Quality Assurance Testing

When shopping for leather furniture, ask if the leather you are considering purchasing has passed these tests:

Light Resistance — A laboratory devise is used to test the ability of the leather to resist fading. Of course, no furniture covering should be exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time.

Dry and Wet Crocking — A piece of furniture-quality leather should be able to stand up to normal use without crocking (fading). The crocking properties are tested in a machine in which a piece of felt is rubbed back and forth against the leather many times. The leather and the piece of felt are then checked to insure that the felt has not been discolored and the leather not damaged. This method of checking dry and wet crocking is internationally recognized.

Finish Adhesion and Flexibility — This test mechanically flexes the leather thousands of times to check for cracking or splitting. The test is comparable to the years of wear and tear the piece of leather will endure. The adhesion of the finish to the leather is measured by means of a piece of metal which is stuck to the leather and then pulled loose. The force necessary to pull the metal loose measures the adhesion of the finish.

Tear Strength — The natural fiber structure of the leather makes it highly tear resistant. This strength is checked in order to make sure that the leather can stand the kinds of stress in the seams, for example, that it will be subjected to through years of use.

Flammability -- It is becoming more and more important to produce upholstery materials that are as fire-resistant as possible. Leather is naturally fire retardant, but quality leather producers still test their leather to make sure it meets rigid state requirements.

Abrasion — The leather is tested for wear through a machine process that is designed to rub the leather in the way that a consumer would do it over years of use at home.

Leather Depot has sought out reputable manufacturers whose specifications exceed any minimum standards in these tests.

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