SES N 3248 Interior Upholstery Abrasion Resistance

Developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation as part of its interior materials/textile standards, the “SES N 3248 Interior Upholstery Abrasion Resistance” standard is a test standard that evaluates the abrasion resistance of interior upholstery materials (such as seat fabric, door panels, and headliner) used in the automotive industry.

In the automotive industry, interior upholstery abrasion resistance refers to the ability of interior materials (such as seat fabrics, door panels, armrests, carpets, and headliners) to withstand wear and tear from repeated friction, abrasion, and contact during normal vehicle use.

The surfaces inside the vehicle are in constant contact in the following ways:

People sit down and stand up.
Clothes rub against each other.
Hands, elbows, and feet make contact.

Over time, these contacts lead to the following:

The fabric thins out.
Color fading
The surface becoming hairy or rough

Abrasion resistance refers to how resistant a material is to such wear and tear. In other words, abrasion resistance expresses how well a material can withstand surface degradation (wear, thinning, discoloration) from friction, repeated contact, and mechanical effects during use.

Interior upholstery wear resistance is important in the automotive industry for the following reasons:

Long lifespan: Ensures interior upholstery stays looking new for years.
Visual quality: Worn surfaces degrade the vehicle's overall appearance.
User experience: Worn seats or upholstery reduce comfort.
Brand perception: Durable interiors create a perception of high quality.

This property is tested in a laboratory. In principle, the material surface is rubbed with a certain force. This is repeated thousands of times. At the end of the test, the following criteria are examined:

Surface damage
color change
Ligament rupture

The following test methods are generally used to determine the wear resistance of interior upholstery:

Martindale wear test
Taber wear test

In these tests, friction is applied to the sample surface under a specific pressure. Evaluation is performed after a certain number of cycles. The criteria evaluated are as follows:

Surface deformation
Fiber rupture or thinning
color change
Coating damage

In short, interior upholstery wear resistance refers to the durability of vehicle interior materials against friction caused by daily use.

Many parts inside the vehicle are constantly exposed to contact and friction:

Seat fabrics (sitting and standing movement)
Door interior panels (elbow contact)
Armrest surfaces
Carpets and upholstery (foot contact)

The SES N 3248 standard is applied to define the following properties of these materials:

How it performs in long-term use.
How durable it is visually and mechanically

This standard is usually considered in conjunction with the following standards:

SES N 3244 Fabric durability
SES N 3246 Carpet and mat quality.
SES N 3247 Seam Strength

The reason why the SES N 3248 standard is mandatory in the automotive industry is directly related to vehicle quality, durability, and customer satisfaction. This standard is considered important for the following reasons:

To simulate real-world usage conditions: Materials inside the vehicle are constantly subjected to sitting and standing, friction (from clothing, bags, belts), and daily contact. This standard verifies the material's durability by pre-testing these effects in a laboratory.
To prevent premature wear: In the absence of this standard,
The seats wear out quickly.
Fabrics become thin or tear.
Color fading occurs.

This standard eliminates these risks before mass production.

To maintain the perception of vehicle quality: Worn seats create a low-quality image for the customer. Deformed upholstery leads to a loss of brand trust. This standard ensures the vehicle retains its new appearance for a long time.
To reduce costs and extend warranty coverage: Non-durable materials require replacement under warranty, thus creating additional costs for the manufacturer. This standard ensures the selection of long-lasting materials, thereby reducing costs.
To meet original equipment manufacturer quality requirements: Major automotive manufacturers,
It requests specific tests from suppliers.
It specifies minimum wear resistance levels.

The SES N 3248 standard is used to meet these requirements.

For compatibility with other performance tests: Wear resistance alone is not sufficient; it is evaluated in conjunction with the following standards:
SES N 3244 Fabric durability requirements
SES N 3246 Carpet and mat quality assessment
SES N 3247 Textile seam strength and fatigue tests

This creates a complete quality control system.

In short, SES N 3248 is required because,

It guarantees the material will withstand actual use.
Prevents premature deformation.
The vehicle maintains the perception of interior quality.
It reduces costs and warranty risks.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced team, 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 SES N 3248 standard.