Multilayered clothing - OutdoorTesting.eu

Outdoor outerwear, often multilayered clothing

In rough weather, which enforces to wear multiple layers of clothing, the top layer has the protective function. Outerwear works together with clothing that fits your body and protects against cold, wind and rain. These can be jackets and suits which are also equipped with a water-vapour resistant and waterproof membrane for extreme conditions.

What is tested on multilayered clothing:

Thermoregulation properties

Transmittance of heat and vapours
Thermal insulation by means of a thermal manikin
Breathability (air permeability)

Mechanical properties

Resistance to water penetration
Resistance to surface wetting (spray test)
Changing the size and appearance after washing maintenance
Abrasion resistance
Determination of pilling
Bursting properties

Colour fastness

Colour fastness to washing
Colour fastness to rubbing
Colour fastness to artificial light

Health – hygienic properties

Testing of selected indicators of health - hygienic properties (formaldehyde, pH, heavy metals, aromatic amines)

What is assessed on multilayered clothing:

Readymade-processing, equipment of ventilation holes
Maintenance symbols (pictograms for washing, ironing, drying, etc.)
Integrity of manufacturer's information about properties (if written)

Frequently occurring problems with testing multilayered clothing:

Improperly selected maintenance procedure leading to product damage
Low colour fastness
Decline of „functional characteristics" caused by repeated maintenance
Inappropriate use of emollients - softener

Standards for multilayered clothing:

CEN/TR 16422 Classification of thermoregulatory properties
EN ISO 15831 Clothing – Physiological effects – Measurement of thermal insulation by means of a thermal manikin
EN ISO 12947-2 Textiles – Determination of the abrasion resistance of fabrics by the Martindale method – Part 2: Determination of specimen breakdown
EN ISO 12945-2 Textiles – Determination of fabric propensity to surface fuzzing and to pilling – Part 2: Modified Martindale method
EN ISO 9237 Textiles – Determination of the permeability of fabrics to air
EN ISO 11092 Textiles – Determination of physiological properties – Measurement of thermal and water-vapour resistance under steady-state conditions (sweating guarded – hotplate test)
ČSN 80 0074 Textiles – Determination of standard dry mass and moisture content
EN ISO 6330 Textiles – Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
EN ISO 4920 Textile fabrics – Determination of resistance to surface wetting (spray test)
EN 20811 Textiles – Determination of resistance to water penetration – Hydrostatic pressure test
EN ISO 13938-1 Textiles – Bursting properties of fabrics – Part 1: Hydraulic method for determination of bursting strength and bursting distension

Colour fastness:

EN ISO 105-X12 Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part X12: Colour fastness to rubbing
EN ISO 105-B07 Textiles – Tests for colour fatness – Part B07: Colour fastness to light of textiles wetted with artificial perspiration
EN ISO 105-C06 Textiles – Tests for colour fastness – Part C06: Colour fastness to domestic and commercial laundering