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Filling Power, initially known in Italy as the Weight Volume Ratio, is a method for assessing the quality of goose down feathers. Over the years, especially since the 1970s, it has undergone several changes that may not always have been favorable for consumer understanding.
To understand today's Filling Power, read directly the last paragraph of this page.
In the 1970s, to assess the quality of goose down feathers, a very simple measure was used: the percentage of down and feathers, specifying whether they came from geese or ducks. For example, in 1975, Danish Duvets® pooq dene® used 98% goose down and 2% goose feathers.
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Control of the size and quality of goose down feathers
In Northern Europe, during the same period, the quality of goose down was indicated on the label with colored squares, in red, green, or blue. While in Italy, the same squares were used but with the colors gold, silver, bronze.
By the late 1980s, the simple percentage measurement method was replaced by the Swedish SIS 705015 method, which used a scale of values from 1 to 12 cm to indicate the weight/volume ratio. The filling power test was conducted on a sample of 20 g of goose down feathers.
By the late 1990s, even the Swedish SIS method was devalued. Thus, with the liberalization of the European market, the EU established community regulations (EN 12130 - EN 13186 - EN 12934) aimed at establishing a single evaluation parameter at the European level: the filling power test, conducted on a 20g sample in a cylinder, measuring the resistance and capacity of the goose down feathers to capture and retain air. The measurement and result were determined based on a scale ranging from 3cm to 13cm. The obtained value was then converted into g/cm³ considering a volumetric scale from 199 to 400+ g/cm³.
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In parallel with the European standards EN12130, in the United States, the term Fill Power was used, calculated in ounces per cubic inch (oz/in³), on a scale from 200 to 800+/oz/in³.
The content of a duvet is in a closed bag, so it is difficult, if not impossible, to check its actual content of down and feathers, and unfortunately, with the EN 12130 regulation of 2018, it becomes even more confusing.
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Distinction and selection of goose down feathers under the microscope
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The result of the "Filling Power" test is printed
Filling Power today
In the fall of 2018, it was decided to "Americanize" the European Standard EN12130 and implement the calculation of filling power in cubic inches and with 30 grams of down. To make this measure internationally understandable, the following formula was provided: Filling Power in mm / 0.252 = XXX in³/30 g. However, the results obtained through this method, on a larger sample of goose down feathers, show higher values than those customers were accustomed to in previous years. Danish Duvets has maintained the method in cm, which is still the official unit in Europe and indicates values in mm on a scale ranging from 40mm to 270mm. But beware with values beyond 220/230 mm (except for Edredone that goes up to 260mm), there is the risk of "live plucking". The mass volume ranges from 159 to 1071 in³/30g.
We mentioned earlier how difficult it is to assess the quality of a goose down duvet as it is enclosed in a fabric casing. However, there is no need to worry. Once you receive your duvet, whether purchased online or in one of our stores, hold it in your hands and feel the elasticity and softness of the goose down feathers. Now observe how the duvet comes to life, how the goose down feathers trap air and increase in volume. The more beautiful and larger the goose down feathers, the faster the duvet will expand in volume