If the fabrics for domestic use must pass a series of tests that guarantee the quality for the use that will be given to them, the Contract division is much more demanding, having to comply with strict regulations that vary according to the country to which the product will be sold.
Tejidos Aquaclean in the NH Bayrén Hotel in Gandia Beach (Spain)Contract fabrics are used in places with a high traffic of people who use them. Hotels, restaurants, hospitals or airports are places that demand superior quality when choosing a fabric to upholster armchairs, chairs, walls or curtains.the most important tests that must pass this type of fabrics aimed at spaces with a high concurrence, begin with the legislation on flame retardants. That is to say, the regulations stipulate that all fabrics intended for the Contract sector must meet a series of characteristics that make them ideal for this type of spaces without danger to cigarettes, lighters or matches.
The aim of this type of test is to determine and evaluate, trying to reproduce as closely as possible, the real conditions of use, the behavior of the fabric in the event of fire to ensure the safety of users in the event of a fire. Among the most important parameters to know its behavior in this element, we highlight flammability or ease of ignition, flame propagation, droplet or particle release, heat emission and smoke production, as well as passing a certain number of cycles in the Martindale test. That is, Contract-specific fabrics must meet a strength standard that measures wear resistance, which is performed by subjecting the fabric to an abrasion process measured in cycles. The minimum number of cycles required in the Contract sector must be 30,000. The higher this value, the greater the resistance to wear, and therefore the better for use in this type of spaces with continuous and regular use. 
Aquaclean fabrics at JUST CO in Singapore (Republic of Singapore)But Contract fabrics play in the first division, and therefore, in addition to the tests we have just mentioned, and to guarantee the quality of their use, these fabrics must undergo other tests to measure wear, loss of mass or to evaluate the change in the appearance of the fabric.it should also be noted that fabrics intended for Contract are, for the most part, antibacterial, preventing the proliferation of mites and fungi that can harm their users.
Aquaclean fabrics in the Hotel Barrière in Cannes (France)As we have already mentioned, the regulations governing the Contract legislation in force in each country for the manufacture of fabrics, both for horizontal and vertical decoration, are different. Despite this handicap, many times the effort that companies make to achieve it, is highly rewarded when the fabrics are a success, both nationally and internationally.
