The Benefits of Fire-Resistant Artificial Leather

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In recent years, the demand for fire-resistant or fire-retardant PVC leather has gone up a significant amount, especially when it comes to public spaces and hotels where safety is of utmost importance although people use fire-retardant artificial leather in their homes too. Today, we will explore the significance of fire resistance in artificial leather and shed light on the various fire standards we have available - CRIB 0, CRIB 1, NFPA 260, CAL TB 117, DIN 4102-B2, EN 1021, 1&2, and CRIB 5. We will also delve into the challenges faced while manufacturing this product and in achieving the stringent CRIB 5 standard and how reputable external labs help in providing credibility through rigorous testing and certification for our products.

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Different countries require different fire standards - CRIB 0, CRIB 1 AND CRIBE 5 come under the UK norms, NFPA 260 and CAL TB 117 come under the USA norms, DIN 4102-B2 comes under the Germany norms and lastly EN 1021, 1&2 comes under the EU norms. Our company follows all these norms and supplies fire-resistant artificial leather to all these countries.

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The fire standards, namely CRIB 0, CRIB 1, and CRIB 5 serve as benchmarks to determine the fire resistance of the artificial leather. The CRIB 0 test involves exposing the material to a matchbox flame, while the CRIB 1 test simulates a cigarette burn. These standards indicate that while the material may catch fire, it will self-extinguish and prevent the spread of flames during small accidents. The NFPA 260 uses standard methods of tests and a classification system for cigarette ignition resistance on the fabric. The CAL TB 117 test requires the fabric to withstand 12 seconds of an open flame without letting it spread. The DIN 4102-B2 test involves the fabric being suspended vertically with a 20mm high flame being applied for 15 seconds. The EN 1021, 1&2 examines the fabric’s reaction with a burning cigarette and butane flame.

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On the other hand, CRIB 5, which is the highest fire standard, poses a significant challenge due to its technical complexity. It is a mandatory requirement for public spaces and hotels, emphasising the need for PVC leather that offers exceptional fire resistance. Achieving CRIB 5 certification is not an easy feat, and only select companies possess the expertise to produce such products, Klassik being one of them.

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To ensure the reliability and credibility of fire-resistant artificial leather, manufacturers often rely on the services of external laboratories such as SGS. SGS is a renowned global testing and certification agency that operates labs worldwide, providing comprehensive assessments of various materials. In the case of our CRIB 5 artificial leather, we have gone the extra mile to obtain certification from both Indian and UK SGS labs. This dual certification enhances the credibility and authenticity of our fire-retardant artificial leather, assuring customers and clients that the product has undergone rigorous testing and meets the stringent CRIB 5 standards.

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We produce a whole range of fire-resistant artificial leather products - one conforming to CRIB 0 and CRIB 1, and the other meeting the challenging CRIB 5 standard - and all of these have distinct advantages. While both CRIB 0 and CRIB 1 provide a certain level of fire resistance, CRIB 5 artificial leather provides superior protection, making it ideal for high-risk environments. By utilising CRIB 5 artificial leather, public spaces, hotels, boats etc. can significantly enhance their fire safety measures, mitigating the risk of fire-related incidents and protecting the lives of occupants. Additionally, the utilisation of such materials promotes compliance with fire safety regulations, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring the well-being of visitors and employees.

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Fire resistance is a crucial aspect to consider when selecting materials for public spaces and hotels. The three fire standards - CRIB 0, CRIB 1, and CRIB 5 - serve as essential benchmarks in evaluating the fire resistance of artificial leather. While achieving CRIB 5 certification presents a significant challenge, it offers unparalleled safety benefits and peace of mind, and we are here to make it easy for our customers.

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Safety is always a priority and by investing in our machinery and gaining credible certification, we aim to offer the best and safest fire-resistant artificial leather to our trusted clientele.

Published on
August 16, 2023
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Our Journey in the Automotive Industry

Klassik has been successfully supplying PVC leathercloth and foam laminated textiles to automotive OEMs and the aftermarket for replacement seat covers since 2001. We have been doing so through direct supply as well as technical collaborations.

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Our journey in this industry has seen substantial growth over all these years.

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We started by producing for the local market, which is also known as the replacement market. The replacement market is where one would go to purchase new PVC Leatherseat covers or get new covers made in the occurrence of damage, needing a different color or other such instances.

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Starting from there, we gradually went on to supply to major automotive OEMs (or original equipment manufacturers). The growth has been fulfilling.

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As we grew further, we started supplying PVC Vinyl to major global brands for various automotive requirements. However, working with brands across the globe has been a completely different experience for us as a company. For starters, different countries require different variations - we supply PVC Vinyl to the USA. PVC leathercloth to the UK and PVC leather or Rexine to India. Then, getting approval from an automotive company is a long and technical process. It’s not only about successfully achieving the price target of the brand but we also need to get cleared by their styling and technical teams. We often work closely with the styling teams and engineering teams to match the approved grains and colors, as well as the stringent technical requirements of automotive interiors.

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Not only that, the requirements for these automotive brands are extremely extensive as their list includes specific features such as high strength, durability, stain resistance, anti-squeak, UV resistance, cold crack resistance, and Low VOC to name a few.

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As a company, we have global approval for some of the car models, and our material has to perform in all kinds of weather conditions and situations.

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To ensure that our products and our company meet all these needs successfully we have a focused production process. Our technical capabilities allow us to tick-mark every requirement that our clients have without any concern. We have invested in top-quality machines that allow us to make the product in various widths such as 140 cm, 150 cm and 158 cm, giving us an edge. We recently received the IATF 16949:2016 certification, which is specific to the automotive industry.

