ACT Voluntary
Physical Properties Guideline for
Woven Fabrics

Key factors in assessing overall durability of a fabric vary depending on the fabric construction.

Upholstery – Woven Fabrics

Pilling
ASTM D3511 (Brush Pill), Class 3 minimum
Or
ASTM D4970, (Martindale Tester), Class 3 minimum
Pilling is the formation of fuzzy balls of fiber on the surface of a fabric that remain attached to the fabric.

Aesthetic issues of pilling and fuzzing that sometimes occur on textile products do not impact the durability or functionality of the material. Laboratory testing provides some insight into the propensity for a textile to pill or fuzz; however, lab tests alone cannot predict field performance since they do not consider variables (e.g., care and maintenance, misuse, environment) encountered in the actual end-use application.

Breaking Strength
ASTM D5034 (Grab Test), 50 lbs. minimum in warp and weft
Breaking strength is the measurement of stress exerted to pull a fabric apart under tension.

Seam Slippage
ASTM D4034, 25 lbs. minimum in warp and weft
Seam Slippage is the movement of yarns in a fabric that occurs when it is pulled apart at a seam.

Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls
Breaking Strength
ASTM D5034 (Grab Test), 35 lbs. minimum in warp and weft.

Drapery
Seam Slippage
ASTM D434 using the ASTM D3597 modification for fabrics over 6 oz./sq. yard, 25 lbs. minimum in warp and weft.