Chapter 20: Selection of Materials, Finishes & Furnishings Flashcards
what should you be looking for when looking for a finish (what are the goals)
to meet the client’s aesthetic, functional and economic needs while selecting products and are safe, durable and sustainable
what should you do when specifying a material in order to avoid legal problems? What are the steps?
- Obtain as much info as possible- get all literature, tech data sheets, material safety data sheets. Pojects where the product has been used previously
- inform the client of any potential problems or risks and get their approval
- ask the rep if there are any potential problems or where this product has failed in the past
- tell the manufacturer your intended use of the product and get them to confirm in writing that their product is suitable for using in your project
- make a site visit if it’s a complicated install
- get a rep to come see the install if it’s specialized
- if the manufacturer is small in size, make sure they are stable enough to complete your job and supply you with the quantities you need
what are the 5 broad classifications of material selection
- Fuction
- Durability
- Maintainability
- Safety/Health
- Cost
what does Function refer to when picking a material
Acoustic qualities- the more important criterial for most finishes- what’s it’s NRC- ability to absorb or block sound
aesthetics
availability
choice
installation method- can affect the cost and scheduling of a material and might require skilled labourers to install
what does Durability refer to when picking a material
the servicablity of the product when in use- ASTM standards of abraision resistance, breaking strength, checmical resistance, cold cracking resistance, colourfastness, corrosian resistance, crocking, scrubbability, shrinkage, stain resistance, strength, tear resistance, heat aging resistance
what is crocking resistance in regards to material durability
a materials resistance to the transfer of colour from a wallcovering surface when rubbed
or the transfer of colour when rubbed
what does Maintainability refer to when picking a material
cleanability
repariability
resilience- a material’s capacity to recover it’s original size and shape after deformation after a heavy load: applied to soft floor covering material like vinyl but is useful for wallcoverings
Self-healing quality- ability to return to it’s original configuration after it has been deformed or changed. Applied to any type of product
Sustainability
what does Safety/Health refer to when picking a material
mold resistance
indoor air quality
finish safetey- the surface and edge condition (sharp corners etc)
flammability
outgassing
security- protection against theft and vandalism
slip resistance- measured by coefficient of friction (COF) IBC and ADA don’t have a specific requirement for COF
Volatile organic compound emission- chemicals that contain carbon and hydrogen- they vapourize at room temperature
what does Cost refer to when picking a material
need to consider the first cost and life-cycle cost (including replacement costs)
who is the best source of info for materials and finishes
spec rep is best. ALso the sweets network online lets you compare finishes.
Standards-writing organizations are also really good for info on testing- like ASTM.
Trade associations are also best for unbiased accurate info
what is FF&E
furniture, fixtures & equipment that are not physically attached to the construction.
usually purchased under a separate contract because the methods of specifying, ordering and installing are different than a standard construction contract
what are the three basic categories of furniture
ready made
custom design
built in
what must you consider when selecting furniture
fuctional needs
comfort
aesthetics of the object
aethetics of it in it’s surroundings- like scale, colour and texture
quality- balance cost and quality
Finish
Cost- always a part of furniture selection - initial and lifecycle cost
what part of a piece of upholstered furniture has a great influence on the furniture’s durability and safety
it’s fabric
what are the two classes of fibers used for furniture
natural and synthetic
natural fibers are divided in to cellulosic and protien. Cellulosic are cotton, linen (come from plants) Protein ones come from animals like wool
what are the pros and cons of wool fabric
pro- best natural fiber for all types of fabrics even carpet. Excellent resislient, elasticicty and wears well, resistant to soiling, cleans well. It’s self-extinguishing when the flame is removed
con- expensive and it’s not dimensionally stable since it can be stretched
what are the pros and cons of cotton fabric
pro- inexpensive, good tensile strength (resistance to ripping), good abrasion resistance
con- poor resilience and degrades under prolonged sun exposure, burns and is subject to mildew
what are the pros and cons of linen fabric
pro- made from flax plant, dimensionally stable, resistant to fading. used for draperies and wallcoverings mostly
con- not used for upholstery because it lacks resilience and flexibility and susceptible to abrasion, doesn’t take printed dies well either
what are the pros and cons of silk fabric
pro- from silkworm spinning, strong, good resilience and flexibility
con- expensive and degrades in the sun
what are the pros and cons of rayon fabric
cons- fades in the sun, bad resiliency, absorbs water, is flammable. not really used for upholtery
what fabrics would you not use for upholstered furniture typically
linen, rayon, acetate, Olefin
what are the pros and cons of Acetate fabric
pro- low in cost
con- flammable, uses chemicals, doesn’t wear well, fades in the sun
what are the pros and cons of nylon fabric
synthetic fiber- popular
pro- very strong, high resiliency and elasticity, resistant to chemicals, water, microrganizsm. self extinguishing
con- used to be shiny and bad in the sun but now it’s combined with other fibers to make those go away
what are the pros and cons of acrylic fabric
often a replacement for wool because of how it looks
pro- good strength and resilience sunlight resistance
con- flammable
what are the pros and cons of Olefin fabric
usually used for carpeting
pro- inexpensive, highly resistant to cheimcals, and mildew, resilient and nonabsorbant.
