Hi GTO
The truth is all leather is not made the same and most of the leather that is used for auto upholstery in India would not even meet the ISO furniture upholstery standards as they do in Europe. Because the criterion for most of the leather imported or produced in India for the domestic upholstery market is low price.
You are right, automotive upholstery leather must meet higher abrasion, higher resistance to UV, wet rubbing & sweat rubbing standards than furniture grade.
This is a link to the ISO website ISO - ISO Standards - IULTCS - International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies
There are fogging test standards for leather and also flame resistance tests ( FAR cert. for aircraft upholstery) like the ISO /DIS 6452 and the ISO 3795 for automobiles.
An accredited testing lab like SATRA in the UK and some others in Europe would be the independent testing authorities for issuing a certification.
The quality and safety standards in cars are compromised when we use leather or synthetic materials that do not meet the minimum automotive standards.
Buyers should begin asking these questions on standards while making a purchase. As far as I know none of the leathers offered especially in the after market in India meet international automotive standards.
And as they say 'Caveat Emptor'. |