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The Role of Durable Coated Fabrics in Healthcare Design

Creating functional and visually appealing healthcare spaces requires materials that can withstand rigorous use without compromising aesthetics. For healthcare specifiers, architects, furniture manufacturers, and interior designers, durable coated fabrics are essential to achieving health design standards that prioritize hygiene, performance, and comfort. These materials do more than meet visual criteria. They solve critical challenges in healthcare environments while fostering safer, more efficient spaces.

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Learn How to Balance Aesthetics and Function in Healthcare Spaces

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In this informative whitepaper, you'll uncover strategies for creating smarter, safer, and more beautiful healthcare environments. This comprehensive guide demonstrates how CFFA-HC-201 Certified Fabrics allow you to design without compromise, combining durability, hygiene, and style to meet the demands of modern healthcare interior design.

Whether you're focused on selecting materials that reduce product failures or elevating patient experiences through design, this whitepaper is an essential resource. Gain actionable insights to make informed decisions and achieve lasting success in your projects.

CFFA Healthcare Standard Certification Program

The CFFA-HC-201 Certification Program supports the selection of coated fabrics tailored for healthcare interior design. Administered by the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association (CFFA), this self-certification program certifies fabrics that meet the CFFA-HC-201 Minimum Performance Standards. These standards are specifically designed for vinyl-coated and other chemical-coated upholstery fabrics used in demanding healthcare environments.

Coated fabric products undergo testing against 16 performance metrics, including resistance to stains, disinfectants, and wear. By adhering to these standards, the certification program provides healthcare designers with clear, reliable indicators for selecting materials, helping reduce product failures and extend the life of healthcare furniture.

Manufacturers and distributors who participate in the program can license the certification mark, showcasing their commitment to quality. This program equips professionals with the confidence to select materials that enhance healthcare facilities, without sacrificing durability or style.

Benefits of CFFA-HC-201 Certified Products

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Durability

Certified fabrics endure the constant wear and tear of high-traffic healthcare settings, reducing replacement needs.

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Disinfectant Tolerance

Designed to handle exposure to harsh cleaning agents, certified fabrics maintain their integrity, supporting infection control.

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Easy Maintenance

Their stain-resistant properties simplify cleaning, promoting professional and inviting spaces.

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Style Versatility

Available in a variety of colors, textures, and finishes, they meet both aesthetic and functional requirements for healthcare design.

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Regulatory Compliance

Certified coated fabrics align with healthcare-specific safety standards, such as flame retardancy, offering added peace of mind for reliable performance.

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Cost Efficiency

Long-lasting performance translates into lower replacement costs and better value for healthcare projects.

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CFFA-HC-201 Certified Products

Get the full list of products that have earned CFFA-HC-201 certification.

Certifying Products, Licensing, and Using the Mark

The CFFA-HC-201 Certification Program is a valuable tool for manufacturers and distributors looking to certify materials or private-label previously certified products. Products must be tested by an accredited lab to meet minimum performance requirements. Once approved, a licensing fee grants the right to use the certification mark, offering a trusted signal to specifiers and designers.

For distributors or furniture manufacturers who work with pre-certified products, a royalty-free license is available to promote these materials within your marketing collateral. With proper guidelines, the certification mark builds confidence in your offerings and positions them as reliable solutions for healthcare interior design.

For more details on certifying products, private labeling, and utilizing the certification mark, contact us at cffa@chemicalfabricsandfilm.com.

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Additional Resources

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CFFA-HC-201 Healthcare Standard

Review the performance criteria that coated fabrics must meet, through CFFA Standard Test Methods, to be used as upholstery materials in indoor healthcare settings.

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Design Without Compromise Flyer

Download this quick reference guide to coated fabrics in healthcare design.

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Procedural Guidelines for CFFA-HC-201 Certification

See the requirements participants must follow to certify and license vinyl and chemical-coated fabrics for healthcare settings.

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Certification Summary

Learn how to become certified in the Certification Summary.

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Standard Test Methods Pamphlet

Explore all the test methods used by the industry to determine the physical properties of chemical coated fabrics, to facilitate quality control and to ensure satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Procedural Guidelines Questions

You may contact CFFA with any questions at cffa@chemicalfabricsandfilm.com. Participants must comply with all procedures in these Guidelines. Certifying participants and private-label licensees may be asked to submit lab results from an accredited lab (see Section 1 of the Procedural Guidelines) confirming products/patterns meet the CFFA-HC-201 Standard.

These Guidelines have been incorporated into the license agreement by reference. Failure to adhere to these Guidelines may constitute a breach of the license agreement. Breaches of the license agreement may result in the revocation of your license to use the Mark, or in some cases, legal action.

Please see Section 5 of the Procedural Guidelines for the Challenge process.

While the program is a self-certification, a company without its own accredited laboratory* may hire a third-party to do the testing. CFFA requires the certification form be filled out and signed which states that the product/pattern passes all tests within the standard. A company may "challenge" a product/pattern if they do not believe it meets the standard. See section 5 of the Procedural Guidelines.

