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'Fill power' is a measure of the loft or "fluffiness" of a down product that is loosely related to the insulating value of the down. The higher the fill power the more insulating air pockets the down has and the better insulating ability. Fill power ranges from about 175 cm³/g (300 in³/ounce) for feathers to upwards of 500 to even 580 cm³/g for high quality down. Higher fill powers are associated with a larger percentage of down clusters and a larger average down cluster size.
Fill power is measured by placing a specified quantity of down into a large cylindrical tube, fluffing it with oversized wood tweezers (1m long), and gently lowering a weighted plunger onto the surface of the down. The plunger is then released and allowed to settle for 1 minute, after which time a reading is taken for the volume of the down. In the United States, the fill power is reported as cubic inches per ounce of down. In Europe it is reported as millimeters of height (in a cylinder of defined diameter) for 30 grams of down.
Depending on the intended application, the highest available fill power may not be necessary. A high fill power will provide more insulating ability for a given weight of down. The warmth of a down comforter depends not only on the fill power, but also on the quantity of fill. So the difference between a comforter with 550 fill power down and a comforter with 700 fill power down is that the 700 fill power down comforter will be lighter for the same warmth rating. High fill powers are most important for weight sensitive applications such as backpacking.
Fill power of down tends to diminish as the down gets dirty and matts. The fill power of a down article can be restored by washing the article in a washing machine with or without detergent (mild) and dried in a home dryer. Tennis balls can be added to help fluff the down. Alternatively the washing can be skipped and the down article can be placed in the dryer with a damp rag for 10-20 minutes. The idea is to open up the matted down clusters with warm air and moisture.
★ Duvet
The International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory
| Contents |
| Measurement |
| Insulation and weight |
| Washing and restoring |
| See also |
| External links |
Measurement
Fill power is measured by placing a specified quantity of down into a large cylindrical tube, fluffing it with oversized wood tweezers (1m long), and gently lowering a weighted plunger onto the surface of the down. The plunger is then released and allowed to settle for 1 minute, after which time a reading is taken for the volume of the down. In the United States, the fill power is reported as cubic inches per ounce of down. In Europe it is reported as millimeters of height (in a cylinder of defined diameter) for 30 grams of down.
Insulation and weight
Depending on the intended application, the highest available fill power may not be necessary. A high fill power will provide more insulating ability for a given weight of down. The warmth of a down comforter depends not only on the fill power, but also on the quantity of fill. So the difference between a comforter with 550 fill power down and a comforter with 700 fill power down is that the 700 fill power down comforter will be lighter for the same warmth rating. High fill powers are most important for weight sensitive applications such as backpacking.
Washing and restoring
Fill power of down tends to diminish as the down gets dirty and matts. The fill power of a down article can be restored by washing the article in a washing machine with or without detergent (mild) and dried in a home dryer. Tennis balls can be added to help fluff the down. Alternatively the washing can be skipped and the down article can be placed in the dryer with a damp rag for 10-20 minutes. The idea is to open up the matted down clusters with warm air and moisture.
See also
★ Duvet
External links
The International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory
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