ASTM F1141/F1141M-20

Standard Specification for Wall Coverings

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the performance, quality, packaging, and marking requirements for flexible wall coverings as a finished product. Also included here are wall preparation and covering installation procedures. The manufacturers shall be responsible for thorough testing and inspection under representative field conditions prior to introduction of new finished products on the market.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the performance, quality, packaging, and marking characteristics of flexible wall coverings as finished products.  
1.1.1 Whenever this specification refers to wall coverings, it is intended also to refer to ceiling coverings of the same type.  
1.1.2 This specification does not apply to wall coverings intended to be applied to exterior walls.  
1.1.3 This specification does not apply to rigid panel products, irrespective of whether or not they include a flexible lining or veneer.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems has the potential to result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 91.180 - Interior finishing
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.15 - Wallcoverings

Overview

ASTM F1141/F1141M-20: Standard Specification for Wall Coverings is a comprehensive international standard developed by ASTM to define the performance, quality, packaging, and marking requirements for flexible wall coverings used in interior spaces. The standard also encompasses installation procedures and wall preparation guidelines, ensuring that finished products meet stringent criteria before reaching the market. This specification applies to both flexible wall and ceiling coverings, with specific exclusions for exterior applications and rigid panel products.

Key Topics

ASTM F1141/F1141M-20 covers critical aspects of wall covering products, including:

• Performance and Quality: Requirements for uniform appearance, adherence of layers, durability, and prevention of defects such as chipping, peeling, and delamination.
• Terminology: Clear definitions for terms such as backing (substrate), facing, bolt, split bolt, pattern match, register, and others relevant to wall covering manufacturing and installation.
• Physical Characteristics: Standards for matching patterns, surface appearance, backing adherence, wrinkle and flaw prevention, and dimensional stability after installation.
• Packaging and Marking: Detailed requirements for product labeling, packaging to prevent shipment damage, and clear identification of bolts, including those classified as "seconds" or split bolts.
• Installation Instructions: Mandates for inclusion of wall preparation and installation guidance with every product, including recommendations for appropriate adhesives and preparation products.
• Inspection and Testing: Manufacturer’s responsibility for testing and inspection under field conditions, validation of laboratory controls, and use of statistically based sampling plans.
• Certification: Provision for supplier or manufacturer certification upon request, attesting compliance with all specified requirements.

Applications

The ASTM F1141/F1141M-20 standard is widely used across the building and construction industry to:

• Guide Manufacturers: Ensure that all flexible wall and ceiling coverings produced for interior environments adhere to consistent quality benchmarks for durability, safety, and appearance.
• Support Installers: Provide clear installation and wall preparation instructions, improving longevity and visual consistency in finished projects.
• Protect Consumers: Enable purchasers and installers to reject products not meeting the standard’s requirements, ensuring only compliant materials are used in residential, commercial, and public buildings.
• Facilitate Product Classification: Standardize identification and handling for bolts, runs, lots, and split bolts, aiding logistics, inventory management, and compliance verification.
• Assist Specifiers and Architects: Offer a reliable benchmark for specifying wall covering materials in building plans and procurement documents.

Related Standards

Several ASTM documents and international principles are relevant to ASTM F1141/F1141M-20, including:

• ASTM F793/F793M: Classification of Wall Coverings by Use Characteristics, frequently referenced for physical property compliance and testing methods.
• WTO TBT Committee Principles: The development of this standard follows international standards and guidelines for minimizing technical barriers to trade.
• Marking and Labeling Requirements: Ensures compatibility with global trade and regulatory labeling norms.

For full conformance and best practices, professionals should consult both ASTM F1141/F1141M-20 and related standards to ensure complete compliance with industry expectations for wall and ceiling coverings.

