Performance Rating
We are leather experts who have been finishing leather since 1903. We don’t think like leather sellers, we take pride in working alongside our customers to help guide them to fit-for-pupose leather selections for their clients.
Performance ratings do not convey quality.
About Cortina's Performance Ratings
These performance ratings are designed as general guidelines to narrow your search, but they are not hard and fast rules. Like each natural leather hide, each design vision is unique. After using these guidelines to understand your options, we encourage you to contact your Cortina Leathers representative to help you through a detailed selection process.
In general, performance levels correlate to the amount of finishing treatments and protection added to the leather after tanning. While all leather is inherently durable and long lasting, these treatments (in addition to adding color and creating unique looks and characteristics) make the leather more uniform by evening the color, covering natural markings, and preventing the leather from changing over time by resisting scratching, patina, staining, wear and fading.
Performance ratings do not convey quality—leather selection is all about fit-for-purpose. In many applications, you may seek a natural looking leather that patinas and becomes more beautiful with time. Look to leathers with Performance Code 1 and 2 for these leathers. If you prefer a very natural-looking leather with a unique effect such as distressing or pull-up, but need a strong stain resistance, look for Performance Code 2. In some applications, such as commercial aviation, automotive or office task chairs, the ability to resist scratches, staining, or finish wear from heavy use is critical. Look for Performance Code 3 leathers for these applications.
Performance Rating Code 1
Warranty: 1 year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. See complete details in the Resource section under Warranty.
Leathers with Performance Code 1 are considered by many to be the most beautiful and authentic leathers, in many cases because they are least protected and thus most naturally portray the genuine uniqueness of each hide. These leathers include pure anilines, aniline leathers with less protection, nubuck leathers, and suedes. All Cortina leathers with Performance Code 1 are protected with some level of water/stain repellency to resist spotting and staining.
These leathers are more prone to staining, but due to the natural properties of genuine untreated leathers, most stains will eventually rub out and the leather will evolve with a beautiful patina that ages gracefully over time. In general, these leathers are not recommended for uses where they will be subjected to heavy staining, abrasive wear, or direct sunlight, especially if the owner or end users are not leather connoisseurs.
Performance Rating Code 2
Warranty: 1 year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. Leathers with Crypton® protection feature an additional 3 year warranty for stain resistance. See complete details in the Resource section under Warranty.
Performance Rating Code 2 leathers retain their natural appearance while carrying additional protections against abrasion, staining, and color fading. Aniline leathers with some protection and semi-anilines are found here. These leathers are suitable for a wide range of applications that are at risk for stain and wear, such as those found in all hospitality, commercial, and residential dining areas. Several Cortina's leathers with Performance Rating Code 2 have additional Crypton® protection with the industry's longest warranty.
Performance Rating Code 3
Warranty: 5 year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. See complete details in the Resource section under Warranty.
Cortina's Performance Rating Code 3 leathers have the highest industry warranty and are protected for use in the most challenging, ultra high-traffic wear, stain and fading environments such as commercial (office task chairs), hospitality (dining and bar seating including casinos and cruise ships), as well as private aviation and automotive aftermarket. Only pigmented and semi-aniline leathers with strong protection meet the standards for this category.
These leathers are also suitable for any application where bright, uniform color and grain, and exotic looks are desired.
About each test:
This performance scale uses widely accepted standards for the most critical leather tests for each important dimension. Additional tests may be performed for specialty leathers, and exact performance data for each leather can be found on that leather's Technical Data Sheet.
- Water repellancy is a measure of how quickly a spill will soak into the leather, how likely it is to stain the leather, and the extent to which a stain can be cleaned.
- Abrasion testing measures how resistant the leather is to scuffing, scratching or finish wear from use. With some leathers, evidence of use is desired and makes the leather more comfortable and beautiful. On others, such as commercial aviation, automobile and office task chairs, a more resistant leather is typically sought.
- The Crocking test is a measure of dye transfer from clothing to the leather, particularly under pressure such as during sitting. For example, wet jeans are the most likely to transfer their blue dye.
- Finish adhesion measures how resistant the finish of the leather is from separating from the hide, such as when tape is adhered and pulled away.
- Light fastness measures the amount of color fading you should expect when the leather is exposed to UV rays, such as when placed by a window with direct sunlight.
Performance Rating Key
| Properties | Performance Code 1 | Performance Code 2 | Performance Code 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water/Spill Repellency: AATCC 22:2005 (100 Highest) | 70 (ISO 2) | 80 (ISO 3) | 95 (ISO 4) |
| Min Abrasion: ASTM D7255; CS10 Taber wheel | 250 CYCLES/250 GRAM WEIGHT | 500 CYCLES/500 GRAM WEIGHT | 1,000 CYCLES/1,000 GRAM WEIGHT |
| Dry Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 3 OR BETTER | CLASS 3 OR BETTER | CLASS 4 OR BETTER |
| Wet Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 1 OR BETTER | CLASS 3 OR BETTER | CLASS 5 OR BETTER |
| Finish Adhesion | N/A | TAPE TEST | TAPE TEST |
| Lightfastness: ISO 105-B02 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 2 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 3 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 5 |
Performance Rating Key
| Properties | Performance Code 1 |
|---|---|
| Water/Spill Repellency: AATCC 22:2005 (100 Highest) | 70 (ISO 2) |
| Min Abrasion: ASTM D7255; CS10 Taber wheel | 250 CYCLES/250 GRAM WEIGHT |
| Dry Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 3 OR BETTER |
| Wet Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 1 OR BETTER |
| Finish Adhesion | N/A |
| Lightfastness: ISO 105-B02 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 2 |
| Properties | Performance Code 2 |
|---|---|
| Water/Spill Repellency: AATCC 22:2005 (100 Highest) | 80 (ISO 3) |
| Min Abrasion: ASTM D7255; CS10 Taber wheel | 500 CYCLES/500 GRAM WEIGHT |
| Dry Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 3 OR BETTER |
| Wet Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 3 OR BETTER |
| Finish Adhesion | TAPE TEST |
| Lightfastness: ISO 105-B02 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 3 |
| Properties | Performance Code 3 |
|---|---|
| Water/Spill Repellency: AATCC 22:2005 (100 Highest) | 95 (ISO 4) |
| Min Abrasion: ASTM D7255; CS10 Taber wheel | 1000 CYCLES/1000 GRAM WEIGHT |
| Dry Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 4 OR BETTER |
| Wet Crocking: ASTM D5053 | CLASS 5 OR BETTER |
| Finish Adhesion | TAPE TEST |
| Lightfastness: ISO 105-B02 | BLUE WOOL ≥ 5 |