A Product must meet the minimum performance requirements of the CFFA-HC-201 standard, which are the 16 test methods identified within the standard.

A product/pattern cannot be certified if any of the test methods fail (so no payment for licensing would have been required). It should only be submitted for certification after it has met the minimum performance requirements of the CFFA-HC-201 standard.

A product/pattern should not be submitted for certification if it does not meet the minimum performance requirements of CFFA-HC-201 (all test methods). The product/pattern cannot be certified; it must meet the standard, inclusive of all test methods within the standard. A product/pattern could be submitted once tests are re-run and it meets all requirements, or when changes are made to the product construction or formulation in order for it to pass.

In the textile industry, the term is Substrate or fabric backing, not backcloth. A change is not only a change of pattern, but a change in Construction. It could then be resubmitted for certification if once the substrate is changed it meets all the performance requirements of CFFA-HC-201.

No, this is a self-certification program. A company would have to use their own accredited laboratory or hire a third-party accredited test facility.

* An accredited lab is one that has been accredited to ISO 17025 or IATF 16949 and whose accreditation is in effect when the required tests are made and reported. In performing the required tests, an accredited lab must adhere to CFFA's standard conditions of test methods as outlined in ASTM D751-19 - Standard Test Methods for Coated Fabrics.

Certification Mark And Licensing Questions

There is no certificate, there is a certification program, and the certification mark is the denotation that a product has been certified.

The Mark is used to represent products that have been certified to CFFA-HC-201

A Licensee may use the Mark on: (1) the certified product/pattern itself; (2) certified product/pattern packaging, tags, labels and packaging inserts such as owner's manuals and product specification sheets; (3) certified product promotional materials (as long as such use is in compliance with these Guidelines); (4) certified product sample cards; and (5) on your website and social media pages specifically promoting a certified product/pattern (as long as such use is in compliance with these Guidelines).

No. Use of the Mark is specific to certified product/pattern. Use of the mark on general company promotional materials may be misinterpreted by the public to mean that all of the company's products/patterns are certified by CFFA, when this may not be the case.

Yes, with the appropriate license agreement. The Mark must appear in the document in close proximity to the certified product's/pattern's name, logo, or product/pattern image, or product/pattern description. In connection with selling products/patterns certified by a Licensee, or furniture incorporating such products/patterns, a furniture manufacturer does not need a license to use sample cards or marketing materials that the certifying manufacturer or distributor supplied. A furniture manufacturer or distributor must sign a License Agreement and comply with the Guidelines in order to use the certification mark on its own materials, such as its website, social media, furniture, or advertisements.

Yes, with the appropriate license agreement. The Mark must appear in close proximity to the certified product's/pattern's name, logo, or product/pattern image, or product/pattern description. The Mark cannot be used on your website or social media page in a manner that, in CFFA's sole discretion, could be misinterpreted to mean that products/patterns that have not met the certification criteria have been certified or that all of the company's products/patterns are certified by CFFA.

Licensees may do so, but only under the following criteria: (1) the Mark must stand alone and cannot appear connected to the other organizations' certification marks; and (2) the Mark cannot appear in proximity to other organizations' certification marks such that the Marks would be construed as a co-brand.

The right of any furniture manufacturer or distributor to use the mark in connection with a product/pattern certified by another program participant ends when that participant's license is terminated. The company who has certified the product is responsible for letting all companies licensing the mark for those certified products that the license is terminated.

A manufacturer or distributor may certify a product. Anyone using the certification mark must sign the licensing agreement and pay relevant fees (including companies private labeling a previously certified product).

It is to protect the use of the mark and to ensure that only certified products are using the mark.
CFFA-HC-201 Standard Questions

Coated fabric test methods were developed and evaluated over many years, and are used by the industry and its customers to determine the physical properties of chemical coated fabrics and films, to facilitate quality control, and to ensure customer satisfaction. The test methods within CFFA-HC-201 were selected specifically for the CFFA-HC-201 standard to help prevent common product failures by incorrect selection. Selecting coated fabrics that meet the CFFA-HC-201 helps ensure products are fit for use for many years. Specific questions on the test methods themselves should be directed to the product manufacturer or any referenced ASTM test method.

Disinfection requires different approaches which is why CFFA separated these into two separate test methods. Cleaning requirements are often increased to clean a specific stain whereas Disinfection testing refers to a specific chemical resistance.

CFFA test methods are written for all Coated Fabrics. CFFA is a trade organization for manufacturers of coated fabrics and film. Vinyl is the principal coated fabric produced by members, but Urethanes, Silicones, Acrylic, and other polymers fall within the scope of CFFA, and if products meet the minimum performance requirements, they can be certified.
Other Questions

Furniture manufacturers should contact the Manufacturer if the Distributor cannot provide an answer.

See the Performance Products website for the list of products that have been certified.

There is no verification process for products that are denoted as “complying with” the standard. Designers and specifiers should choose products that have been certified to CFFA-HC-201 to ensure they meet all the requirements.