A textiles laboratory scientist tests fibreguard fabrics for stains in labotex 3

From Belgium to the World: How Labotex Certifies Fabric Quality and Safety


TLDR: This post pulls back the curtain on the essential, unseen world of textile testing. We introduce Labotex, an independent, ISO-accredited laboratory.

Contents

Labotex: The Secret Ingredient Behind Your Favourite Fabrics

What’s the first thing that your customer thinks about when they’re choosing sofa fabrics?

Maybe it’s the hundreds of unseen tests that go into making them?

Probably not.

Most of their focus is on the colour and how it feels beneath their fingertips: and so it should be. Why consider how high-quality fabrics are created, if you don't need to?

This changes then obviously when you’re making an investment in furniture, on the hunt for well-made pieces that will last and stay attractive over time. How can you know if that gorgeous velvet will pill in a year, or if it can survive the spills and thrills (and stains) of everyday life?

This is where independent laboratories come in: allow us to introduce Labotex.

Welcome to Labotex, an independent, ISO 17025-accredited textiles laboratory

Based in Belgium, Labotex ensures that fabric products like FibreGuard and FR-One meet strict international standards for colourfastness, pilling, and flammability.

They developed the extra FibreGuard-specific cleaning tests that make our fabrics known throughout the world for their soft hand-feel and impressive performance credentials.

Why does Labotex need to be ISO 17025-accredited in the first place?

People ask why we need accredited labs.

This certificate basically means that an independent, third-party organisation has thoroughly checked the lab's competence.

A PubMed article on the benefits of accreditation explains it perfectly:

“Accreditation is a good way to demonstrate competence of the laboratory. It’s a tool to recognise laboratories world-wide and is linked to periodical audits that stimulate the lab to keep and improve their quality. All of this leads to high standard of services for clients.” -- Read the full analysis in PubMed Central at PMC7686690.

The ‘gold standard’ accreditation for laboratories worldwide is ISO 17025, confirmed by In Compliance Magazine. It’s an international standard for technical competence and quality management in testing and calibration.

So ...how does it work?

How Can a Textiles Lab Like Labotex Get an ISO 17025 Accreditation?

To become ISO 17025 accredited, labs like Labotex follow a clear process. This process is designed to demonstrate their skills and consistent performance in testing and calibration. Labotex is committed to continuous improvement, always finding ways to be even 1% better.

Here's a simplified step-by-step overview of the ISO 17025 application process:

Application: The lab applies to a recognised accreditation body (e.g., BELAC in Belgium).

There’s a good deal of paperwork to do first, of course. Read about that in more detail in the ISO 17025 Documentation: A Comprehensive Guide at the Knowledge Academy

Adequacy Audit: The accreditation body reviews documentation like the lab’s quality manual, internal audits, and participation in proficiency testing.

Pre-Assessment: Auditors visit Labotex to evaluate infrastructure, equipment, staff competence, and quality systems.

Final Assessment: Auditors assess both the quality management system and technical procedures, including witnessing actual tests.

Non-Conformance Closure: Any issues found must be resolved with corrective actions.

Accreditation Decision: If all requirements are met, the lab receives ISO 17025 accreditation. [textileexplainer.com]. Labotex, for example, was accredited by the Belgian Accreditation Body (BELAC).

What next?

Once a textiles lab receives this certification, it’s valid for five years. There are three review points every 15 months during this time to ensure that standards are met.

If something does not meet the standards, the lab is given the opportunity to fix it. They also must explain how they are addressing the issue and why it did not meet the standard initially.

ISO/IEC 17025 enables laboratories to demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world. -- the ISO on Testing and Calibration: Laboratories

⬇️ Keep scrolling for an FAQ on Labotex, fibre type and textiles testing ⬇️

What Does ISO 17025 Accreditation Mean for Brands Like FibreGuard?

For brands like FibreGuard, working with an ISO 17025-accredited lab like Labotex offers several advantages:

  • Trust & Credibility: It assures that testing is performed with high accuracy and impartiality.
  • Global Recognition: Results from accredited labs are accepted internationally, which is crucial for global brands. As ChiuVention points out: in an increasingly globalised world, many brands now demand that their suppliers to get international certifications. This includes the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, The Organic Content Standard and the Global Recycled Standard.
  • Quality Assurance: It confirms that the lab follows rigorous procedures, helping brands meet performance and safety standards.

How does Labotex guarantee accurate test results for FibreGuard?

Labotex makes sure its test results are accurate by using careful precision in its processes. This involves keeping a controlled environment and using skilled workers who are trained to follow set protocols and best practices:

Climate Control:

The results of many textile tests, like strength and shrinkage, are sensitive to the surrounding environment. Labotex operates in climate-controlled rooms to monitor temperature and humidity, eliminating outside variables.