Keywords: wall covering, flexible wall coverings, ASTM F1141, interior wall specification, packaging, installation instructions, quality standards, physical requirements, building materials.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1141/F1141M −20
Standard Specification for
Wall Coverings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1141/F1141M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 backing (substrate)—material upon which facing (or
1.1 This specification covers the performance, quality,
an intermediate layer) is applied. Backing is that material
packaging, and marking characteristics of flexible wall cover-
which is adhered to the wall.
ings as finished products.
1.1.1 Whenever this specification refers to wall coverings, it
3.2.2 bias—pattern running off true horizontal or vertical
is intended also to refer to ceiling coverings of the same type.
plane.
1.1.2 This specification does not apply to wall coverings
3.2.3 bolt—a continuous amount of packaged material con-
intended to be applied to exterior walls.
taining the amount specified on the label.
1.1.3 This specification does not apply to rigid panel
3.2.4 facing—decorative material which is applied to an
products, irrespective of whether or not they include a flexible
intermediate layer or backing.
lining or veneer.
3.2.5 finished product—wall covering offered to a consumer
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
for installation.
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, 3.2.6 intermediate layer—material, if any, between the fac-
each system shall be used independently of the other. Combin- ing and the backing.
ing values from the two systems has the potential to result in
3.2.7 lot (batch)—the product from a continuous manufac-
non-conformance with the standard.
turing run having the same appearance and characteristic from
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
beginning to end.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.8 pattern match—the meeting of all parts and colors of
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
a pattern at the seams of adjacent strips.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.2.9 pattern repeat—the vertical distance between adjacent
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
match points of a pattern.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.10 protective layer—any material applied to the facing
2. Referenced Documents
to enhance performance.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.11 register—the designed meeting of all parts and colors
F793/F793M Classification of Wall Coverings by Use Char-
of a pattern.
acteristics
3.2.12 run—a unit of production which may include more
3. Terminology
than one lot.
3.1 Definitions: 3.2.13 seconds—finished material not meeting the required
3.1.1 wall covering—a flexible product designed to cover
quality criteria.
walls and ceilings for decorative or functional purposes, or
3.2.14 selvage—an undecorated edge which must be
both.
trimmed away to allow for correct pattern match or uniform
continuity of color.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
3.2.15 waste edge—a decorated edge that must be trimmed
Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.15 on
away to allow for correct pattern match or uniformity of color.
Wallcoverings.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
3.2.16 Shading:
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as F1141/F1141M – 15.
DOI: 10.1520/F1141_F1141M-20.
3.2.16.1 color variation—difference within the same lot of
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
wall covering.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3.2.16.2 luster variation—difference in gloss level within
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the same lot of wall covering.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1141/F1141M − 20
3.2.16.3 texture variation—difference in embossing within 6.8 Any pretrimmed material shall be trimmed so that no
the same lot of wall covering. contrasting backing color will show at the seam when two
sheets are properly installed.
3.2.17 split bolt—a bolt consisting of two or three separate
lengths of material.
6.9 No pretrimmed material shall show frayed or wavy
edges.
4. Appearance
6.10 All elements of the pattern shall be in register.
4.1 There shall be no appreciable difference in shading
6.11 The design shall be set at an angle of 90° to the
except on those finished products in which natural decorative
trimmed edge.
characteristics are being simulated. These variances must be
clearly stated in writing at the point of purchase. To determine
6.12 Split bolts narrow goods shall have no piece shorter
whether there is an appreciable difference, suspend three
than9ft[2.7m]andshallhaveanareaatleast10 %largerthan
sequential 8-ft [2.4-m] strips at eye level in a vertical position,
specified on the label. Three lengths are permitted in split bolts
as on the wall, under illumination between 100 fc and 150 fc 2 2
having an area exceeding 100 ft [9.3 m ]. Wide commercial
[1000 lx and 1500 lx], and view the strips from a distance
goods shall have no piece shorter than 3 yd [2.7 m] and
between 4 ft and 8 ft [1.2 m and 2.4 m]. An appreciable
one-half linear yard larger than specified on the label.
difference is one which is noticeable when one strip is
6.13 The finished product shall have the necessary charac-
compared with the others.
teristics to adhere the product to the wall when it is installed in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (For test