con- fades in the sun, bad resistance to heat and fire, will continue to burn once flame is removed
what are the pros and cons of Polyester fabric
pro- resilient, elastic, resistant to chemicals and good in the sun
con- flammable, absorbs oily materials
what are two specialty fabrics
Avora FR- plyester yarn that has been modified so it’s permanently flame resistant regardless of wear or washing it out. They also don’t keep in odours and bacteria resistant
Crypton- engenieered fabric- put in chcimcals followed by heat to form a coating on the face and also has a checmical spray on the back. stain, water, flame and bacteria resistant.
what is a good fabric to use in healthcare facilities or retirement communities where flame resistance and durability are required
Crypton
when selecting a fabric, what do you need to keep in mind (what are you looking for)
a balance between aesthetics, cost and availability
what are important criteria for selecting fabrics
Durability- resiustance to abrasion (nylon, wool)
Flammability- most important- especially for public spaces. Can be fire treated
Dimensional stability- the fabric’s ability to retain it’s shape and fit over cushioning with out sagging, wrinkling, stretching or tearing
Maintenance
Appearance
Scale of pattern or texture
Comfort
Touch- banquette seating needs to be smooth for sliding in and out of
why is it important to pick the cushion material for seating
because it affects the flammability of the furniture
which cushion materials are flammable
untreated cellular plastic include all sorts of “poly” foams
untreated cellulosic batting like cotton batting is bad for cigarette ignition
latex foam
what is the best cushion material to use for fire resistance
polyester batting, neoprene and combustion modified polyurethane
what is cigarette ignition resistance when it comes to upholstery
aka smoldering resistance- affected by the combo of fabric, cushioning and seat construction.
fire hazard increased if tufting or decorative treatment like welt cording is used on the seats or arms becasue dropped cigarettes may lodge in these areas
what is railroading when it comes to furniture upholstery
application of fabric to the furniture so there are no intermediate seams which creates smooth seams which is good for not lodging cigarettes
what can you do to banquettes or other seats at the back to help with avoiding cigarette smoldering
raise the back off of the seat by at least 1 inch
name two ways you can make upholstery more safe and fire reisistant
treating the cushioning material with chemicals to increase resistance
liners can be added between the fabric and cushion to provide a barrier that slows the spread of heat and flame from the fabric to the cushion
what are the three performance criteria for selecting foam cushions
density
indentation load deflection- higher rating = firmer foam. 50+ is very firm. 25 or less = soft
support ratio
what is the vertical ignition test
NFPA 701
two ways of tresting the flammability of window treatments
what is the cigarette ignition resistance test of furniture components
NFPA 260
tests the resistance of upholstered furniture components separatly to flame and cigarette ignition
what is the cigarette ignition resetance test of furniture composites
tests the resistance of a seat cuchion mockup to a lighted cigarette
what is the full seating test
evaluates the effect of an open flame on an actual sample of a chair or furniture
what is the Wyzenbeek abrasion resistance test
ASTM D4157
determines the abrasion resistance of woven textile fabrics
what is the Taber abraser test
ASTM D3884
determines the abrasion resistance of textiles, most commonly carpet
what is the martindale abrasion test
ASTM D4966
determines the abrasion resistance of textile fabrics, general with a pile depth of less than 0.08”. similar to Wyzenbeek test
what is the Fade-ometer test
AATCC 16 (associate of textile chemists and colourits)
colourfastness under lighte xposure of textile materials using 6 test options
what is the Crocking resistance test
AASTCC 8
determines the resistance of a colored textile to transfer it’s colour from it’s surface to other surfaces by rubbing
what is the Tearing strength thest, tongue method
ASTM D2261
measures the tearing resistance of fabrics after an initial cut has been made in the fabric
