The Association for Contract Textiles (ACT) is a non-profit trade association that sets up industrial standards related to contract fabrics. Their guidelines specify the testing that is necessary for a textile to be certified depending on its construction and intended use. The lightfastness test is examined by the degree of color fading that occurs when exposing the fabric to light. The ACT icon for colorfastness to light is given to woven, knit, and coated products. The detailed testing standards are found below.
Construction | Application | Test Method and Standard |
---|---|---|
Woven Fabrics | Upholstery | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours |
Direct Glue Wallcoverings | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours | |
Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours | |
Drapery | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 60 hours | |
Coated Fabrics | Upholstery | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 200 hours or ASTM D4329 No appreciable color change at 150 hours |
Direct Glue Wallcoverings | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 200 hours or ASTM D4329 No appreciable color change at 150 hours | |
Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 200 hours or ASTM D4329 No appreciable color change at 150 hours | |
Knit Fabrics | Upholstery | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours |
Direct Glue Wallcoverings | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours | |
Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours | |
Drapery | AATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 60 hours |
*The number of testing hours and hours of service in the field are not directly associated with one another.