What is a good “rub test” result for an upholstery fabric?
There are five levels of performance in the Australian Standards for upholstery depending on the end use you have in mind. The highest level is a Category 5 fabric and it needs to withstand 30,000 rubs (using a test called the Martindale test) without breaking a thread. That is a very high standard and is usually associated with fabrics being used commercially in theatres and so on. The next level down is at 20,000 rubs and this is designated as heavy domestic use or medium commercial. The mid level, Category 3, must tolerate 15,000 rubs. It is medium domestic use or light commercial. If you are going to sit on this fabric every day we would recommend at least a Category 3 fabric. Category 2 is for light domestic use and must reach 10,000 rubs. It is fine for dining room chairs of furniture that isn’t used every day. Finally Category 1 is for decorative use where the furniture is for aesthetic appeal rather than normal use. All Hoad upholstery fabrics will specify on the sample the sta
