Clothing & wearables
Clothing has huge impact on peoples perception of the environment.
Clothing has huge impact on peoples perception of the environment. Clothing thermal insulation and evaporative resistance are two main values to evaluate clothing properties and to further evaluate thermal comfort of a human wearing the clothing in different environments.
- Clothing thermal insulation (It) describes the reduction of heat transfer between humans wearing clothing and the environment. Clo is a unit of measurement that describes clothing thermal insulation. One clo is equivalent to the insulation needed to maintain comfort at a temperature of 21 °C (70 °F) with a person at rest. For example, a typical business suit has a clo value of about 1.0.
- Evaporative Resistance (Ret) describes the resistance of clothing to moisture vapor transfer. Higher Ret values indicate that clothing is less breathable, which can affect thermal comfort, especially in warm or humid conditions or with humans’ high physical activity level.
Even if the main role of clothing is to protect us from the cold, protective clothing also exists to protect humans from the heat or chemicals, such as for metallurgical workers, firemen or biohazard workers. Thus, these values are crucial in designing clothing and environments for optimal human comfort.
Several standards rely on the use of thermal manikins to ensure accurate assessment of how clothing performs in terms of both heat retention and moisture management. These include:
- ISO 15831 Measurement of thermal insulation by means of a thermal manikin
This standard provides guidelines for determining the clothing thermal insulation of ensembles using thermal manikins. This standard also includes the possibility of movement simulation of the manikin, so it is possible to obtain resultant thermal insulation including the effect of movement on the ensemble insulation.
- ASTM F1291 – 05 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of Clothing Using a Heated Manikin
This standard outlines methods for measuring the thermal insulation of clothing ensembles using a thermal manikin. The effect of different clothing garments, their size, materials, fit, layering etc. can be evaluated. Data could be used for clothing development or for use in physiological modeling of human responses in different environments. This is a static test method, so the effect of body position and movement is not addressed.
- ASTM F2370 – 05 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Evaporative Resistance of Clothing Using a Sweating Manikin
This standard outlines procedures for measuring the evaporative resistance of clothing ensembles using a sweating thermal manikin. The effect of different clothing garments, their size, materials, fit, layering etc. can be evaluated. Data could be used for clothing development or for use in physiological modeling of human responses in different environments.
- ASTM F2371-05 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Heat Removal Rate of Personal Cooling Systems Using a Sweating Heated Manikin
This standard is focused on measurement and comparison of cooling systems worn with a standard outer garment or other specified clothing, taking into consideration convective and evaporative heat transfer from the body. Usage of sweating manikin is essential as heat dissipation through evaporation of sweat could be significant.
- ISO 9920 Ergonomics of the thermal environment — Estimation of thermal insulation and water vapour resistance of a clothing ensemble
While primarily focused on estimating thermal insulation and evaporative resistance, it can involve thermal manikins to provide precise measurements.
- ASTM F1720-06 Standard Test Method for Measuring Thermal Insulation of Sleeping Bags Using a Heated Manikin
This test method can determine the insulation value of a sleeping bag or sleeping bag system. It measures the resistance to dry heat transfer from a constant skin temperature manikin to a relatively cold environment. It can be used for material and design evaluations.
- EN 13537 Thermal properties of Sleeping Bags
Thermal insulation value of the sleeping bag is determined by this method. A physiological model is then applied which uses the standard thermal insulation value to calculate ambient conditions corresponding to a comfort/utility range for the sleeping bag.
- ISO 23537-1
This standard specifies the requirements, test methods and other provisions for the labelling of adult sized sleeping bags for use in sports and leisure time activities at a limit temperature ≥ ‐20 °C regarding thermal characteristics, dimensions and mass. This document describes a method for the assessment of performance in steady‐state conditions of a sleeping bag with regard to the protection against cold.
- EN 342 Ensembles and garments for protection against cold (walking manikin test)
The standard specifies requirements and test methods for the performance of clothing ensembles for protection against the effects of cold environments equal to or below -5 °C. Its scope does not specifically include headwear, footwear, or gloves but can consider them as part of the tested ensemble. A walking thermal manikin system is required to fully comply with the EN 342 standard. Several standards rely on the use of thermal manikin body parts for testing of specific garments. These include:
- ISO 20344 Personal protective equipment — Test methods for footwear
This standard specifies the test methods for safety footwear, including thermal insulation tests using a thermal foot manikin.
- EN 344 Requirements and test methods for safety, protective and occupational footwear for professional use
This European standard for protective footwear also includes testing methods that may involve the use of a thermal foot manikin for evaluating insulation and comfort.
- ASTM F3426-2020 Standard Test Method for Measuring the Thermal Insulation of Clothing Items Using Heated Manikin Body Forms
This test method covers the determination of the insulation value of clothing items that cover only the head, a hand, or a foot. It describes the measurement of the resistance to dry heat transfer from a heated manikin form to a relatively calm, cool environment.
- ASTM F2732 Standard practice for determining the temperature ratings for cold weather protective clothing
This standard outlines the practices for determining the temperature ratings for cold weather protective clothing. This standard is often used to test protective footwear, often using a thermal foot manikin to simulate human foot conditions.
- EN 511 Standard that addresses the specific requirements and test methods for gloves that protect against cold
This testing standard defines the requirements and methodology for evaluating gloves meant to protect against convective and conductive cold down to -50°C. Testing requires the use of a heated, full-scale (size 9) hand manikin capable of constant, uniform temperature generation over the entire hand surface.
- ASTM F1060 Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Conductive and Compressive Heat Resistance (CCHR)
Method to determine the thermal insulation of gloves, may involve the use of a thermal hand manikin to assess the thermal properties of gloves and other handwear.
- EN 960 Headforms for use in the testing of protective helmets
Though primarily focused on helmet testing, thermal head manikins can be used to evaluate thermal comfort aspects in conjunction with this standard.
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