Testing - Thermal Protection
Testing is a crucial part of our development process and we have a continual programme of in house testing for development work and quality control, external independent testing and as wearer trials.
Hainsworths' fabrics are regularly exposed to the following tests:
Thermal Protection
The thermal performance of a fabric depends upon fibre type, fabric weight and bulk. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier or bulkier the fabric, the better the thermal performance.
Our close links with DuPont allow us access to Thermo-Man™ - a full size test mannequin with 122 sensors that measure the heat transfer through a garment system under flash fire conditions, enabling us to predict the amount, degree and location of burn injuries. Results reflect real life exposure.
Click here to download a clip of a TI-technology™ turnout gear being tested on DuPont Thermo-Man™.
Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) - ISO 17492:2003
Hainsworths are one of the few manufacturing companies worldwide who have invested in their own TPP test apparatus. Single layer fabrics or multilayer assemblies are exposed to a combination of radiant and convective heat and a sensor measures the temperature rise through the sample. Formulae calculate the time to pain and to second degree burn. This test method is the most realistic laboratory scale test method currently available for measuring the thermal performance of a fabric or multi-layer assembly.
Radiant Heat - BS EN ISO 6942:2002
This test measures how a fabric or multilayer assembly protects against radiant heat at various levels of heat flux and results are given as time to pain and time to second degree burn. The is ideal for testing proximity or wildland suits and forms part of EN 469:2005 Structural Fire Fighting clothing and EN 531 Protective clothing against heat and flame.
Convective Heat - BS EN367
This test measures how a fabric or multilayer assembly protects against convective heat and results are given as time to pain and time to second degree burn.
Contact Heat - BS EN 702 : 1995
This test measures heat transmission through a fabric or multilayer assembly by a heated metal plate being compressed onto a sample.
Flame Test - BS EN ISO 15025:2002
A flame is applied for 10 seconds to the bottom of a fabric sample and then removed. A pass or fail is given according to after glow, after glow time, flaming debris, holes, molten debris and char length.
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