WOOLMARK SPECIFICATIONSPECIFICATION IF-1: 2016
FURNISHING FABRICS
PRODUCTS
Woolmark, Woolmark Blend or Wool Blend labelling may be applied to flat woven, pile woven andpressed felt furnishing fabrics for:• residential or domestic furniture, suitable for most styles of furniture for general residential ordomestic use (e.g. lounge room furniture)• contract furniture, suitable for most styles of furniture for general contract use (e.g. hotel
bedrooms and offices)• office screens• wall coverings• curtains• decoration. Pressed and felted wool fabrics suitable for decorator items (e.g. lamp shades, craft
items and surface protection)• upholstery for public transport and automobile use. See also ‘Product notes’• upholstery for severe usage contract furniture (see also ‘Advisory requirements’).

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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PRODUCT NOTES
1.

TRANSPORT
Many public transport undertakings and all automobile manufacturers have their own
specifications for upholstery fabrics. The requirements detailed in the category ‘Severe usage
contract’ should be considered as a minimum.

2.

SEVERE USAGE – CONTRACT
Precise usage must be determined. See ‘Advisory requirements’ for guidance.
Fabrics for use in severe usage contract areas, such as cinemas and theatres, public
transport and automobiles, are often required to pass specifications set by the manufacturersof seats or vehicles or by specifiers and architects. The advisory requirements listed forsevere usage contract are the suggested minimum levels that should be reached before
samples are submitted for Woolmark, Woolmark Blend or Wool Blend approval.

3.

ABRASION RESISTANCE
In many cases, other tests methods are specified by automobile manufacturers, particularly inthe case of abrasion resistance. Abrasion testing does not consistently predict the wear life
and/or extended appearance performance of a textile product, but results obtained on theMartindale tester have been shown to be useful indications of such performance.

7.

FLAMMABILITY
Due to the multitude of flammability test methods and specifications that apply globally, aflammability requirement has not been included within this specification. Flammability
specifications are applicable to a wide range of residential and contract products and advice
regarding test methods, specifications and the performance of Woolmark and Woolmark
Blend products is available from The Woolmark Company.

8.

CARE CLAIM INFORMATION
Information regarding regular cleaning and spot and stain removal from Woolmark, Woolmark
Blend and Wool Blend products is available from The Woolmark Company.

9.

HAND OR MACHINE WASHABLE PRODUCTS
In general, the care claim will be ‘Dry clean only’ for this product category. However, any
product on which a licensee wishes to use the care claims ‘Hand washable’ or ‘Machine
washable’ must be forwarded to The Woolmark Company for consideration.
If a machine-washable product cannot be tumble dried, the label must carry the claim ‘Do nottumble dry’ (by means of words or symbols as appropriate).

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Property

Test
methodPass level
Woolmark: Pure New Wool

Fibre content of fabric or pile as appropriate
155

Woolmark Blend: 50% new wool

(minimum)
Wool Blend: 30% new wool
Upholsteryfabrics
FlatPileCurtains

Wall coverings,
office screen
Pressed felts

Tensile strength (kg: minimum)

435

35

–

-

Total wool weight (gm-2: minimum)

13

––

–

250

Fabric density (x10-3 gm-3: minimum)

13

–

–

–

80

Non recoverable extension (% maximum)

248

––

–

8

Abrasion resistance (‘000 rubs)(minimum)

112

20

20

–

–

Surface pile weight (gm-2: minimum)
Pile fabrics if abrasion < 20,000 rubs

277

–

100

–

–

Surface pile density (× 10-3gm-3 minimum)
Pile fabrics if abrasion < 2,0000 rubs

285

–

50

–

–

Percentage pile (%: minimum)

289

–

60

––

Colour fastness to shampooing(grade: minimum)
Multi-coloured products only

233

3–4

––

3–4

Colourfastness to light (grade: minimum)

5

Colourfastness to waterchange of colour (grade: minimum)
stain wool (grade: minimum)
stain cotton (grade: minimum)

Darker than 1/12 standard depth:5
Lighter than, or equal to, 1/12 standard depth:4

–3–4
33

3–4
33

–3

3

6

For blend products only
stain other fibre (grade: minimum)
Colourfastness to rubbing: wet and dry(grade: minimum)

165

3–4

Extractable matter (%: maximum)

136

1.0

Insect resistance(Australia, New Zealand and South Africaonly)