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We supply a wide range of PVC Vinyl, PVC Leathercloth and PVC leather products to automotive companies which include materials for automotive seats, interior and door trims, gearboxes, tool kit pouches or covers, along with hood toney covers or trunk covers.

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Apart from all the essential requirements we receive from our clients we also hugely focus on durability and style. A car is a very special possession for anyone and why shouldn’t it be every bit long-lasting and stylish? Your mode of transport should also be comfortable and the PVC leather ensures that the seats don’t get too hot unlike real leather or tear up like fabric and make your journey smooth. PVC leather is also easier to clean in comparison to the rest and hence, easier to maintain. Anything that lasts long is deemed as a good investment and for us, that is PVC leather or artificial leather products. And since many brands locally and globally are seeing a shift towards being sustainable and environmentally friendly, real leather is being used less and less, giving way to artificial leather or PVC leather.

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You can explore our entire automotive collection here

Why Artificial Leather is the best option for Home Furnishing

Are you someone who is obsessed with home decor or are you a furniture designer looking for the best option for upholstery for interior decoration? Then you need to read this. When it comes to choosing material for upholstery, whether you’re looking at home renovation ideas or decorating your workspace or business, there are three main options - genuine leather, artificial leather or faux leather and fabric. The choice you make can depend on many factors like price, design preference, aesthetics, quality, durability and maintenance, to name a few.

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Now it might be hard to find something that will check off all the above points, but what if we told you it’s not? Artificial leather or faux leather or PVC leather cloth has it all! What we manufacture here at Klassik is more reasonable than genuine leather, it comes in many design and texture options that are versatile and will satisfy your aesthetic needs, they are high in quality and extremely durable and very easy to maintain. When you get it all, the decision to choose artificial leather becomes that much easier.


Artificial leather in general is less expensive than genuine leather but has the same rich look and feel that you would find in genuine leather. An important point to note is that artificial leather is durable and easy to maintain without the added cost of genuine leather. Another differentiator and characteristic of artificial leather is that it doesn’t wrinkle like genuine leather because it’s not made of animal skin. It’s machine-made and has a smooth touch and feel as compared to genuine leather.

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While fabric is the least expensive option out of all the three, it doesn’t last long and is not very easy to maintain. Fabrics can be easily stained and damaged, making them the wrong choice in the long run. Artificial leather is what we can call an affordable luxury product. One can argue that artificial leather or faux leather is also one of the more sustainable options as no animals are harmed during its production. People who follow a vegan lifestyle, and are environmentally conscious also prefer to choose artificial leather over genuine leather.

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The faux leather or artificial leather industry has seen major improvements and advances in terms of production, making it a preferred choice for many looking at home decor ideas and interior designing ideas. Artificial leather is no longer referred to as something that is “fake”. It’s a widely used option in today’s day and age.

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So when it’s about home furnishing and giving a modern look to your home, then artificial leather is the way to go. It’s the best way to invest in your home decor for years to come. From sofas and chairs to cushions and more - revamp your home interiors with the best that the market has to offer. With our wide range of PVC leather cloth, you will surely find exactly what you need to suit your style and texture preferences, color scheme, aesthetics and more. Explore our range here

New BIS Norms for the Indian footwear Industry

Footwear has always been a fundamental part of the dynamic world of fashion. With an array of styles and materials available, consumers expect not only trendy designs but also high-quality products that prioritise comfort, safety, and durability, which is why our clients at Klassik request the same. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recently stepped in to ensure that footwear manufacturing adheres to certain strict quality standards. We live in an ever-changing world and are always expected to adjust to the ‘new normal’. That being said, as a company, Klassik always ensures that adjusting to novelty is a seamless process for us as well as our clients.

The BIS, or Bureau of Indian Standards, is a national body in India responsible for setting standards for various products, including footwear. These mandatory quality standards are created to ensure that small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale footwear manufacturers produce safe, reliable, and high-quality products. These various norms for footwear manufacturing encompass a wide range of aspects, including material specifications, testing procedures, and labelling requirements.

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“The standards prescribe what kind of raw material like leather, PVC, and rubber to be used in manufacturing footwear besides norms on making soles and heels, among other parts of the footwear.” says an article in The Economic Times.

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This step is essentially being taken so that India can maintain the same quality standards that you see globally. As a country, we are growing and evolving and want to maintain the same standards as our peers.

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As per the norms BIS all PVC products are now meant to be phthalate-free. Phthalates are a group of synthetic chemicals that are used to manufacture a wide range of products and are now banned from the PVC industry. They have many harmful side effects and we as a company stand against using chemicals that don’t benefit our clients in any way whatsoever.

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Another part of the BIS norm states that the tearing strength of PVC products used as uppers should be more than 3kg to ensure durability, which essentially means that a force of 3kg or greater needs to be applied to tear the PVC textile through and through. For this reason, all products manufactured by us follow this norm very specifically and are termed as high-tear.

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The change in norms made by the BIS did create a buzz in the manufacturing industry however, for us at Klassik, we were more than accommodating to this development. Klassik possesses all the required equipment and machinery to adhere to these standard norms. The PVR leather we manufacture for footwear already meets the requirements of these norms due to the state-of-the-art infrastructure we have invested in.

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As a company, we believe in investing in the future, and that mindset has stood advantageous to us today as we can seamlessly adjust to the changing and upgrading norms of the industry and supply only the best material to our clientele in India and abroad. This is also the reason why the new BIS norms do not pose a threat to our production process, or change in prices. Thus maintaining the same high-quality standards without anything affecting our relationship with our clients and factory workers.