FAQ’s

FAQ’s : Outdoor Textile Testing

ACT does not have testing standards for outdoor textile. Testing methods mentioned below are most commonly used in the United States for testing outdoor fabrics for the interior design and architecture industries.

What are the Antibacterial and Antifungal Tests?

The AATCC TM 147-2004 (Antibacterial Assessment) Test evaluates the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC #6538). It is a qualitative pass/fail test based on visual aberrations of growth using the naked eye as well as microscopes.

The AATCC TM 100-2004 (Quantitative Antibacterial Assessment) Test also evaluates the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC #6538). This is a quantitative pass/fail test that aids in determining the degree of antimicrobial activity using a numeric value.

The AATCC TM 30-2004 (Antifungal Assessment) Test is a pass/fail test regarding the presence of the fungus Aspergillus Niger (ATCC #6275).

What are the Outdoor Light Fastness Tests?
Outdoor light fastness tests include the AATCC TM169 Option 1, the AATCC TM169 Option 4, and the AATCC TM 16 option 3.

Both versions of the AATCC TM169 test measure the weather resistance of textiles using Xenon lamp exposure. This test uses light and water to simulate condensation. After exposure, the change of the textile is measured on a scale of 1 (Severe Change) to 5 (No Effect).
The AATCC TM 16 Option 3 Test uses light only to measure colorfastness to light. It also uses a Xenon lamp.

More on ACT colorfastness fabric tests.