1	PVC – 1000 Hours 4.0 Rating Acrylic – 1500 Hours: 4.0 Rating Olefin – 1200 Hours 4.0 Rating
Flammability	UFAC	PVC, Acrylic and Olefin – Class 1
	Cal TB 117, Section E	PVC, Acrylic and Olefin – Pass
Seam Slippage	ASTM D4034	PVC, Acrylic (Cushion) – 25 lb warp/25 lb fill Olefin (Cushion) – 15 lb warp/25 lb fill
Tearing Strength	ASTM D5733	PVC, Cushion (Open Mesh) – 20 lb warp/40 lb fill PVC, Slingable – 50 lb warp / 70 lb fill PVC, Wicker – 100 lb warp/90 lb fill
Tearing Strength	ASTM D2261	PVC, Olefin (Slingable) – 60 lb warp/70 lb fill Acrylic (Cushion) – 14 lb warp/10 lb fill Olefin (Cushion) – 14 lb warp/10 lb fill
Wet/Dry Crocking	AATCC 8	PVC – Dry 5/Wet 5 Acrylic – Dry 5/Wet 4 Olefin – Dry 5/Wet 4

Prints on Acrylic, Prints on Polyester, and Solid Color Polyester Cloth

Characteristic	Test Method	Acceptance Criteria
Abrasion	ASTM D4157	15,000 Double Rubs (Cotton Duck #10)
Bow & Skew	ASTM D3882	One Inch accepted
Breaking Strength	ASTM D5034	125 lb warp/65 lb fill
Colorfastness to Light	ASTM G154, Cycle 1	500 Hours: 3.0 Rating
Flammability	UFAC	Class 1
	Cal TB 117 Section E	Pass
Pilling	ASTM D3512	Class 3.0 After 30 Minutes
Seam Slippage	ASTM D4034	25 lb warp/25 lb fill
Spray Rating	AATCC 22	Spray Rating 80
Tear Strength	ASTM D2261	6 lb warp/6 lb fill
Wet/Dry Crocking	AATCC 8	Dry 5/Wet 4

Coverlet / Bedding Standards – ASTM D6664 Standard Specification For Woven, Knitted, And Flocked Bedspread Products For Institutional And Household Use

Characteristic	Test Method	Acceptance Criteria Woven Bedspread	Acceptance Criteria Knitted/Flocked Bedspread
Breaking Force	ASTM D5034	25 lbs	NA
Bursting Strength	ASTM D3786 or D3787	NA	35 psi
Pilling	ASTM D3512 30 Minute Run Time	Class 4.0	Class 4.0
Dimensional Change to	AATCC 135 – Household
Laundering	AATCC 158 – Dry cleaning	Tailored Type – 3.5% max.	Tailored Type – 5.0% max.
Drycleaning¹	AATCC 96 -Institutional Use	Throw Type – 5.0% max.	Throw Type – 5.0% max.
Refurbishing	AATCC 135 – Household
Appearance	AATCC 158 – Dry cleaning	Polyester/Cotton – SA 3.0	Polyester/Cotton – SA 3.0
(Fabric)¹	AATCC 96 – Institutional Use	100% Cotton – SA 2.5	100% Cotton – SA 2.5
Bow & Skew	ASTM D3882	Woven/Knitted – 3.0% max. Pattern Print – Acceptable	Woven/Knitted – 3.0% max. Pattern Print – Acceptable
Colorfastness to Laundering	AATCC 61	Shade: Class 4 Staining: Class 3	Shade: Class 4 Staining: Class 3
Colorfastness to Drycleaning	AATCC 132	Shade: Class 4.0	Shade: Class 4.0
Colorfastness to Crocking	Solid Shades – AATCC 8 Prints AATCC 116	Dry – Class 4.0 Wet – Class 3.0	Dry – Class 4.0 Wet – Class 3.0
Colorfastness to Light	AATCC 16 (20 Hours)	Class 4.0	Class 4.0
Colorfastness to Perspiration	AATCC 15	Shade: Class 4.0	Shade: Class 4.0
Flammability²	ASTM D1230	Class 1	Class 1

Notes:

Determine the maximum dimensional change after refurbishing five times following permanently attached care label instructions. If there is no attached care label, the refurbishing conditions shall be as specified by the supplier using the guidelines above for household, dry-cleaning, or institutional use. Flammability requirements shall be as agreed upon between the purchaser and supplier except when regulated by applicable government mandatory standards.
If flammability is to be tested, the method above may be used.

