EN 15618:2022

Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics - Upholstery fabrics - Classification and methods of test

This document specifies a set of properties relevant to the assessment of upholstery coated fabrics for indoor furniture and the appropriate test methods to determine these properties. It also describes a matrix system to express the material properties of an upholstery fabric.
This document applies to upholstery fabrics both in domestic and public use, except when used for the seats of road or railway vehicles, boats or aeroplanes.
This document applies to upholstery fabrics with a coating on the wear face.
This document does not apply to textile upholstery fabrics covered by EN 14465.

Mit Kautschuk oder Kunststoff beschichtete Textilien - Möbelstoffe - Klassifizierung und Prüfverfahren

Dieses Dokument legt eine Reihe anwendbarer Eigenschaften zur Bewertung beschichteter Möbelstoffe für Möbel in Innenräumen sowie die geeigneten Prüfverfahren zum Bestimmen dieser Eigenschaften fest. Darüber hinaus wird ein Matrixsystem zur Angabe der Materialeigenschaften eines Möbelstoffes beschrieben.
Dieses Dokument gilt für Möbelstoffe für den Gebrauch im Haus sowie in der Öffentlichkeit; ausgenommen ist die Verwendung für Sitze von Straßen- oder Schienenfahrzeugen, Schiffen oder Flugzeugen.
Dieses Dokument gilt für Möbelstoffe mit einer Beschichtung auf der Nutzschicht.
Dieses Dokument gilt nicht für textile Möbelstoffe nach EN 14465.

Supports textiles revêtus de caoutchouc ou de plastique - Étoffes d’ameublement - Classification et méthodes d’essai

Le présent document spécifie une série de caractéristiques pertinentes pour l’évaluation des étoffes d’ameublement revêtues pour aménagement intérieur et les méthodes d’essai adéquates pour une détermination de ces caractéristiques. Elle décrit également un système matriciel permettant d’exprimer les caractéristiques des matériaux de fabrication d’une étoffe d’ameublement.
Le présent document s’applique aux étoffes d’ameublement pour usages domestiques et publics, à l’exception des utilisations destinées aux sièges des véhicules routiers ou ferroviaires, des bateaux ou des aéronefs.
Le présent document s’applique aux étoffes d’ameublement avec un revêtement appliqué sur la face d’usage.
Le présent document ne s’applique pas aux étoffes d’ameublement textiles couvertes par l’EN 14465.

Gumirane ali plastificirane tekstilije - Dekorativni in tapetniški materiali - Klasifikacija in preskusne metode

Ta evropski standard določa sklop lastnosti, pomembnih za oceno prevlečenih dekorativnih in tapetniških materialov za notranje pohištvo, ter ustrezne preskusne metode za ugotavljanje teh lastnosti. Opisuje tudi matrični sistem za izražanje materialnih lastnosti dekorativnega in tapetniškega materiala.
Ta evropski standard se uporablja za dekorativne in tapetniške materiale za domačo in javno uporabo, razen kadar se uporabljajo za sedeže cestnih ali železniških vozil, plovil ali letal.
Ta evropski standard se uporablja za dekorativne in tapetniške materiale s premazom na izpostavljeni strani.
Ta evropski standard se ne uporablja za tekstilne dekorativne in tapetniške materiale iz standarda EN 14465.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Dec-2022
• ICS: 59.080.40 - Coated fabrics
• ICS: 97.140 - Furniture
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 248/WG 4 - Coated fabrics
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 21-Dec-2022
• Due Date: 07-May-2022
• Completion Date: 21-Dec-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN 15618:2023 - Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics - Upholstery fabrics - Classification and methods of test

Relations

• Replaces: EN 15618:2009+A1:2012 - Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics - Upholstery fabrics - Classification and methods of test
• Effective Date: 28-Dec-2022

Overview

EN 15618:2022 is the European standard specifying classification and test methods for rubber- or plastic-coated upholstery fabrics intended primarily for indoor furniture use. Developed by CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 248, this standard focuses on coated fabrics used both in domestic and public environments, excluding upholstery fabrics for vehicles like cars, trains, boats, or airplanes. It sets out essential performance property levels and standardized test procedures to assess durability, safety, and aesthetics of coated fabrics with an emphasis on practical usability in furniture applications.

The standard introduces a matrix system for defining and expressing material properties, enabling manufacturers, designers, and buyers to select fabrics based on appropriate performance levels tailored to different conditions of use-from residential rooms to high-traffic public seating.

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Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  Covers coated upholstery fabrics with a rubber or plastic coating on the wear face, except fabrics regulated under EN 14465 for textile upholstery. Suitable for indoor furniture, this standard applies to both domestic and public use fabrics.

• Performance Levels and Product Profiles
  Instead of broad categories, EN 15618:2022 uses a flexible system of requirement levels for each fabric property, allowing tailored product profiles that address diverse usage scenarios (e.g., sunlight exposure, user type, frequency of use).

• Properties Covered
  Key fabric properties classified and tested include:

  • Fire behavior (according to EN 1021-1 and EN 1021-2)
  • Tensile strength (EN ISO 1421)
  • Tear resistance (EN ISO 4674-1)
  • Bursting strength (EN ISO 3303-2)
  • Abrasion resistance (EN ISO 5470-2)
  • Flex resistance (EN ISO 32100)
  • Coating adhesion (EN ISO 2411)
  • Colour fastness (to light, rubbing, water spotting, laundering, tested per EN ISO 105 series)
  • Soil resistance (EN ISO 26082-1)
  • Dimensional stability (EN ISO 5077)

• Test Methods and Reporting
  Standardized procedures ensure reproducible and accurate testing. Test reports must document all relevant data including test dates, product identification, detailed results, and any deviations, ensuring traceability and transparency.

