WOOLMARK SPECIFICATIONSPECIFICATION IC-2: 2016

RUGS AND SQUARESPRODUCTS
Woolmark labelling may be applied to machine made, hand woven, flat woven (including dhurriesand kilims), hand tufted and hand knotted rugs and squares and flokati rugs.
2

NOTE: large squares (room size squares in area greater than 10m ) and runners are considered as
carpets and are subject to the requirements of Specification IC-1.
Woolmark Blend labelling may be applied to machine made, hand woven, hand tufted and handknotted rugs and squares.
NOTE: loop pile Woolmark Blend constructions will be accepted only on an individual (case-by-case)basis and only if The Woolmark Company is satisfied by testing that the construction will not exhibit
pilling and fuzzing in use.
The Woolmark Blend logo must not be used on flokati.
Woolmark Blend labelling of flat woven constructions will be accepted only on an individual (caseby-case) basis and only if The Woolmark Company is satisfied by testing that the product will perform
adequately in use.
Wool Blend labelling may not be used.

WOOLMARK SPECIFICATIONIC-2 RUGS AND SQUARES

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MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Pass level
Property

Hand knotted

Test method

Pile

Flat woven

FlokatiSurface

Hand madeWoolmark
Wool content of pile orsurface and base fabric, asappropriate.

155

Pure New Wool(see specification F-1, F-2, F-3 or F-4, as appropriate)

Woolmark Blend
Wool content of pile orsurface155

50% new wool (minimum)
50% new non-wool (maximum)(see Specification F-5)

Total use area weight(gm-2: minimum)NA

50% new wool (minimum)
50% new non-wool (maximum)(see Specification F-5)–

1500
Kilims & dhurries
1100

––

1100

–

–

–

–

21
Total pile weight(gm-2: minimum)

Machine madeMachine made, hand woven &hand tufted
Pile

Total fabric weight(gm–2: minimum)

13––

1800

1400

–

Surface pile weight(gm–2: minimum)

234

–

–

600

600

600

Pile density factor: minimum

216

70

–

–

–

70 × 103

Extractable matter of pile orsurface, (as appropriate)(%: maximum)

136

Direct soiling test
Blends containing
polypropylene only

267

Abrasion weight loss
(mg/1000 rubs : maximum)

283

Woolmark:
Woolmark Blend including polyamide or non-wool natural fibre:
Woolmark Blend including polyester and/or polypropylene;

1.0
1.0
see ‘Advisory requirements’
Pass–

Woolmark: 70

Please read table notes on following page.

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IC-2 RUGS AND SQUARES

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NOTES
1. Flat woven products
These products include dhurries and kilims. Woven products must have a pure new wool surface. A
non-wool warp is permitted, but it must not form part of the use surface. The non-wool yarns can bevisible. Flat woven constructions suitable for Woolmark Blend will be accepted only on an individual(case-by-case) basis and only if the Woolmark Management Group is satisfied by testing that theproduct will perform adequately in use. Backed and un-backed samples must be supplied for testing.
2. Flokati products (hand or machine made)
These products must be of Pure New Wool surface and base or Pure New Wool surface. For products-2with a Pure New Wool surface and non-wool base, the minimum surface pile weight is 600gm .
Products with a Pure New Wool surface and non-wool (e.g. polypropylene) back can carry theWoolmark and the term ‘flokati’. However, sample must be submitted to The Woolmark Management
Group for approval. Greek legislation now permits such products to carry the flokati description.
3. Shag pile products
Shag pile products will be reviewed on an individual (case-by-case) basis by the Woolmark
Management Group.
4. Loop pile products
Woolmark Blend applicable to loop pile products only on an individual (case-by-case) basis by theWoolmark Management Group.
5. Woolmark TM155: Wool content
This test must be applied to the pile or surface and base fabric, as appropriate. Woolmark Blend
allows the following fibres to be used (see Specification F-5):• polyamide• polyester only low melt sheath bi-component polyester permitted• polypropylene• other natural fibres.
Products meeting the above requirements but containing new non-wool fibres other than thosespecified above (e.g. containing bi-component polyamide, other bi-component fibres, filament fibres,etc) may be submitted to The Woolmark Management Group for consideration.
For products containing more than one non-wool fibre (e.g. polyamide and polyester fibre) in intimate
blend with wool, the word ‘new’ may not be used in the fibre content phrase if the product is offered forsale in any European Union (EU) member state.
6. Woolmark TM21: Total pile weight (dissection method)
2
The limit for kilims and dhurries is 1100g/m .
7. Woolmark TM13: Mass per unit area
No further comment.
8. Woolmark TM234: Surface Pile mass of textile floorcoverings
No further comment.
9. Woolmark TM216: Pile density factor
No further comment.
10. Woolmark TM136: Extractable matter
If a fluorocarbon finish has been applied to carpet pile, some of the chemical may be removed by thedichloromethane (DCM) and a high extract will be measured.
Woolmark TWC-TM258: Oil and water repellency should be carried out and minimum grades of 4 (oil)and 3 (water) should be achieved, if a fluorocarbon has been applied.
Methanol extraction may be additional is required on some products (polyester and polypropylene
blends).
11. Woolmark TM267: Soiling propensity of floorcoverings
Pass level depends on original colour.
12. Woolmark TM283: Wool carpet pile abrasion
No further comment.
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ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOKATI PRODUCTS
Property

