Overview
ISO 7617-2:2003 - "Plastics-coated fabrics for upholstery - Part 2: Specification for PVC‑coated woven fabrics" defines requirements and test methods for PVC‑coated woven fabrics intended for upholstered furniture. The standard covers fabrics produced by applying a substantially continuous, plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) coating to one side of a woven base cloth and specifies two quality grades (A and B).
Keywords: ISO 7617-2, PVC-coated woven fabrics, plastics-coated fabrics, upholstery, PVC-coated fabrics, colour fastness, coating adhesion.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and grades: Applies to PVC‑coated woven fabrics for upholstery; two grades defined (Grade A and Grade B) with different performance limits.
- Physical properties tested: Total mass and coating mass per unit area, tear resistance (longitudinal and transverse), coating adhesion (N per 50 mm), breaking load (longitudinal and transverse), flex‑cracking resistance (cycles), heat‑ageing plasticizer loss, print wear (assessed with a grey scale), thickness at 2 kPa, and blocking resistance.
- Example limits (as specified): total mass ≥ 550 g/m2 (Grade A) and ≥ 420 g/m2 (Grade B); flex cracking ≥ 400 000 cycles (A) / ≥ 300 000 cycles (B); coating mass and breaking loads also specified.
- Colour fastness: Minimum performance to artificial light (xenon arc) and to rubbing (wet and dry) with specified ratings.
- Visual and finish requirements: Uniform coating, free from visible flaws and pinholes at ×10 magnification; base fabric not visible from coated side (unless unpigmented coating).
- Sampling and testing protocol: Sampling by batch or random selection; specimen selection scheme (Annex A); failure re‑test rules (repeat twice with additional samples) and conformity decision rules.
- Test method specifics: Annex B (print wear) and Annex C (rubbing) modify ISO 105‑X12 parameters (e.g., apparatus frequency 0.25 Hz, defined abradant and cycles).
- Marking: Each roll must be labelled with manufacturer ID, batch number, colour, length, usable width and reference to ISO 7617‑2 and grade.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: Upholstery fabric manufacturers, furniture makers, textile test laboratories, quality managers, procurement/specifiers, and regulatory bodies.
- Practical uses: Ensures consistent performance and fitness for purpose of PVC‑coated fabrics used in domestic and contract upholstery; supports supplier acceptance testing, incoming inspection, product specification, and supplier audits.
Related standards
- ISO 7617 series (Part 1: PVC‑coated knitted fabrics; Part 3: PU‑coated woven fabrics)
- Normative test standards referenced (examples): ISO 1421 (breaking load), ISO 4674‑1 (tear resistance), ISO 2411 (coating adhesion), ISO 105‑B02 (colour fastness to light), ISO 105‑X12 (colour fastness to rubbing).
This standard is essential for anyone specifying, producing or testing PVC‑coated woven upholstery fabrics and helps align product quality with recognized international test criteria.