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Practical Applications

• Furniture Manufacturers and Upholsterers
  Utilize EN 15618 to specify fabric performance aligned with intended end-use conditions, ensuring optimal durability, appearance retention, and safety of upholstery products.

• Interior Designers and Specifiers
  Select upholstery fabrics verified to meet desired abrasion resistance, colour fastness, and fire safety levels suitable for different environments-ranging from residential lounges to commercial offices or hospitality venues.

• Quality Assurance and Compliance Testing
  Testing labs apply EN 15618 test methods to verify manufacturer claims, supporting compliance with European regulations and customer requirements.

• Product Development
  Enables innovation by combining adjustable performance levels across different fabric properties to meet niche needs without compromising overall quality.

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Related Standards

• EN 14465: Applies to textile upholstery fabrics; complements EN 15618 by covering fabrics without coated wear faces.
• EN 1021-1 & EN 1021-2: Fire behavior testing standards referenced within EN 15618 for assessing ignition resistance.
• EN ISO 105 Series: Methods for assessing colour fastness in textiles, integral to EN 15618 testing.
• EN ISO 26082-1: Standard for soil resistance testing, supporting upholstery fabric durability evaluation.
• EN ISO 5077: Determines dimensional change in washing and drying, relevant for machine-washable coated fabrics.

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Keywords: EN 15618:2022, coated upholstery fabrics, rubber-coated fabrics, plastic-coated fabrics, indoor furniture fabric standards, upholstery fabric classification, test methods upholstery fabrics, abrasion resistance fabrics, color fastness upholstery, fabric fire safety standards, coated fabric durability, textile coating testing, CEN upholstery standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2023
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 15618:2009+A1:2012
Gumirane ali plastificirane tekstilije - Dekorativni in tapetniški materiali -
Klasifikacija in preskusne metode
Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics - Upholstery fabrics - Classification and methods of test
Mit Kautschuk oder Kunststoff beschichtete Textilien - Möbelstoffe - Klassifizierung und
Prüfverfahren
Supports textiles revêtus de caoutchouc ou de plastique - Étoffes d’ameublement -
Classification et méthodes d’essai
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 15618:2022
ICS:
59.080.40 Površinsko prevlečene Coated fabrics
tekstilije
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 15618
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 59.080.40; 97.140 Supersedes EN 15618:2009+A1:2012
English Version
Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics - Upholstery fabrics -
Classification and methods of test
Supports textiles revêtus de caoutchouc ou de Mit Kautschuk oder Kunststoff beschichtete Textilien -
plastique - Étoffes d'ameublement - Classification et Möbelstoffe - Klassifizierung und Prüfverfahren
méthodes d'essai
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 November 2022.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 15618:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 1 Scope . 5
2 2 Normative references . 5
3 3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 4 Requirements . 6
5 5 Test report . 10
Bibliography . 11

European foreword
This document (EN 15618:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 248 “Textiles and
textile products”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2023, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 15618:2009+A1:2012.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— in the Introduction, the term “categories” has been changed to “requirement levels”;
— in Clause 2, the reference to ISO 5981 and prEN ISO 26081 have been deleted. Some references have
been replaced (ISO 3303 by EN ISO 3303-2, EN ISO 5402 by EN ISO 32100 and EN ISO 26082 by
EN ISO 26082-1). New references have been added (EN ISO 105-C06, EN ISO 105-E16, EN ISO 5077
and ISO 105-F09);
— in Clause 4, the former Table 1 has been split into separate Tables including a change to a new
requirement level format to avoid misunderstanding of product categories. Supplementary
properties have been added (colour fastness to water spotting, to domestic and commercial
laundering, determination of dimensional change in washing and drying) with their related
normative references. The requirements of resistance to soil detailed according to EN ISO 26082-1
are mandatory (the former Table 2 of optional properties has been deleted).
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
This document introduces a system of performance levels. It is not possible to divide upholstery fabrics
into just a few performance categories, because of the enormous variety of conditions of use. In addition,
the type of upholstery (firm or soft) influences the abrasion of the upholstery fabric and hence the
requirements to the abrasion resistance. There is, for example, a tremendous difference between
furniture used in a room without windows and furniture which is directly exposed to sunlight, or
between furniture used by elder people and furniture used by a family with small children. These
differences in conditions and severity of use necessitate a flexible approach. This is done by defining a
performance level for each property. This allows to choose the appropriate level for each parameter and
so to compose a “product profile”, adapted to each specific type of use. This means that high resistance to
abrasion can be combined with, for example, low colour fastness. However, due to the interrelation of
some parameters, not all combinations will be possible.
1 Scope
This document specifies a set of properties relevant to the assessment of coated upholstery fabrics for
indoor furniture and the appropriate test methods to determine these properties. It also describes a
matrix system to express the material properties of an upholstery fabric.
This document is applicable to upholstery fabrics both in domestic and public use, except when used for
the seats of road or railway vehicles, boats or aeroplanes.
This document applies to upholstery fabrics with a coating on the wear face.
This document does not apply to textile upholstery fabrics covered by EN 14465.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1021-1, Furniture — Assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture — Part 1: Ignition source
smouldering cigarette
EN 1021-2, Furniture — Assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture — Part 2: Ignition source
match flame equivalent
EN 15973:2011, Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics — Upholstery fabrics — Resistance to soiling
EN ISO 105-B02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part B02: Colour fastness to artificial light: Xenon
...