ACT Performance Guidelines
The Association for Contract Textiles was founded in 1985 to address a variety of issues related to contract fabrics. The ACT Performance Guidelines were developed to make specifying fabric easier. The 5 symbols give architects, designers and end-users a vast amount of performance information in a succinct, visual way. An explanation of the symbols, application and test method follows below. For more details consult your ACT PERFORMANCE GUIDELINES BROCHURE.
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Flame Resistance
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Flame resistance refers to a fabric's ability to resist burning.
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| APPLICATION |
PASSES |
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| Upholstery |
California Bulletin 117 Section E |
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| Direct Glue Wallcoverings |
ASTM E-84 (adhered method) |
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| Panels and Upholstered Walls |
ASTM E-84 (unadhered method) |
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| Drapery |
N.F.P.A. 701 Small Scale |
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Colorfastness to Wet and Dry Crocking
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Colorfastness is a fabric's ability to retain color in various conditions. Crocking refers to the rubbing off of color from a fabric when subjected to abrasion.
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| APPLICATION |
PASSES |
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| Upholstery |
| AATCC 8 |
Dry Crocking, Class 4 minimum |
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Wet Crocking, Class 3 minimum |
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| Direct Glue Wallcoverings |
AATCC 8 Class 3, minimum |
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| Panels and Upholstered Walls |
AATCC 8 Class 3, minimum |
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| Drapery |
AATCC 8 (solids) Class 3 minimum
AATCC 116 (prints) Class 3 minimum |
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Colorfastness to Light
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Colorfastness to light refers to a fabric's ability to resist fading when exposed to light.
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| APPLICATION |
PASSES |
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| Upholstery |
AATCC 16A or AATCC 16E
Class 4 minimum at 40 hours |
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| Direct Glue Wallcoverings |
AATCC 16A or AATCC 16E
Class 4 minimum at 40 hours |
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| Panels and Upholstered Walls |
AATCC 16A or AATCC 16E
Class 4 minimum at 40 hours |
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| Drapery |
AATC 16A or AATCC 16E
Class 4 at 60 hours |
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Physical Properties
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Pilling is the formation of fuzzy balls on the surface of a fabric. Pilling occurs when loose fibers in the fabric are worked to the surface after the fabric is subjected to abrasion.
Breaking strength measures a fabric's ability to resist tearing or breaking when subjected to tension.
Seam Slippage refers to the condition when fabrics pull apart at a sewn seam.
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| APPLICATION |
PASSES |
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| Upholstery |
Brush Pill: ASTM D3511, 3 minimum
Breaking Strength: ASTM D3597-D1682-64
50 lbs minimum in warp & weft
Seam Slippage: ASTM D3597-D434
25 lbs minimum in warp & weft
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| Panels and Upholstered Walls |
Breaking Strength: D5034 Grab Method
35 lbs minimum in warp & weft
Seam Slippage: ASTM D3597-434
25 lbs minimum in warp & weft
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| Drapery |
Seam Slippage: ASTM D3597-434 for fabrics over 6oz/sq.yd
25 lbs in warp & weft
Seam Slippage: ASTM D3497-434 for fabrics under 6 oz./sq.yd
15 lbs minimum in warp & weft
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Abrasion resistance is the ability of a fabric to withstand surface wear from rubbing.
* Per ACT's 2001 revised test method and ACT approved cotton duck specifications.
End use examples of heavy-duty installations where upholstery fabrics rated at 30,000 double rubs should be appropriate are single shift corporate, hotel rooms/suites, conference rooms and dining area usage.
ACT acknowledges that there are extreme wear uses that may require higher levels of abrasion. End use examples that may require higher levels of abrasion than 30,000 double rubs include: 24 hour transportation terminals, 24 hour marketing facilities, 24 hour healthcare emergency rooms, 24 hour casino gambling areas, and such public gathering facilities as theatres, stadiums, lecture halls and fast food restaurants.
Although the level of abrasion testing for extreme wear uses will be left to the supplier and user, it is strongly suggested that double rubs exceeding 100,000 are not meaningful in providing additional value in use and are detrimental and possibly confusing to the education of the specifier.
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