A practical buyer's guide from Carolyn Fabrics in High Point, North Carolina.
Pinnacle is Carolyn Fabrics' 40-color house-brand vinyl for marine and contract seating. It has a soft hand, exceeds 1,500,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek abrasion test, and is made with Staycool Technology, which allows all colors to be 10% cooler in direct sunlight. Actual results vary by color and conditions.
That combination makes Pinnacle a useful starting point for boat and pontoon seating, restaurant and hospitality seating, healthcare and office seating, gym equipment, RV interiors, and other upholstery projects that need both wear resistance and broad color choice. It is not for aviation use.
When Pinnacle belongs on the short list
| Project | Why consider Pinnacle | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Boat and pontoon seating | Marine application, UV/lightfastness and mildew-resistance testing, cold-crack result, and Staycool Technology | Color, hand, stretch, cushion construction, care instructions, and project exposure |
| Restaurant and hospitality seating | 1,500,000-plus Wyzenbeek abrasion result, soft hand, 40 colors, and water-based cleaning code | The facility's cleaner, concentration, rinse procedure, and maintenance schedule |
| Healthcare, office, and waiting areas | Contract use, abrasion result, and documented antibacterial test | Exact cleaning protocol and any project-specific fire-code or documentation requirement |
| Gym and fitness equipment | High Wyzenbeek result and contract-seating application | Compatibility with the cleaner or sanitizer the facility actually uses |
| RV and transportation interiors | Soft hand, broad color range, listed transportation use, and temperature-related test results | Required flammability documentation, exposure, care, and installation construction |
What the 1,500,000-plus double-rub result means
Pinnacle exceeds 1,500,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek abrasion test. That is a strong laboratory abrasion result and is useful when comparing materials tested by the same method and conditions.
A double-rub result does not predict an exact number of years in service. Real upholstery life also depends on seam design, cushion shape, UV exposure, cleaning chemistry, maintenance, installation quality, and misuse. When comparing two products, check the test method, abradant, endpoint, and document date instead of relying on the headline number alone.
How Staycool Technology helps in direct sunlight
Pinnacle is made with Staycool Technology, which allows all colors to be 10% cooler in direct sunlight. Actual results vary by color and conditions.
This is most relevant for sun-exposed boat seats, pontoons, golf carts, UTVs, convertibles, RV seating, and outdoor-facing commercial seating. Staycool is the technology name used for Pinnacle. It should not be treated as a promise that every completed seat will reach a fixed temperature.
Marine-use specifications
Pinnacle is intended for marine seating and carries material-level results relevant to marine environments:
- UV/lightfastness: AATCC 16.3, Grade 4.0 at 1,500 hours
- Mildew resistance: AATCC 30-III and ASTM G21, Class 1
- Anti-pinking: passes ASTM 1428
- Cold crack: -55°C / -67°F
- Marine flame test: IMO FTP Code 2010, Part 8
Mildew and pinking resistance also depend on what is underneath the vinyl. Those results describe the material. In a finished seat, resistance to mildew and to pinking also requires that the foam and other components be certified against the same problems. Uncertified foam is a common source of pinking and mildew in marine seating regardless of which vinyl is used over it.
These are material test results. They do not certify a finished seat, boat, installation, or cleaning program. Good marine performance still depends on drainage, ventilation, foam condition, cover use, cleaning, and installation.
Contract-use specifications
For restaurants, hospitality, offices, healthcare environments, and other commercial seating, Pinnacle combines its Wyzenbeek result with these documented material specifications:
- Antibacterial test: passes AATCC 147
- Cleaning code: W — use water-based cleaning agents or water-based foam
- Contract flame tests: CAL TB117-2013, NFPA 260 Class 1, and UFAC Class 1
Cleaning Code W is not blanket approval for every disinfectant or sanitizer. Before approving a maintenance protocol, confirm the exact cleaner, concentration, dwell time, rinse step, and frequency against the current care information for the material ordered.
Pinnacle specifications at a glance
- Use: marine, contract, hospitality, healthcare, fitness, office, RV, transportation, and residential seating
- Abrasion: exceeds 1,500,000 double rubs (Wyzenbeek)
- Face: 100% PVC
- Backing: 100% polyester
- Width: 54 inches / 137 cm
- Roll length: 30 yards / 27 m
- Thickness: 1.10 mm
- Weight: 21.71 oz. per square yard; 33.17 oz. per linear yard
- Colors: 40 offered
- Anti-pinking: passes ASTM 1428
- Cooling feature: Staycool Technology; all colors are 10% cooler in direct sunlight
What Pinnacle is not
Pinnacle is not aviation-rated and is not supplied with aviation burn-test documentation. For an aircraft interior, review Carolyn Fabrics' aviation upholstery guidance and choose a material with the documentation required for that project. Material documentation does not approve a completed aircraft seat or installation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pinnacle a marine vinyl or a contract vinyl?
Pinnacle is intended for both marine and contract seating. Its specifications include a 1,500,000-plus Wyzenbeek abrasion result, UV/lightfastness and mildew-resistance tests, cold-crack performance, and marine and contract flame-test listings.
Does Pinnacle stay cooler in direct sunlight?
Pinnacle is made with Staycool Technology, which allows all colors to be 10% cooler in direct sunlight. Actual results vary by color and conditions, and the completed seat's temperature also depends on construction and exposure.
How long will Pinnacle last?
No laboratory abrasion result can predict an exact service life. Pinnacle's Wyzenbeek result is strong evidence of abrasion resistance, but real-world life depends on the application, installation, cleaning, exposure, and maintenance.
Can Pinnacle be cleaned with disinfectant?
Do not assume every disinfectant is compatible. Pinnacle carries Cleaning Code W for water-based cleaning agents or foam. Confirm the proposed chemical and procedure against current care guidance before approving repeated use.
Why do light-colored marine seats turn pink?
Pinking is usually caused by microbial growth in the foam or substrate beneath the vinyl, not by the vinyl itself. Pinnacle passes ASTM 1428 for anti-pinking, but that result applies to the material. To protect a finished seat, the foam and other components must be certified against mildew and pinking as well.
Can Pinnacle be used in an aircraft?
No. Pinnacle is not aviation-rated and is not supplied with aviation burn-test documentation.
Compare a sample before ordering yardage
Shop Pinnacle and view all 40 colors. Use the Order a $5 Sample option to compare color, grain, and hand before committing to yardage. Sample shipping is free.
Need help deciding whether Pinnacle fits the job? Call Carolyn Fabrics at (336) 887-3101 with the application, exposure, cleaning plan, color, and required documents.