Vinyl and Upholstery
This page is your guide to the materials used in our products. It outlines the vinyl, fabric, and upholstery options we offer, how they perform in commercial environments, and how to select the right material for your application. In commercial furniture, material choice not only about appearance but about performance.
Wyzeenbeek Abrasion Testing (Double Rubs)
The Wyzenbeek test is the industry standard for measuring how well upholstery materials withstand wear. It simulates the back-and-forth motion of real use by rubbing a cotton duck fabric against the material until visible breakdown occurs. Each pass counts as a double rub.
The higher the double-rub rating, the more abrasion the material can tolerate.
In commercial seating:
- 30,000 double rubs is the baseline for light commercial use
- 50,000 double rubs is considered heavy-duty
- 100,000 double rubs is appropriate for high-traffic environments
All of the vinyls and fabrics that we use have a minimum of 100,000 double rubs, with some rated as high as 1.8 million double rubs.
Vinyl vs. Fabric Guidelines
Not all upholstery belongs everywhere. Different surfaces experience different types of wear, so materials should be selected based on how each area is used.
Vinyl is recommended for seat surfaces and other horizontal areas because they see the highest abrasion, the most direct contact with food and spills, and the most frequent cleaning. Commercial-grade vinyl resists moisture, stains, and bacteria and prevents liquids from penetrating the cushion core.
Fabric is best suited for back sections, where there is less abrasion and little exposure to food or liquids, and where texture and softness have the greatest visual and comfort impact.
This mixed-material approach of vinyl on seats, fabric on backs allows you to maximize durability while achieving a more refined appearance.