Expert Technicians:

The human element is just as critical as the machinery. Not all lab technicians can perform every test, but the goal is to enhance their skills until everyone is qualified. Learners compare their results with experts until they achieve competency.

This ensures the tester is an expert in the required methods and calibration for reliable data.

On top of this, at regular intervals, all textiles laboratories certified by the same organisation conduct the same tests. They send their results anonymously for external review, ensuring that all laboratories maintain a consistent standard.

What are FibreGuard’s proprietary stain-removal tests?

Together with Labotex, we've created special stain-removal tests just for FibreGuard. This process tests the fabric with different types of stains in various conditions, including stain-on-stain.

Here’s the FibreGuard stain removal testing process:

Each fabric is tested against 19 stains across four stages:

  1. Stage 1 – Fresh stains: Stains are applied and removed immediately using water and soap. This gives technicians a baseline for how the fabric responds to fresh spills.
  2. Stage 2 – Set stains (24 hours): The same 19 stains are applied and left to sink in for 24 hours before cleaning. This step evaluates how well the fabric can handle stains that have had time to set, simulating real-life scenarios where spills can’t always be cleaned up immediately.
  3. Stage 3 – After one wash: The fabric goes through a full wash and dry cycle. The 19 stains are then reapplied and removed immediately with water and soap. This allows for an assessment of the fabric's stain resistance after it has been laundered.
  4. Stage 4 – After ten washes: After ten complete wash and dry cycles, the stains are applied and removed once more. This rigorous testing ensures that the fabric maintains its stain resistance even after repeated use and cleaning, demonstrating FibreGuard's commitment to quality and durability.

Interested in diving deeper? Here is the full list of stains we run tests on with Labotex for; some of them might surprise you!

The Beauty of a Fabric That Performs

When you choose a FibreGuard fabric, you are choosing a product that’s been put through serious trials and tribulations by Labotex. This link between textile design and scientific testing forms the basis of the FibreGuard promise: beauty, safety, durability, and easy cleaning.

So, the next time you’re shopping for textiles, remember that the true quality is hidden beneath the surface. Do your research and find certifications and accreditations that can ensure what you’re buying is legit.

It’s the easiest way to ensure your investment will last the test of time. Learn more about Labotex.

Key takeaways from this article

  1. Labotex is a Belgian ISO-accredited lab testing textiles and developing cleaning tests for FibreGuard fabrics. This high-quality fabric depends on numerous rigorous mechanical textile tests.
  2. ISO 17025 is the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. Receiving ISO 17025 accreditation means an independent, third-party organisation has thoroughly checked the lab's technical competence, impartiality, and consistency.
  3. Labotex guarantees test accuracy by using climate-controlled rooms and requiring individual accreditation for each technician on specific tests.
  4. FibreGuard backs its high-performance claims with fabrics tested by ISO-accredited labs such as Labotex. This ensures beauty, safety, durability, and easy cleanability.

⬇️ Keep scrolling for an FAQ on Labotex, fibre type and textiles testing ⬇️

FAQ: Labotex, fibre type and textiles testing

Q: Why is ISO/IEC 17025 important?

This standard is vital for laboratories as it enhances the credibility of their testing and calibration work, fostering trust among clients and regulatory authorities. According to SafetyCulture, compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 demonstrates a laboratory's commitment to quality, technical proficiency, and scientific rigor.

Q: Why are stains hard to clean from blended fabrics?

Stains are hard to clean from blended fabrics due to the differences in how synthetic and natural fibres behave, according to a paper titled Does Use Matter? Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Clothing Based on Fiber Type.

The fibres in a blend often have different absorbency rates and chemical resistance. A stain might be absorbed into the natural fibres while sticking to the synthetic components at the same time. These differing characteristics can greatly increase the challenge of cleaning the fabric properly.

Our FibreGuard fabrics, regardless of compositions, are tested, stain after stain, wash after wash, for their stain free technology performance. They’re easy to clean no matter what kinds of fibres they’re made from.

Q: What is Labotex?

Labotex is an independent laboratory that tests and analyses soft furnishing and decorative fabrics. Services include testing for colour fastness to light, water, and rubbing, as well as compliance with fire resistance standards such as the European EN 13773 and British BS 5867-2. Find contact information on their website: (Labo-tex.com)

Q: What kinds of stains can you clean from FibreGuard fabrics?

FibreGuard fabrics are tested against common household stains in both in-house and independent labs to ensure durability and cleanability over time.

There are three broad categories of stains that we test for removal: oily/greasy stains, gloopy stains and liquid stains. This is a broad spectrum, and it goes way beyond obvious stains like coffee, fruit juice or red wine.

We’re running the full range from mayonnaise and tanning lotion to mascara and chocolate, to even biological materials like blood or sweat.

Check out our fabric standards page for the list of stains FibreGuard fabrics are tested and proven to resist; some of them might surprise you!

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