A.C.T. Testing

Find descriptions for all A.C.T. testing available through Applied Lab and be in the know.

A.C.T. Testing

Applied Lab offers A.C.T. testing which gives our customers assurance that fabrics meet industry standards. The Association for Contract Textiles (A.C.T.) has developed voluntary Performance Guidelines to make fabric specification easier and to help assure the fabrics specified perform to minimum contract standards for the appropriate product types. By testing products with Applied Lab, you can have confidence in the authenticity that a product meets these guidelines.
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A.C.T. Abrasion Resistance Tests

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A.C.T. Colorfastness to Light Tests

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A.C.T. Colorfastness to Wet & Dry Crocking Tests

A.C.T. Flammability Tests

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A.C.T. Physical Properties

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A.C.T. Test Packages

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Notes

A.C.T. Abrasion Resistance Tests

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Martindale ASTM D4966

Measure the abrasion resistance (wearing away of any part of a material by rubbing it against another surface) of textile fabrics. Specimens are abraded by placing them face to face with a worsted wool abradant under 12 kPa of pressure in a lisajous figure movement.
Call for lead-time
Yardage Required: 18” x Full

Taber ASTM D3389 (250 cycles)

Measures the abrasion resistance of textile fabrics. Specimens are abraded by abrasive wheels under a predetermined amount of pressure using a rotational rubbing motion.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x 36”

Wyzenbeek ASTM D4157

Measures the abrasion resistance (wearing away of any part of a material by rubbing against another surface) of textile fabrics. Specimens are abraded by placing face to face with a cotton duck or wire screen abradant under 3 pounds of compression and 4 pounds of tension force and subjecting them to a back and forth (double rub) movement.
Call for lead-time
Yardage Required: 18” x Full

A.C.T. Colorfastness to Light Tests

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AATCC 16.3, Option 3: 60 Hours

An accelerated method that assesses the specimen’s ability to resist fading or other color degradation when exposed to a Xenon Arc light source for a specified amount of time. Light simulates sunlight through window glass.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 8” x 10”

AATCC 16.3, Option 3: 40 Hours

An accelerated method that assesses the specimen’s ability to resist fading or other color degradation when exposed to a Xenon Arc light source for a specified amount of time. Light simulates sunlight through window glass.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 8” x 10”

AATCC 16.3, Option 3: 200 Hours

An accelerated method that assesses the specimen’s ability to resist fading or other color degradation when exposed to a Xenon Arc light source for a specified amount of time. Light simulates sunlight through window glass.
Lead time: 2 weeks
Yardage Required: 8” x 10”

A.C.T. Colorfastness to Wet & Dry Crocking Tests

Wet / Dry Crocking AATCC 8

Determines the amount of color transferred from the surface of a colored textile material to another surface by rubbing.
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 8” x 10”

Wet / Dry Crocking AATCC 116

Determines the amount of color transferred from the surface of a colored textile material to another surface by rubbing.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 8” x 10”

A.C.T. Flammability Tests

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California Technical Bulletin 117: 2013

Evaluates cigarette ignition resistance of upholstery cover fabrics. A cigarette is placed on a mockup assembly of the cover fabric wraped around foam.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 1 Yd x Full

NFPA 701: 2015 Test #1

Used to classify fabrics or other materials used in curtains, draperies or other window treatments as well as other hanging textile items. Specimens are held vertically and subjected to a 4 inch flame for 45 seconds.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 1 Yd x Full

NFPA 701: 2015 Test #2

Used to classify fabrics used in curtains, draperies or other window treatments, vinyl coated fabrics and plastic films used for decorative purposes as well as fabrics used in architectural structures and banners. Specimens are held vertically (either in flat strips or a manner resembling drapery folds) and are subjected to an 11 inch flame for 2 minutes.
Lead Time: 5-7 days
Yardage Required: 3 Yd x Full

ASTM E84 Adhered

Rates flame spread and smoke development of interior finish building materials. The unadhered method is used for materials that will not ultimately be glued to a surface. The adhered method is used when materials will be glued to a surface. Gypsum board and GRC board simulate drywall and noncombustible surfaces, respectively.
Lead time: 3-4 weeks
Yardage Required: 4.5 Yd x Full

ASTM E84 Unadhered

Rates flame spread and smoke development of interior finish building materials. The unadhered method is used for materials that will not ultimately be glued to a surface. The adhered method is used when materials will be glued to a surface. Gypsum board and GRC board simulate drywall and noncombustible surfaces, respectively.
Lead Time: 3-4 weeks
Yardage Required: 4.5 Yd x Full

A.C.T. Physical Properties

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Brush Pill ASTM D3511

Measures the propensity of a fabric to form pills (bunches or balls of tangled fibers which are held to the surface by one or more fibers). Specimens are brushed with a nylon bristle brush for 4 minutes to create fuzzing and then rubbed face to face for 2 minutes to create pilling.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x Full

Breaking Strength ASTM D5034

Measures the maximum force applied to a material to force a rupture.
Lead time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x 36”

Coating Adhesion ASTM D751

Determines the force required to separate a chemical coating from the backing material.
Lead Time: 5-7 days
Yardage Required: 36” x 36”

Hydrolysis ISO 1419, Method C

Determines the ability of a polyurethane material to withstand the environmental effects of high humidity or exposure to wet conditions. Visual evaluations for cracking, peeling or delamination are made after placing specimens in an environmental chamber at 158°F and 95% relative humidity for week intervals. Alternately, coating adhesion, flex resistance and / or abrasion can be evaluated before and after exposure.
Lead time: 5 weeks
Yardage Required: 24” x Full

Martindale Pilling ASTM D4970

Measures the propensity of a fabric to form pills (bunches or balls of tangled fibers which are held to the surface by one or more fibers). Specimens rub face to face for 100 interval movements.
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 9” x Full

Stretch + Set SAE J855

Measures the stretch resistance and recovery ability of a fabric when subjected to 25 pounds of force.
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x 36”

Seam Slippage ASTM D4034, D434/D3597

Measures the displacement of one or more yarns from the original position, causing differences in alignment or spacing or both by applying an increasing amount of force to a seam.
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 24” x 36”

Tear Strength: Tongue Method ASTM D2261

Measures the actual tearing strength of a fabric by partially slitting a specimen to resemble pants and pulling with equal force in opposite directions on the two “legs.”
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x 24”

Tear Strength: Trapezoid Method ASTM D5733

Measures the force required to propagate a single rip tear starting from a cut in the fabric; specimens are tested in accordance with the trapezoid procedure whereby specimens are clamped in the jaws along opposite sides of the trapezoid marked on the specimen.
Lead Time: 3-5 days
Yardage Required: 18” x 36”

A.C.T. Test Packages

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Visit our A.C.T. Test Packages page to view the available A.C.T. Testing packages.

Notes

Notes

Stay up to date on the most recent version of the Association for Contract Textiles' Voluntary Performance Guidelines here.

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