DOWN & FEATHER TESTING
Testing Tolerances (Variability of Results)
Label Tolerances vs. Testing Tolerances (Variability of Results)
Labeling standards very often have a “label tolerance”. For example, a product labeled “GOOSE DOWN” in the USA has a tolerance of 90% minimum goose. In Europe a “GOOSE DOWN” product has a tolerance of 70% minimum goose.
Testing Tolerance is something very different. The testing tolerance is the expected variability betweeen results of different samples for the same lot (or) the expected variability for different labs testing the same sample.
Because down is a natural product the testing tolerances are larger than other products.
- Content
- The International Down & Feather Bureau (IDFB) allows a ± 2-3% testing tolerance when certifying laboratories around the world. This means that if a sample is actually 80% down laboratories that test 78% down or 82% down would be in this acceptable testing range.
- Species ID
- IDFB has agreed to a ±5% testing tolerance for Species tests. In some cases, where the mix is 50/50 the testing tolerance can be greater.
- Oxygen #
- This test gives fairly consistent results. A difference of one unit (1.6) is reasonable.
- Turbidity
- IDFL believes normal samples have a testing tolerance of ± 5%. Dirty samples may have a higher testing tolerance.
- Fill Power
- A 5% testing tolerance is reasonable if conditioning methods and climate conditions are identical. Tumble Dry conditioning is now required for IDFB testing. For some finished products tumble dry, water rinse or steam conditioning might be required.
- Net Fill Wt.
- The process of filling a pillow, comforter or jacket has a variability of around 5%.
Net fill testing tolerances are affected by humidity. If a piece is filled in a humid climate and tested in a dry climate, the weight of the filling material can be lower. For example, if a comforter is filled with 1000 grams of material at a plant with 90% humidity the moisture content of the fill material might be 18%. (This means that 180 grams is moisture) Then the comforter is tested in a 65% humidity lab conditions. The moisture content of the down drops to 12% and 60 grams of moisture evaporate. Now the down weighs only 940 grams. - Threadcount
- Varies by company — a common tolerance is ± 5%.
- Fabric Tests
- The USA FTC has set a ±3% tolerance for fiber content, etc of various claims on fabrics.
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