BS 7959 Materials Used in Liquid Spill Control

The “BS 7959-1 Materials used in the control of liquid spills” standard, developed by the British Standards Institute (BSI), consists of the following sub-sections published under the same title:

The standard “BS 7959-1 Part 1: Determination of Absorbency” is classified into the following ICS categories:
- Pollution, pollution control and protection.
- Other products of the chemical industry
- Other equipment for the oil and natural gas industries.

This standard describes methods for determining the sampling and absorbency properties of materials used for liquid spill control. Various materials with different compositions and formats are used in this application, and for the purposes of this standard, the following categories are employed.

Type I Mesh sheet, pad or roll
Type II Loose material, discrete particles of varying size.
Type III filled products, socks, barriers, pillows, cushions
Type IV agglomerates are fibrous masses used for the collection of viscous liquids.

The methods are applicable to all types of absorbent materials.

This standard also includes a test (swelling rate test) to distinguish between absorbent and adsorbent materials.

The BS 7959-1 standard outlines the requirements and test methods for coated fabrics used in automotive interior upholstery applications, particularly regarding abrasion resistance. It is widely referenced in the automotive industry for evaluating the durability and abrasion performance of materials such as synthetic leather, vinyl, and coated textiles.

The primary purpose of this standard is to ensure that interior materials used in vehicles can withstand mechanical wear over time. Interior surfaces such as seats, door panels, armrests, and instrument panels are subjected to repeated friction from passengers, clothing, and daily use. This standard provides a controlled method to simulate this type of wear and evaluate material performance.

The BS 7959-1 standard applies to the following:

Coated fabrics (e.g., PVC, PU coated textiles)
Synthetic leather materials
Interior trim components in vehicles

Typical applications include:

Seat covers
Door trim panels
Center consoles
Headrests and armrests

This standard describes a laboratory wear test:

The test specimen is subjected to repeated friction using a specified abrasive medium.
The number of cycles is checked and monitored.
The material is evaluated in terms of surface damage, such as the following:
- Color loss
- Coating wear
- Surface roughness
- Structural deterioration

The results help determine the material's wear resistance level.

The key parameters measured are as follows:

Wear resistance (number of failure cycles)
Visual appearance after testing.
Coating integrity
Color stability

In conclusion, the BS 7959-1 standard plays a critical role in ensuring the quality, durability, and reliability of automotive interior materials. By providing a standardized approach to wear testing, it helps manufacturers produce interiors that remain visually appealing and structurally sound throughout the life of the vehicle.

The standard “BS 7959-2 Part 2: Determination of the water repellency or buoyancy of hydrophobic (oil-absorbing) materials” describes additional methods for evaluating the abrasion and surface durability of coated fabrics, particularly those used in automotive interior applications. This standard complements BS 7959-1. While BS 7959-1 focuses on the primary abrasion method, this standard offers alternative or more specific procedures to better simulate real-life abrasion conditions.

This standard is designed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of material performance, particularly in the following situations:

When different wear mechanisms occur
When materials have unique coatings or textures
When more realistic or challenging test conditions are needed

This ensures that coated fabrics not only meet basic abrasion resistance requirements but also perform well against various mechanical stresses.

The BS 7959-2 standard applies to the following:

Coated textiles (PVC, PU and similar materials)
Synthetic leather
Multilayered interior flooring materials

Typical automotive uses include:

Seat upholstery (especially high-contact areas)
Door interior trims
Steering wheel covers
Armrests and console surfaces

This standard describes alternative wear or tear simulation techniques, including:

Different abrasive materials (e.g., harder or more realistic surfaces)
Modified pressure and load conditions
Variable motion patterns (e.g., multidirectional friction instead of linear friction)
Environmental factors (for example, humidity or temperature in some cases)

The test evaluates how the material behaves under more complex and realistic usage scenarios compared to standard wear tests.

Materials tested under this standard are evaluated in the following respects:

Resistance to surface abrasion
Coating adhesion after wear
Visual deterioration (scratches, loss of shine, cracks)
Color change or fading
Preservation of surface texture.

In conclusion, the BS 7959-2 standard is a key part of the BS 7959 series, providing advanced test methodologies for coated fabric durability. This allows automotive manufacturers to evaluate materials under more realistic and challenging conditions, ensuring that vehicle interiors remain durable, functional, and visually appealing throughout their lifespan.

The “BS 7959-3 Part 3: Color coding of absorbent materials” standard focuses on advanced durability and surface performance testing of coated fabrics, particularly for automotive interior applications. While the first two parts primarily address abrasion resistance, this standard extends the assessment to more complex abrasion mechanisms and surface damage behaviors such as scratching, friction, and long-term aesthetic deterioration.

The primary aim of this standard is to evaluate how coated materials respond to real-world mechanical damage beyond simple abrasion. Automotive interiors are exposed not only to friction but also to:

Sharp or localized forces (keys, zippers, buttons)
Repeated friction
Pressure-induced deformation

This standard helps to simulate such conditions and evaluate material strength and surface integrity. This standard applies to:

Coated textiles (PVC, PU)
Artificial leather materials
Multilayered decorative interior surfaces

Typical applications in vehicles include:

Seat side supports (high wear areas)
Door panels and trim
Instrument panel trims
Center console surfaces

This standard offers specialized mechanical tests that go beyond traditional wear testing. For example,

Scratch resistance test: A specific pencil or pointed object is moved across the surface under controlled force.
Friction resistance test: Repeated contact with a rough or hard surface simulates the impact of a shoe or object.
Local pressure or indentation tests: Evaluate how coatings behave under intense loads.

During and after testing, the material is examined from the following perspectives:

No visible scratches or marks.
Cracks or peeling in the coating
Permanent deformation
Loss of shine or texture

The BS 7959-3 standard focuses on the following points:

Scratch visibility and depth
Resistance to surface marks
Coating adhesion after damage
Aesthetic durability (preservation of appearance)
Surface improvement (elastic behavior if applicable)

In conclusion, the BS 7959-3 standard plays a crucial role in evaluating the resistance of coated fabrics to scratching, abrasion, and localized damage. By addressing real-world mechanical impacts, it complements previous sections of this standard and ensures that automotive interiors remain durable, attractive, and high-quality throughout their lifespan.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services compliant with the BS 7959 standard.