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 tests that are necessary for a textile to be certified depending on its construction and intended use. The ACT icon for physical properties is given to upholstery, wrapped panels and upholstered walls, and drapery products, while passing several physical tests including pilling, breaking strength, seam slippage, adhesion of coating, hydrolysis resistance, and the stretch and set test. The detailed testing standards are found below.
| Construction | Application | Physical properties | Test method and standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven | Upholstery | Pilling Breaking Strength Seam Slippage | ASTM D3511 Brush Pill Class 3 minimum or ASTM D4970 Martindale Test Method Class 3 minimum ASTM D5034 Grab Test 50lbs minimum in warp and weft ASTM D4034 25lbs minimum in warp and weft |
| Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | Breaking Strength | ASTM D5034 Grab Test 35lbs minimum in warp and weft | |
| Drapery | Seam Slippage | ASTM D434 25lbs minimum in warp and weft *Use ASTM D3597 for fabrics over 6 oz/square yard | |
| Coated Fabrics | Upholstery | Adhesion of Coating | ASTM D751 Sections 45-48, 3 lbf/in minimum |
| Tear Strength | ASTM D2261 Tongue Tear Knits and Woven Substrates 4x4lbs or ASTM D751 Sections 32-35 15x15lbs ASTM D5733 Trap Tear Nonwoven Substrates and Nonwoven Composites 15x15lbs or ASTM D751 Sections 32-35, 15x15lbs | ||
| Hydrolysis Resistance (Only Applicable to Polyurethanes) | ISO 1419 Tropical Test Method C 5 weeks *Note: There is no direct correlation of testing weeks to years of service in the field. | ||
| Stretch and Set | SAE J855 can be used to evaluate stretch and set *ACT recommends consulting your supplier or manufacturer to see about potential issues | ||
| Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | Breaking Strength | Breaking Strength | |
| Knit Fabric | Upholstery | Pilling Breaking Strength Tear Strength Snag Testing Stretch and Set | ASTM D3511 Brush Pill Class 3 minimum ASTM D5034 Grab Test 50lbs minimum in warp and weft ASTM D2261 6lbs minimum in warp and weft ASTM D3939 Mace Snag Class 3 minimum SAE J855 can be used to evaluate stretch and set *ACT recommends consulting your supplier or manufacturer to see about potential issues |
| Wrapped Panels and Upholstered Walls | Breaking Strength | ASTM D5034 Grab Test 35lbs minimum in warp and weft | |
| Drapery | Tear Strength | ASTM D42261 1.5lbs minimum in warp and weft |