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The purpose of this paper is to determine the validity and inter-/intra-laboratory repeatability of the first part of a novel, three-phase experimental procedure using a sweating Torso device.

Results from a method comparison study (comparison with the industry-standard sweating guarded hotplate method) and an inter-laboratory comparison study are presented.

A high correlation was observed for thermal resistance in the method comparison study (r=0.97, p<0.01) as well as in the inter-laboratory comparison study (r=0.99, p<0.01).

The authors conclude that the first phase of the standardised procedure for the sweating Torso provides reliable data for the determination of the dry thermal resistance of single and multi-layer textiles, and is therefore suitable as standard method to be used by different laboratories with this type of device. Further work is required to validate the applicability of the method for textiles with high thermal resistance.

This study provides the first “round-robin” data for measuring thermal resistance using a Torso device. In future publications the authors will provide similar data examining the repeatability of measurements that quantify combined heat and mass transfer.

The purpose of this investigation is to measure seven different underwears on a sweating torso with differing relative air humidity (30, 50, 80 and 95 per cent RH) and at a fixed ambient temperature of 30°C to determine the influence of the water vapour partial pressure of the environment on the moisture transport properties of various materials.

All measurements in this investigation were accomplished with the authors' sweating torso which simulates the thermal‐ and humidity release of the human body. Four different sweating rates (50, 75, 100 and 150 g/h*torso) were selected for this investigation.

It was established that the partial pressure difference did not correlate directly with the evaporative cooling. In general, higher evaporation rates were observed in the dry climate conditions. However, with low‐sweat rates, the highest relative humidity (95 per cent) generally resulted in greater evaporative cooling than the lowest surrounding humidity conditions (30 per cent). In this investigation, a blended fabric made of PES/Vinal exhibited the most efficient evaporative cooling for all the sweat rates, as well as for the four relative humidity conditions chosen.

All received results are based on a surrounding temperature of 30°C (summer climate), for other temperatures the results may be different.

The investigation shows that both the relative humidity and the sweat rate have a major influence on the heat loss.

The purpose of this paper is to provide the details of developments to researchers in test apparatus and evaluation methods to rate the thermal protective performance (TPP) of firefighters’ clothing under high-temperature and high-humidity condition.

This review paper describes the influence laws of moisture on thermal protection and the moisture distribution in actual fire environment. Different evaluation methods used for assessing the effect of moisture on the TPP were investigated, with an emphasis on test devices, evaluation indexes as well as their relationship and limitations.

The moisture from the ambient, clothing and human perspiration plays an important role in determining the TPP of firefighter protective clothing. It is obvious that research on moisture-driven heat transfer in firefighter’s clothing system are comparatively little, primarily focussing on pre-wetted methods of multi-layer fabric. Further studies should be conducted to develop more standardized moistening systems and improve the current calculation methods for evaluating the performance of protective clothing. New explorations for heat and moisture transfer mechanism in protective clothing should be investigated.

Protective clothing is the efficient way to provide fire-fighting occupational safety. To accurately evaluate the TPP of protective clothing under high-temperature and high-humidity condition will help to optimize the clothing performance and choose the proper clothing for providing firefighters with the best protection under multiple thermal hazards.

This paper is offered as a concise reference for scientific community further research in the area of the TPP evaluation methods under high-temperature and high-humidity condition.

The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the potential cooling contribution provided by a phase change material cooling vest as part of the total heat exchange mechanism of the body and take in to account the negative side effects of wearing the cooling garments.

In this study, the three-part system of body-garment-environment has been simulated through the finite element method and the problem of heat exchange between these three parts has been solved with the help of computer modeling.

The results of this modeling showed that a large percentage of the cooling efficiency of cooling vest was neutralized by the negative effects of the vest that are weight, lack of breathability, and the effects on the thermal conductivity of the skin. Therefore, the net efficiency of the cooling vests resulted in a lower decrease in skin temperature compared to the state that the negative side effects were not included in the model.

Cooling power obtained with the help of cooling garments have been studied in previous studies using either human tests or manikins. But, what has been addressed less in previous studies relates to the negative effects of such equipment on the comfort of body, along with their cooling effect. So it is the first time witch the effect of side effects of such equipments are studied. Also modeling the real performance of cooling garments have not been done yet.

The purpose of this investigation was to measure the changes in effective thermal insulation caused by three different types of outer garment ventilation features (chest zips, back zips and pit zips) when combined with either a high or low air permeability insulating layer.

The measurements in this investigation were made with a thermal manikin and with a 26 zone thermal torso. Measurements were made at two air flow speeds with each manikin; the different air flow characteristics for each manikin allowed investigation of how ventilation features interact with different air flow distributions.

It was established in this study that high permeability insulation increases the efficacy of ventilation features by an average of 7 per cent at the low wind speed and 10 per cent at the high wind speed. No particular ventilation feature was found to be consistently the most effective; the data suggest that garment openings should simply be located in well-ventilated areas.

This investigation analysed the ventilation characteristics of protective clothing ensembles with different ventilation features, allowing designers to create more comfortable clothing for work and leisure activities.

The purpose of this paper is to study the combined effects of moisture and radiation on thermal protective performance of protective clothing exposed to low level radiation.

Using a sweating manikin, the effect of radiation and moisture on heat and moisture transfer was initially analyzed under the dry manikin with sweating rate of 100 g/(m2h) exposed to 2.5 kW/m2, and then studied at 200 and 300 g/(m2h) exposed to 2 and 3 kW/m2, respectively. Finally, the combined effects of thermal radiation and moisture were predicted by fitting the relationships among heat loss and wet skin surface temperature, with the sweating rate and radiation intensity.

