Colorfastness to Light ACT Icon

Colorfastness to Light ACT Icon

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 ApplicationTest Method and Standard
Woven FabricsUpholsteryAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
Direct Glue WallcoveringsAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
Wrapped Panels and Upholstered WallsAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
DraperyAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 60 hours
Coated FabricsUpholsteryAATCC 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 WallcoveringsAATCC 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 WallsAATCC 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 FabricsUpholsteryAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
Direct Glue WallcoveringsAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
Wrapped Panels and Upholstered WallsAATCC 16.2 Option 1 or 16.3 Option 3, Grade 4 minimum at 40 hours
DraperyAATCC 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.

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