Testmethod

Pass level
Actual product dimensions must be measured and must be equal to (orgreater than) the stated dimensions

Product dimensions–Relaxation dimensional change(1 × 7A cycle)

31

Colourfastness to wet alkaline contact(grade: minimum)
Multi-coloured products only

174

Change of colour:
Stain wool:

3–4
4

Colourfastness to hand washing (grade:minimum)

250

Change of colour:
Stain wool:

3–4
4Product must not shrink below stated product dimensions, or–4 < DC width and length

NOTES
1. Woolmark TM31: Dimensional stability-4 < DC indicates the product must not shrink more than 4%.
Flokati products (hand and machine wash) must carry the following cleaning instructions: ‘Hand
wash with care, 40°C maximum. Do not machine wash. Do not bleach.’
It is recommended that the sample size for Woolmark TWC-TM31 is a small size product (or itsequivalent) but samples of 1.0 x 1.0m will be accepted.
Appearance after washing
In assessing the acceptability of a product, the surface appearance before and after the washingcycle will be considered.
2. Woolmark TM174: Colourfastness to wet alkaline contact
This test is applied to multi-coloured products only.
3. Woolmark TM250: Colourfastness to hand washing
No further comment.

ADDITIONAL CLAIM: INSECT RESIST
Property
Insect resistance

Test method

Pass level27, 28

See Specification CP-4

If a Woolmark or Woolmark Blend carpet carries an insect resist (or similar) claim, it must meet therequirements in CP-4 applicable to the country of sale.

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ADVISORY CRITERIAIn addition to the mandatory requirements, The Woolmark Company has the following advisory
criteria, below.
The Woolmark Company reserves the right to refuse use of the Woolmark or Woolmark Blend for a
product that is considered unfit for the intended use. A product submitted for Woolmark or Woolmark
Blend should meet the requirements as appropriate.
Property

Test
methodGuideline level
Handknotted

Flat
woven

Flokati

Machine made,hand woven & hand tufted
Woven products:
3.5
Tufted products:
cut pile:
10.0loop pile: 20.0

Tuft/yarn withdrawal force(N: minimum)

202

Colour fastness to rubbing:(grade: minimum)
Japan only, mandatory

232

Wet: 3Dry: 3–4

256

3–4

257

3

Cold water staining(grade: minimum)
Undyed products only
Hot water texture retention(grade: minimum)
Cut pile, machine-made, handtufted and hand knotted products
only

Woolmark Blend including polyester and / or polypropylene:1.2

Methanol extractable matter ofpile or surface (as appropriate)(%: maximum)

136

Colourfastness to light(grade: minimum)

133

Appearance retention(grade: minimum)
Loop pile products

253/251

All Woolmark and Woolmark Blend products lighter than, or equal to,
1/12 standard depth: 0.7
Darker than 1/12 standard depth:
5Lighter than, or equal to, 1/12 standard depth:
4First fade:3–Fuzzing and pilling:3
fibre loss: should be rated as ‘minimal’

Change of colour:
Stain wool:
Stain polyamide:

Colour fastness to shampooing(grade: minimum)

233

Abrasion weight loss
(mg/1000 rubs: maximum)

283

4
3–4
3–4 (Woolmark Blend only if polyamide in theblend)
Stain polyester:
3–4 (Woolmark Blend only if polyester in theblend)
Stain polypropylene: 3–4 (Woolmark Blend only if polypropylene inthe blend)
Woolmark Blend: 45NOTES
1. Woolmark TM202: Yarn–tuft withdrawal force
No further comment.
2. Woolmark TM232: Colourfastness to rubbing
This requirement is mandatory in Japan only.
3. Woolmark TM256: Cold water staining
This test is used on undyed products only.
4. Woolmark TM257: Surface texture retention (hot water)This test is only used on cut pile, machine made, hand tufted and hand knotted products.
5. Woolmark TM136: Extractable matter
Methanol used for extraction. This solvent is toxic and flammable and appropriate safety precautions

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must be used.
6. Woolmark TM133 Colourfastness to lightNo further comment.
7. Woolmark TM253: Appearance retention (Usometer)This test is only applied to loop pile products.
8. Woolmark TM233: Colourfastness to shampooing
No further comment.
9. Woolmark TM283: Weight loss in abrasion
No further comment.

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IC-2 RUGS AND SQUARES

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ADDITION CLAIM: Australian Merino
PRODUCTS
Australian Merino may be applied to all Woolmark labelled products meeting the criteria detailed inthis specification.
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

Test method
155

Mean wool fibre diameter (µm: absolutemaximum)
Australian wool content (%: minimum)

22 or 23 or 24

Requirements
Pure NewWool
22.5µm
50%

Wool importer’s or wool supplier’s certificate to be submitted bylicensee as confirmation

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

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