Drapery Standards – Contract And Residential

		Contract ACT Guidelines	Residential – ASTM D3691 Guidelines
Characteristic	Test Method	All Curtains	Knit and Lace	Sheer (Woven)	Conventional Weights (Woven)
Breaking Strength	ASTM D5034	NA	NA	15 lb	20 lb
Bursting Strength	ASTM D231	NA	20 lb	NA	NA
Seam Slippage	ASTM D434	15 lb – 60z/sq.yd; 25 lb – over 60z/sq.yd	NA	NA	NA
Tear Strength	ASTM D2261	NA	NA	1 lb	1.5 lb
Dimensional Change to Laundering	AATCC 135 (5 Launderings)	NA	3.0% max. +0.0%	3.0% max. +0.0%	3.0% max. +0.0%
Dimensional Change to Dry Cleaning	ASTM D2724 (3 Dry Cleanings)	NA	3.0% max. +0.0%	3.0% max. +0.0%	3.0% max. +0.0%
Distortion of Yarn	ASTM D1336	NA	NA	1 lb load- 0.1 inch max.	2 lb load- 0.1 inch max.
Colorfastness to Laundering	AATCC 61	NA	Shade: Class 4 Stain: Class 3	Shade: Class 4 Stain: Class 3	Shade: Class 4 Stain: Class 3
Colorfastness to Drycleaning	AATCC 132	NA	Shade: Class 4	Shade: Class 4	Shade: Class 4
Colorfastness to Burnt Gas	AATCC 23 (1 Cycle)	NA	Class 4	Class 4	Class 4
Colorfastness to Crocking	AATCC 8 (Solid) AATCC 116 (Print)	Dry – Class 3 Wet – Class 3	Dry – Class 3 Wet – Class 3	Dry – Class 3 Wet – Class 3	Dry – Class 3 Wet – Class 3
Colorfastness to Light	AATCC 16	Class 4	Class 4	Class 4	Class 4
Colorfastness to Ozone		NA	Class 4	Class 4	Class 4
Fabric Appearance		NA	SA 3.5	SA 3.0	SA 3.5
Retention of Hand, Character, and Appearance		NA	No significant change	No significant change	No significant change
Durability of Back coating		NA	No significant change	No significant change	No significant change
Flammability		PASS	See note below²	See note below²	See note below²
Light Degradation³	See note below	NA	NA	NA	NA

Notes:

NFPA 701: 2004 Test #1 is being phased in at the time of the publication of ACT standards, but was not cited in all relevant codes. Therefore the 1989 Small Scale test remains the ACT standard until further notice. However, most fire agencies require the most current version for installation.
The ASTM method states that the flammability requirements shall be as regulated by applicable Government mandatory standards and has been referred to Subcommittee D13.52 on Flammability and will be incorporated into D3691 should a test method become available.
No standard method is currently available for the determination of light degradation of curtain and drapery fabrics. Development of a standard method has been referred to AATCC.
Launderable fabrics are expected normally to be dry cleanable except where all or part of the fabric is not dry cleanable and is so labeled.

Upholstery Standards – Contract And Residential

Characteristic	Test Method	Contract ACT Guidelines Acceptance Criteria	Residential Joint Industry Standards Acceptance Criteria
Abrasion	ASTM D4157	30,000 – Heavy Duty 15,000 – General Contract	No acceptance criteria
Breaking Strength	ASTM D5034	50 lb	50 lb
Colorfastness to Light	AATCC 16 (40 Hours)	Class 4	Class 4
Elongation	ASTM D5034	NA	Woven: 1% – 5% Flocked Woven: 0.7% – 5%
Flammability	California TB 117, Sec. E	Pass	See Note Below
Pilling Resistance	ASTM D3511	Class 3
Seam Slippage	ASTM D4034	25 lb	50 lb
Tear Strength	ASTM D2261	NA	Category I: 6 lb min Category II: 4.5 lb min Category III: 4.0 lb min
Wet & Dry Crocking	AATCC 8	Wet 3/Dry 4	Wet 3/Dry 4

Notes:

The Joint Industry Fabric Standards Committee does not directly specify flammability standards that a fabric must meet in order to comply. They supply a brief description of UFAC / NFPA 260, Boston, Cal 133, British Standards and European Common Market methods. To summarize: UFAC – (there are) “many retailers who specify that all of their upholstery should meet the UFAC requirement”; Boston – in most cases has been superseded by Cal 133; Cal 133 – is “strictly designed for public occupancies” such as jails, prisons, nursing homes, convalescent homes and public gathering places in hotels having 10 or more seating units; British Standards – furniture exported to the UK must pass; Europe – currently deciding which method(s) are appropriate, but have made no decision.

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