ISO 7617-1:2024

Overview

ISO 7617-1:2024 - "Plastics-coated fabrics for upholstery - Part 1: Specification for PVC‑coated knitted fabrics" is the fourth edition (2024) international standard that defines requirements and test procedures for PVC-coated weft‑knitted base fabrics intended for interior upholstered furniture. It covers fabrics with solid PVC coatings and two grades that use a layer of expanded PVC. The standard sets out sampling, preliminary inspection, testing and compliance rules to ensure consistent quality, durability and safety of PVC‑coated upholstery fabrics.

Key Topics

• Scope and applicability: PVC‑coated knitted fabrics for interior upholstery; solid and expanded PVC coating grades.
• Sampling and traceability: Guidance on sampling by manufacturing batch or random sampling where batch identity is not available.
• Preliminary inspection:
  • Visual inspection for uniformity, flaws and cracks; minimum distance of 5 cm for cutting specimens from visible flaws.
  • Pinhole examination at ×6 magnification with a mean pinhole density limit (see standard).
  • Fusion check to verify coating adhesion to the knitted base (per ISO 6451).
  • Bend test - coated face outward 180° without noticeable whitening (whitening must be reported).
• Dimensions and roll characteristics: Usable width, roll length and thickness requirements (referenced to ISO 2286 series).
• Physical and mechanical requirements:
  • Mass of coating per unit area, tensile and bursting strength, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, flex resistance and surface properties (tests referenced to ISO 1421, ISO 3303-2, ISO 4674-1, ISO 5470-2, ISO 32100).
  • Properties after accelerated ageing (ISO 1419) and fire behaviour requirements.
• Marking and test reporting: Mandatory information for product marking and structured test reports. Annexes specify specimen selection and resistance-to-print-wear methods.

Applications

ISO 7617-1:2024 is used for:

• Specifying and verifying the quality of PVC‑coated upholstery fabrics for sofas, chairs, automotive interiors and contract seating.
• Quality control and incoming inspection by textile mills, converters and fabric suppliers.
• Product procurement and acceptance criteria for furniture manufacturers and contract specifiers.
• Laboratory testing and certification bodies performing mechanical, ageing, abrasion and colour‑fastness tests.
• R&D and formulation control for PVC coating manufacturers seeking compliance and market acceptance.

Related Standards

Key normative references and related tests include:

• ISO 6451 (fusion check)
• ISO 2286‑1/2/3 (roll characteristics)
• ISO 1421 (tensile strength)
• ISO 4674‑1 (tear resistance)
• ISO 5470‑2 (abrasion - Martindale)
• ISO 1419 (accelerated ageing)
• ISO 32100 (flex resistance)
• EN 15977 (related mechanical property methods)

For suppliers, laboratories and specifiers, ISO 7617-1:2024 provides a practical framework to ensure durability, appearance and safety of PVC‑coated knitted upholstery fabrics.