Durability rating chart
| Double rubs | Grade | Appropriate use |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 - 25,000 | Residential | Homes only |
| 30,000 - 50,000 | General contract | Private offices, low-traffic rooms |
| 50,000 - 100,000 | Heavy duty | Hotel guest rooms, meeting rooms |
| 100,000 - 150,000 | Heavy duty commercial | Restaurants, lobbies, waiting areas |
| 150,000 - 250,000+ | Extreme duty | Bars, casinos, healthcare, 24/7 spaces |
Abrasion is necessary but not sufficient: a commercial upholstery spec should also state flame resistance (CAL 117), cleanability (bleach-cleanable for healthcare and food service), and lightfastness for sunny rooms. Vinyl and polyurethane carry most extreme-duty settings because they combine high double rubs with wipe-down cleaning. More on fabric choices in the commercial upholstery fabric guide and vinyl vs fabric.
Common questions
What is a double rub count?
Double rubs measure a fabric's abrasion resistance under the Wyzenbeek test, one back-and-forth pass of a testing machine counts as one double rub. The higher the count, the longer the fabric survives real seating use.
What double rub count do I need for commercial use?
General contract use starts at 30,000 double rubs, heavy-duty commercial (restaurants, hotel lobbies) at 100,000, and extreme settings like bars, casinos, and healthcare at 150,000 to 250,000+. Residential fabrics at 15,000 to 25,000 do not belong in any commercial room.
Is 100,000 double rubs good?
Yes, 100,000 double rubs is the working benchmark for heavy commercial upholstery and is what most hospitality briefs specify for dining and lobby seating. It is overkill for a private office and the minimum for a busy restaurant.
What is the difference between Wyzenbeek and Martindale?
They are two different abrasion tests: Wyzenbeek (double rubs) is the North American standard, Martindale (cycles) the European one. There is no exact conversion, but 30,000 double rubs roughly corresponds to 40,000 Martindale cycles and heavy-duty specs run 100,000+ in either system.
Specifying upholstered seating?
Browse upholstered chairs and booth seating; tell us the setting and we will match the fabric grade in the quote.
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