Different grades of foam for Sitting or Sleeping

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Foam Grades

The Right Foam for the Right Job

The higher the Density (weight of the foam) the longer the foam will last before softening up or starting to sag.
If the foam is the same density it will be the same cost - regardless of its firmness.
The Life Expectancy is only an estimate, which was derived from laboratory tests such as ISO-Pounding and the Roller Shear test (see info below table). Actual results may vary depending on size of people and use.
The firmness, indicated in the table below, is used to describe a piece 4" thick. Keep in mind that a 6" piece of the same grade will feel firmer; similarly a 2" piece will feel softer.
Come try our Big Comfy Couch in our factory showroom to help you choose the right grade. First choose the quality and then choose the firmness.

CATEGORY	GRADE	FIRMNESS	RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Lightest Weight Lowest Cost	1030	Medium	Packing foam, cheaper pillows, O/S Backs & arms, used for toppers in conventional spring mattress.
	1112	Super Soft	Thicker furniture backs greater than 4" thick or softer pillows. The firmness should be higher when thickness is lower. For 2" & 3" backs use 1118 or even better 1517.
	1118	Soft
	1324	Med Soft	Good furniture backs & arms. Basic occasional bedding i.e. Camp mattresses. For firmer or thinner commercial backs, used for backs with buttons for tuffting.
	1338	Med Firm
Basic Seat & Mat Grades	1517	Soft	For better quality backs or mattress toppers (use 1517). Basic seating used for office furniture, dinnette seats or furniture that is sold at flea markets or discount stores. Has a low cost but also has a lower performance level. Can be used for Sofa Bed Mats or better Camp mattresses for heavier use.
	1530	Medium
	1535	Med Firm
	1543	Firm
Very Hard Specialty Grades	1570	XX-Firm	For 2" gym mats & really firm applications where thickness is limited. Automotive fire retardent grade used in commercial or boat seating. Better quality gym mats, exercise equipment, firm edges for firmer mats.
	1995	XX-Firm
	X550	Super Firm
Good Value Used By Mfgers	1824	Med Soft	This line is mostly used by furniture manufacturers that supply furniture to good stores. Good value for a conventional foam. Used for seating and bedding applications for full foam mattresses. Stores call it the best. We make better mattresses because we use better foam.
	1832	Medium
	1838	Med Firm
	1850	Extra Firm
ECOCELL® - GOOD HIGH DENSITY SOY-BASED FOAM
Soy-Based BioFoam	EC26	Medium	Most manufacturers use the 1.5 lb to 1.8 lb density range for furniture seating. At 2.0 lbs per cubic foot Ecocell exceeds what is conventionally used by most OEMs. This line is good value for good furniture and bedding applications. It is less expensive than Curon and for manufacturers that think beyond comfort and design. Beige colour. See Other BioFoams.
	EC32	Med Firm
	EC38	Firm
	EC50	Extra Firm
CURON - HIGH DENSITY POLYURETHANE FOAM
Better Value Grade	2224	Med Soft	The highest density of all the conventional foams listed above. This line is used as replacement seating by the upholstery trade who want ot give a better grade than the original manufacturers. This line gives you better performance at a reasonable cost. Remember to use a higher firmness for thinner cushions i.e. Use 2355 if you want a firm 2" dining room seat.
	2230	Medium
	2235	Med Firm
	2245	Firm
	2355	Extra Firm
PRESERVE® HR - MORE SOY-CONTENT THAN ECOCELL BUT NOT AS MUCH AS KOOSH®
Soy-Based BioFoam	PR15	Soft	Preserve is the start of our High Resiliency (HR) grades. It is as heavy as Curon but fire retardant and made with an HR cell structure. This means it will outperform conventional grades in both height loss and firmness retention. Our BioFoam grades contribute to environmental awareness and preservation by reducing energy consumption and global warming. Preserve is peach in colour. See Other BioFoams.
	PR20	Med Soft
	PR30	Medium
	PR40	Firm
The world's first soy-based high resiliency foam
The Best Grade for Commercial or High-End Residential	KN15	Soft	Its unique cell structure and soy content sets new standards. It has a softer surface, greater comfort and support, and better fatigue resistance than conventional polyureathane foam. Guaranteed to maintain its original shape and firmness for the life of most people's furniture. Recommended by designers for high-end custom furniture and bedding. It is produced using the most stringent controls and procedures which are evident in its consistency and performance. Manufactured with no PBDEs or CFCs which satisfy ecological concerns. See Koosh® Natural.
	KN21	Med Firm
	KN26	Medium
	KN31	Med Firm
	KN41	Firm
	KN51	Extra Firm
	KN65	XX-Firm
QUALUX - THE BEST KNOWN DESIGNER BRAND IN NORTH AMERICA
Qualux Ultra	Q16	Soft	Qualux has been around for over 30 years. It is well known by designers, contractors and architects for commercial and high end residential furniture. They have been the symbol of quality cushioning throughout the furniture industry. Regular Qualux has a density range between 1.5 lb and 1.8 lb. Qualux Ultra has a density range between 2.3 lb and 3.0 lb. Qualux is gold in colour. Don't be fooled by the many imposters.
	Q26	Medium
	Q31	Med Firm
	Q41	Firm
VISCOELASTIC - SPACE AGE TECHNOLOGY FOR GREAT PRESSURE RELIEF
Memory Foam	MF3012	Memory	Everybody wants memory foam for comfort. It is the best type of foam for pressure relief but it can not be used all by itself. Usually it is laminated or rests on top of another foam grade that provides support. It is great for comfort but you still need the support. Our Enurtia (VS4010) visco-soy grade is one of the first memory foams that is made with renewable resources.
	VS4010	Enurtia
	AR4015	Aerus
	VE5515	Sensus
	VN8012	Venus
LUXURIOUS LATEX - THE ORIGINAL ALL NATURAL LATEX FOAM RUBBER
Latex Hybrid	LH21	Med Soft	Latex Hybrid. A mix of natural latex and polyurethane foam.
All Natural	LX26	Medium	100% Natural Latex derived from a rubber tree.
* All Ecocell, Preserve, Koosh & Qualux grades are fire retardant. Other FR grades also available. * Items in green are either all natural or made with varying degrees of renewable resources.


		The Big Comfy Couch So what firmness do you like? We can make suggestions on what support factor is recommended, based on your size and scientific data - using on ERGOCHECK testing. However, ultimately it would be best if you actually sat on our big comfy couch to determine what is right for you, according to your personal preference and size. You should also know that the type of material and the thickness of the foam will play a role in determining the right compression to be used. A 4" medium will feel like a firm if the cushion is covered in leather. Similarly a thinner piece will feel softer because there is not as much foam there. We have to compensate in firmness, the last two numbers of the foam grade, in order to give you the right feel in both cases. Why not try a combination of grades? That is the only way you can get the initial feeling of softness, in the top layer, and the deep down support offered by a firmer grade.