The results show that the heat loss and the wet skin surface temperature are affected by the combined effects of moisture and radiation, with two distinctly different trends. Heat loss from the manikin is increasing with the sweating rate, and decreasing with thermal radiation intensity. However, the wet skin surface temperature has an opposite situation.

Two filling equations are given to present the relationships among heat loss and wet skin surface temperature, with the sweating rate and radiation intensity. With these two equations, the heat loss and the wet skin surface temperature when exposed to radiation can be predicted by only measuring the mean radiant and ambient temperatures and controlling the sweating rate.

The purpose of this paper is to present the quantification of the thermal conductivities and thermal resistances of 12 insulating fabrics extracted from commercial clothing products under static, simulated sweating, and simulated wind chill conditions.

Triplicate coded (blind test) samples of each fabric were tested in a modified ASTM 1518‐85 test apparatus enclosed in a cold box capable of temperatures as low as −85°C to determine thermal conductivity and thermal resistance. Sweat and wind chill were also simulated and evaluated.

One fabric, Vaetrex0, was clearly found to be superior under all conditions to the other 11 fabrics tested. The performance of many of the other fabrics varied when exposed to simulated sweat.

An objective evaluation of fabrics that can assist manufacturers in fabric selection for cold weather clothing manufacture.

The paper provides an extension of the ASTM 1518‐85 method to cold conditions and a unique blind comparison test of commercial clothing fabrics under these extreme conditions.

This paper traces the evolution of objective measurement of textile hand and comfort from Pierce through modern methodology and approaches. Special emphasis is given to discuss the contribution of the Kawabata Evaluation System (KES) towards advancing the state of objective measurement. Laboratory case studies are used to show how data generated by the KES and other instruments can be integrated into a comprehensive approach that attempts to explain human comfort response to garment wear in terms of fabric mechanical, surface and heat and moisture transfer properties.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate whether small holes in an impermeable patch at the wrist improve perceived comfort during exercise.

Nine male participants participated in this study. During the experiment, participants cycled 60 W in a hot room (35°C, 30 percent relative humidity) while an impermeable 20 cm² patch was located on the ventral side of one wrist and at the same time a patch of identical shape with 5 mm diameter holes (17.7 percent uncovered) on the other wrist. The participants could not see the patches. Participants were forced to choose which patch they perceived as more comfortable. Chest and arm skin temperature, thermal comfort, thermal sensation and wetness perception were assessed.

Participants preferred 5 mm holes over no holes (p=0.017). Chest skin temperature (p=0.018) but not arm skin temperature correlates with this preference. Thermal comfort, thermal sensation and wetness perception did not differ significantly between patches. It is concluded that patches with 5 mm holes are preferred over impermeable patches during work in the heat in particular when the torso skin is warm.

The wrist is a preferred location for smart wearables. Generally, wrist bands are made of air-impermeable materials leading to sensation of wetness and discomfort. This study has shown that manufacturers should consider to make small holes in their wrist bands to optimize wearing comfort.

This study examined the wear comfort and thermal insulation properties of Al₂O₃/graphite particle-imbedded sheath/core and dispersed fabrics via a thermal manikin experiment.

Al₂O₃/graphite sheath/core and dispersed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn (POY 120d/24f) were spun using a pilot melt bi-component conjugated spinning machine, which was texturized as 75d/24f on the belt-type texturing machine. The woven fabric specimens were made using nylon 70d/34f in the warp with three types of weft yarn: Al₂O₃/graphite sheath/core, dispersed and regular PET yarns. Thermal insulation properties were measured and compared in terms of the heat retention rate (I) by KES-F7 apparatus and the maximum surface temperature by light heat emission equipment, as verified by the emissivity of various fabric specimens by far-infrared ray experiment. In addition, this study examined the thermal insulation (Clo value) characteristics of the clothes made of Al₂O₃/graphite sheath/core and dispersed fabrics using a thermal manikin apparatus, which were compared with the properties of regular PET clothing.

The thermal insulation of the dispersed fabric was superior to that of the sheath/core fabric, which was tentatively attributed to the higher emissivity of the dispersed yarn with Al₂O₃/graphite particles distributed over the whole yarn cross-section than that from the core of the sheath/core yarn. This result for the clothing measured using a thermal manikin was consistent with the higher heat retention rate (I) and the maximum surface temperature of the dispersed fabric than that of the sheath/core fabric. In addition, the thermal insulation of the dispersed and sheath/core fabrics was superior to that of the regular PET fabric, which revealed that the Al₂O₃/graphite particles imbedded in the dispersed and sheath/core yarns exerted a greater effect on the heat storage and release characteristics compared to that of the TiO₂ particles in regular PET yarn. The Clo values of the dispersed and sheath/core fabrics under the light-on condition were much higher than those under the light-off condition, and furthermore, the difference of the Clo value between the sheath/core and regular PET fabrics under light-on condition was approximately 1.7 times greater than that under the light-off condition. These results revealed that the far-infrared rays emitted from the Al₂O₃/graphite particles imbedded in the sheath/core and dispersed yarns enhance the heat storage and release characteristics from the fabric under the light-on condition, i.e. under the sunlight.

The previously examined thermal wear comfort properties of the various inorganic particle-imbedded fabrics were measured with the fabric state, not clothing, which could not provide objective data related to the actual wearing performance of clothing.