Time and time again, after bitter experiences flirting with traditional woven fabrics,

 specifiers return to vinyl for the commercial environment. Vinyl is economic, durable but above all hygenic and easy to clean. Add these intrinsic benefits to the colours, patterns and soft textures that are now available through modern technology and you get the best of both possible worlds. Performance and funtionality with good looks.

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For decades woven fabrics have been used in various upholstery applications.

 The attraction to use woven fabrics has been driven by comfort and design, however it does come with some disadvantages. Woven fabrics generally stain easily and provide an environment for bacteria to grow. This bacteria can also spread into the upholstery filling promoting growth that cannot be removed with a simple maintenance program. Ultima is manufactured with an exceptionally resilient fibre that can be cleaned without discolouration or harm to the integrity of the material. Such is the resilience of the fibre that it can be cleaned with a mix of bleach and water. Furthermore it has an impervious ‘fluid barrier’ that protects the filling of the chair whilst still providing a breathable finish for enhanced comfort. Ultima fabric is a pioneer using new technology, providing a perfect upholstery solution for commercial furniture.

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The comfort of a chair depends markedly on the quality of the unseen filling material

 – polyester/urethane foam and polyester wadding. In both materials, the key factor determining quality is density. In general, the higher the density, the greater the resilience (“bounce”), durability and degree of support. In foam, comfort is also affected by hardness, measured by the force in newtons required to attain a 40% deflection. The choice of the appropriate material depends on the application, but for upholstery seats a high resilient foam of density 31kg/m3 and hardness 190 (i.e. N31-190) is recommended by the manufacturer. For seat backs, a lighter density and hardness (N23-130) is suitable. There is some variation between states due to differences in production output, but these generally are the grades stocked by Nolan.UDA.

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Adhesives and related solvents are widely and safely used in upholstery, trimming

 and carpet laying. However, these can be classified as ‘hazardous’ according to the criteria of the National Health and Occupation of Safety Commission (NOHSC) of Australia. It is therefore essential that any risk associated with the use of these functional products is minimised by religiously following the instructions for use, storage and disposal that are printed on every container. In summary, the key points to remember are:-

• Avoid inhalation of fumes, and direct contact of glue with skin and eyes.
• Use only in a well ventilated space; having first eliminated any potential source of ignition.
• Store in a cool, fire isolated space; and dispose of empty containers in accordance with the law and environmental sensitivity.

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