2728

See Specification CP-4

NOTES
1. Woolmark TM155: Wool content
Woolmark
See specifications F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4 for details as appropriate.
Woolmark Blend
See Specification F-5.
Wool Blend
See Specification F-7.
2. Woolmark TM4: Tensile strength
Only applicable to upholstery fabrics. Must comply with the minimum in both warp and weft
directions.
WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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3. Woolmark TM13: Weight per unit area
Wool weight is calculated from the weight by unit area and the percentage wool on the product.
Wool weight (g/m²) = weight (g/m²) x wool content (%)
100
For pressed or pile fabrics, the density is calculated from the fabrics weight and the thickness.
Density (g/m³ x10³) = weight (g/m²)
thickness (mm)4. Woolmark TM248: Non-recoverable extension
This test is only applicable to pressed felt fabrics.
The performance of felted wool layers is closely related to the construction and the felting orfinishing of the fabric. Problem fabrics may include one or more of the following elements: (a)insufficient consolidation; and (b) over-raised surface.
The general effect of these parameters is a reduction in product durability and high values ofnon-recoverable extension. If a test specimen fails before a load of 10kgf is reached, thespecimen must be considered as a failure.
5. Woolmark TM112: Abrasion resistanceThis test is only applicable to upholstery fabrics. If the abrasion resistance of a pile fabric is lessthan 20,000 rubs, the fabric must meet the requirements for TM277 and TM285.
6. Woolmark TM277: Surface pile weightThis criterion with that from TM285 may be used to approve pile fabrics if the abrasion
resistance is less than 20,000 rubs. The surface pile weight and surface pile density must becalculated on the pile areas only. All samples must be submitted to The Woolmark Companyfor approval.
7. Woolmark TM285: Surface pile density
This criterion may be used to approve pile fabrics where the abrasion resistance is less than
20,000 rubs. The surface pile weight and surface pile density must be calculated on the pileareas only. All samples must be submitted to The Woolmark Company for approval.
8. Woolmark TM289: Percentage pile
For upholstery fabrics with pile and no pile areas, the pile must cover a minimum of 60% of thetotal fabric surface. All samples must be submitted to The Woolmark Company for approval.
9. Woolmark TM233: Colourfastness to shampooing
This test applies only to multi-coloured products.
10. Woolmark TM5: Colourfastness to lightNo further comment.
11. Woolmark TM6: Colourfastness to Water
No further comment.
12. Woolmark TM165: Colourfastness to Rubbing
No further comment.
13. Woolmark TM136: Extractable material
If a fluorocarbon finish has been applied to a fabric some of the chemical may be removed by
the DCM and a high extract may be measured. Woolmark TWC-TM258 should be carried out
and minimum grades of 4 (oil) and 3 (water) should be achieved if a fluorocarbon has beenapplied.
14. Woolmark TM27: Insect ResistanceSee specification CP-4 for advice regarding insect resist treatment.

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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ADVISORY REQUIREMENTS
All samples must be tested using the test methods in the following table, however there is no pass or
fail criteria for the properties tested. . The licensee must test all samples to the appropriate method
and report the result to the customer. The failure of the product to meet the guideline performancelevel must be highlighted in the report to the licensee. When requested, The Woolmark Company canprovide advice or assistance to the licensee to improve the performance of the product under normal
commercial arrangements for consultancies.
The decision to accept or reject a particular fabric should be subject to agreement between the fabricmanufacturer and the customer. The Woolmark Company shall not act to arbitrate between the twoparties on such issues.
Severe Usage
Fabrics for use in severe usage contract areas, such as cinemas or theatres, public transport andautomobiles, are often required to pass specifications set by the manufacturers of seats or vehicles orby the interior designer (stylist), specifier or architect. The following advisory requirements are thesuggested minimum levels that should be reached before samples are submitted for Woolmark,
Woolmark Blend or Wool Blend approval. However, consideration must be given by the specifier orarchitect to the colour combinations, as not all shades and depths will be able to meet the advisory
minimum for light fastness of grade 6.
Property

Test
methodGuideline performance level
Upholstery fabrics
flat woven and pile woven
Residential

Contract

Severeusage
contract

Curtains

Wallcoverings,
office screen
fabrics

Tensile strength (N: minimum)
Fabrics > 135 gm-2
Fabrics < 135 gm-2

4–––

98
49

98
–

Abrasion resistance(‘000 rubs: minimum)

112

–30

40

––Surface pile weight(gm-2: minimum)
Pile fabrics only

277

––

150

––

Surface pile density(× 103gm-3: minimum)
Pile fabrics only

285

––

75

––

Seam slippage(mm opening: maximum)

117

––

Colourfastness to light(grade: minimum)

56–

Pilling (grade: minimum)
Flat woven fabrics only

196

––

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

6

––

3–4

6

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NOTES
1. Woolmark TM277 and TM285: Surface pile weight and density
For fabrics with pile and no pile areas, the pile must cover a minimum of 60% of the total fabricsurface. The surface pile weight and surface pile density must be calculated on the pile areas
only. All samples must be submitted to The Woolmark Company for approval.
2. Woolmark TM117: Seam slippage
Although seam slippage requirements are present in many national standards, data collectedby The Woolmark Company over many years shows that fabrics with test results greater than
6mm can perform satisfactorily in use (e.g. where the design of the furniture imparts little strain
on the seam, either during upholstering or in use). However, to avoid problems with certain
types of furniture construction that can place extra strain on the fabric, a 6mm maximum seam
opening is advised.
3. Woolmark TWC-TM196: PillingThis advisory level applies to flat woven fabric only.
Pilling is generally not a problem with the majority of 100% wool fabrics. However, the use of asmall percentage of synthetic fibre may cause a problem. Semi-worsted spun wool yarns havealso shown a propensity to pill during use. It is advised that fabric structures which include
blends and/or semi-worsted yarns are evaluated.

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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Additional claim: Australian Merino
PRODUCTS
Australian Merino may be applied to all Woolmark labelled products that meet the criteria in thisspecification.
All requests for products to be included in the Australian Merino program for furnishing products,bedding products, carpets and rugs must be submitted to The Woolmark Company for consideration.

Australian Merino additional criteria
Property
Wool content
Mean wool fibre diameter(µm: absolute maximum)

Percentage of Australian wool

Test method

Requirements

155

Pure New Wool

22 or 23 or 24

22.5

Confirmation: wool importer’s or wool
supplier’s certificate to be submitted bylicensee

50%: minimum

NOTES
1. The wool must be from pure Merino sheep and written confirmation must be supplied.

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATION
IF-1 FURNISHING FABRICS

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