5. Wall Preparation and Installation
methods to determine conformity with this requirement refer to
5.1 Basic and correct wall preparation instructions, with
Classification F793/F793M.)
particular attention to wall covering which requires special
wall preparation for its proper installation, shall be included in
7. Inspection and Testing
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F1141/F1141M − 15 F1141/F1141M − 20
Standard Specification for
Wall Coverings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1141/F1141M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers the performance, quality, packaging, and marking characteristics of flexible wall coverings as
finished products.
1.1.1 Whenever this specification refers to wall coverings, it is intended also to refer to ceiling coverings of the same type.
1.1.2 This specification does not apply to wall coverings intended to be applied to exterior walls.
1.1.3 This specification does not apply to rigid panel products, irrespective of whether or not they include a flexible lining or
veneer.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values
from the two systems has the potential to result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F793F793/F793M Classification of Wall Coverings by Use Characteristics
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 wall covering—a flexible product designed to cover walls and ceilings for decorative or functional purposes, or both.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 backing (substrate)—material upon which facing (or an intermediate layer) is applied. Backing is that material which is
adhered to the wall.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.15 on Wallcoverings.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015Oct. 1, 2020. Published January 2016November 2020. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 20102015
as F1141 – 10.F1141/F1141M – 15. DOI: 10.1520/F1141_F1141M-15.10.1520/F1141_F1141M-20.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1141/F1141M − 20
3.2.2 bias—pattern running off true horizontal or vertical plane.
3.2.3 bolt—a continuous amount of packaged material containing the amount specified on the label.
3.2.4 facing—decorative material which is applied to an intermediate layer or backing.
3.2.5 finished product—wall covering offered to a consumer for installation.
3.2.6 intermediate layer—material, if any, between the facing and the backing.
3.2.7 lot (batch)—the product from a continuous manufacturing run having the same appearance and characteristic from beginning
to end.
3.2.8 pattern match—the meeting of all parts and colors of a pattern at the seams of adjacent strips.
3.2.9 pattern repeat—the vertical distance between adjacent match points of a pattern.
3.2.10 protective layer—any material applied to the facing to enhance performance.
3.2.11 register—the designed meeting of all parts and colors of a pattern.
3.2.12 run—a unit of production which may include more than one lot.
3.2.13 seconds—finished material not meeting the required quality criteria.
3.2.14 selvage—an undecorated edge which must be trimmed away to allow for correct pattern match or uniform continuity of
color.
3.2.15 waste edge—a decorated edge that must be trimmed away to allow for correct pattern match or uniformity of color.
3.2.16 Shading:
3.2.16.1 color variation—difference within the same lot of wall covering.
3.2.16.2 luster variation—difference in gloss level within the same lot of wall covering.
3.2.16.3 texture variation—difference in embossing within the same lot of wall covering.
3.2.17 split bolt—a bolt consisting of two or three separate lengths of material.
4. Appearance
4.1 There shall be no appreciable difference in shading except on those finished products in which natural decorative
characteristics are being simulated. These variances must be clearly stated in writing at the point of purchase. To determine whether
there is an appreciable difference, suspend three sequential 8-ft [2.4-m] strips at eye level in a vertical position, as on the wall,
under illumination between 100 to100 fc and 150 fc [1000 to[1000 lx and 1500 lx], and view the strips from a distance between
44 ft and 8 ft [1.2[1.2 m and 2.4 m]. An appreciable difference is one which is noticeable when one strip is compared with the
others.
5. Wall Preparation and Installation
5.1 Basic and correct wall preparation instructions, with particular attention to wall covering which requires special wall
preparation for its proper installation, shall be included in sample books and installation instructions.
F1141/F1141M − 20
5.2 Installation instructions shall be in or with each bolt and be readily accessible to the installer. It shall be the manufacturer’s
responsibility to notify consumers of proper installation techniques when new products are introduced.
5.3 The manufacturer shall recommend an adhesive, when necessary, and the products to be used for wall preparation.
Recommendation for alternative adhesives and wall preparation products shall be included in the installation instructions.
6. Physical Requirements
6.1 Each finished product shall be uniform in physical properties, in accordance with Classification F793F793/F793M and this
specification.
6.2 All facings and protective layers shall be adhered properly to backings and intermediate layers and the finished product shall
be of such quality that delamination does not occur during normal installation and use.
6.3 Finished
...