Labeling + Flammability Codes + Upholstery

Delia Tacheny
INT 323 - Textiles, Materials, and Sourcing

Weekly Summary

This week we read Chapters 11 through 14. Chapter 11 talked about 'Interior Textile Product Labeling," chapter 12 discussed "Interior Textile Products and Fire," chapter 13 -- "Construction Features of Upholstered Furniture," and chapter 14 -- "Upholstery Coverings." The reading went all over the place from specific codes to types of upholstery, so let's summarize:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an organization with the directive to “prevent unfair methods of competition," including “unfair or deceptive acts" (141). The reading offers examples such as failing to disclose that a product or material is not what it appears to be (Ex. faux leather) or any other information about the material that is false or not disclosed; deceptive labeling is unfair to both the consumers and marketplace competition. If the FTC finds a pattern of abuse by a company in the marketplace, they may begin a process of investigation possibly leading to the adaptation or creation of new regulations. Labeling the use of recycled products, the country of origin, and the care instructions are all important. Labeling rules, guides, acts, mandates, etc. vary -- some advisory and some regulatory -- so it's important to pay attention to the classification variations. The Association for Contract Textiles (ACT) established a set of symbols/criteria for labeling various textile products according to certain properties. Labeling is a much more tedious subject, but ultimately labeling can be either informational or simply for marketing purposes.

Fire safety with Textiles is another hefty topic, so I'll do my best to set aside the most important things to know. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent federal agency that administers and enforces certain safety-focused acts including the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA). If a product is found to have an unreasonable risk to consumers, the CPSC will initiate a process that may lead to a proposal of a new flammability standard. The 1967 amendment of the FFA expanded the scope of the FFA to include interior furnishings and additional textile product-related standards; it also prompted more investigation into fabric-related burning accidents. Additionally, the Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) Voluntary action program was designed to encourage development of residential upholstered furniture that resists catching fire from the common culprit - burning cigarettes. There are a wide variety of flammability tests for textile products, which can be categorized into small-scale test methods, large-scale test methods, or full-scale test methods. There are also a multitude of codes and standards that must be met based on these tests. Some of the most important to know are, NFPA 701, NFPA 260, CA 117, and CA 133. 

The three biggest concerns in a fire are 1) the fire itself, 2) smoke, and 3) toxins. The three stages of a fire are as follows: In a Stage 1 fire, only the ignited item is burning – it stays localized. At this stage, smoke detectors and alarms will go off to alert occupants of the fire and hopefully allow them enough time to contain it. In a Stage 2 fire the fire begins to spread to other items in the room and can produce a flashover in which heat has built up to the point that all combustible items burst into flames. In this stage, automatic sprinklers, if installed, would go off and hopefully halt flame spread. In a Stage 3 fire, the fire spreads beyond the room into the hallway/corridor/etc., potentially blocking exits. Fire safety for textile products is especially important in hospital and care facilities, but at the end of the day, we want fire safe materials in every occupied space.

The last couple chapters pertained to upholstery. First, we read about the construction of upholstered furniture. The deck fabric is used to conceal the "deck": the platform, springs, and filling structure that support seated cushions, and a bottom fabric is used to conceal the bottom of the piece - originally designed to catch dust from the deck, but now primarily decorative. The reading also discussed the various orientations of the fabric on a piece of furniture such as "railroad" (horizontal) vs. "up-the-bolt" (vertical) as well as a "4-way match" in which the fabric motif aligns across the entire piece. Other considered components were the function of zippers, slipcovers, and various types of batting and foam. Furniture pieces must be evaluated for their compressibility (the ease with which a textile structure can be crushed or reduced in thickness) and compressional resiliency (the ability of a textile structure to recover from compression deformations). Last, we reviewed all the different weavings and fabric properties that pertain specifically to upholstery. Fiber performance, type of yarn, weave construction, and finish of a fabric should all be considered in selection of an upholstery fabric. For example, knitted fabrics are used particularly on curved furniture or as the knitted back of ergonomic chairs because of their elasticity and flexibility. We also learned about leather (and suede) as well as the pros and cons of various coatings applied to fabrics.

One Step Further - Researching Healthcare Textiles and Seating

Since textile flammability standards are especially pertinent in healthcare settings, I decided to do a little research on healthcare design overall, primarily the best textile materials for these spaces. 

A guide on NationalBusinessFurniture.com offers some pros and cons of various textile options: 

When it comes to material, woven fabric is far from ideal for healthcare settings. Though it comes in an assortment of colors and patterns, and adds a homelike aesthetic, it is porous, lacks cleanability and durability, and holds onto bugs and bacteria. 

On the other hand, Crypton fabrics are a great alternative as they still offer some variety and includes a fluid-resistant backing. It could be a good choice for chair backrests but unfortunately it still is not the most durable. It's semi-permeable, holds on to odors, is fairly expensive, and requires its own special Crypton cleaners.

PVC-free Vinyl, is a great choice for healthcare facilities especially for sustainability purposes. It is impermeable, emits zero toxins (great for IAQ), and has a soft feel to it. However, the challenges with this one is that it can degrade quickly and pucker if not properly cared for, as well as the limited aesthetic options.

Regular vinyl is one of the best options, as it's impermeable, Greenguard certified for better IAQ, comes in a variety of options, highly durable, and easy to clean. A couple things to note: it can degrade if over-bleached and the seams can acquire bugs and germs.

In high-traffic hospital environments, IC+ is another option. It is increasingly more durable and permeable than vinyl, utilizes a seamless design, and very easy to clean. The only bummer is, it isn't quite as comfortable, nor is there a large variety of colors.

From doing some research for each one, it appears that all of these types pass standard level or higher flammability codes. (Though, woven fabrics may vary in their flammability ratings.) Another great source I found for healthcare design overall is Blog - Simour Design -- a firm with great blogs on an abundant of topics related to healthcare design. 

National Business Furniture. (2022, July 13). The Complete Guide to Healthcare Seating Textiles: NBF. National Business Furniture. https://www.nationalbusinessfurniture.com/blog/guide-to-healthcare-textiles

Research Initiative: Bamboo and Cotton Processing 

For this week's research initiative, I chose the video on bamboo and one on cotton. Here are my observations and key takeaways:

When it comes to bamboo fibers, the bamboo is first harvested with clean cuts, allowing bamboo shoots to grow again. Next the stalks are cut into smaller chips which then go through a soaking process in a certified liquid. After this, the bamboo is produced into a pulp, which is then dried in sheet form. Finally, the sheets are ground and spun into bamboo fiber!

Historically cotton was process by hand until the first processing machine was created in the early 18th century. First, cotton is picked by a cotton picker and then transported to a processing plant in large module form. Upon arrival, sticks, debris, burrs, and seeds are removed through an assortment of processes - one that involves adding hot air to the cotton to make it easier to clean. Once the debris has been separated, the seed cotton goes through a process in which a gin stand separates the actual seeds from the fluffy lint. (Fun fact, cotton seed is used as a livestock feed and even turned into cotton seed oil). The lint is than formed into bales, with a sample taken from each one. The sample is shipped off to the U.S. Department of Agriculture where it is analyzed for a variety of criteria, and once analysis is complete, the bale can be given a Grade and processed accordingly. 

I really enjoyed both of these videos! They were interesting and insightful. 

How Bamboo Fabric is Made - YouTube
How Cotton is Processed in Factories | How It’s Made - YouTube