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RTI International: protective clothing testing. RTI offers extensive and unique capabilities
to support aerosol challenge research and testing of chemical protective
fabrics and ensembles. Some of their testing includes, full-scale
aerosol challenge tests of military and first responder protective garments
are performed in RTI's wind tunnel aerosol exposure facility. The open-jet
recirculating wind tunnel contains a 7-ft diameter, 40-hp vane-axial fan
centrally located in a 28-ft x 50-ft sealed room. Wind speeds up to 40 mph
may be achieved within the 6-ft diameter test section. Upon exiting the
test section, the air freely expands into the room and recirculates back
to the fan intake. To facilitate operations, the test section is mounted
on a raised platform providing access from below; overhead access is also
available. Adjoining the wind tunnel are control room, doffing area, and
sampling room. Donning and garment storage areas are located apart from
the wind tunnel. To allow for testing over a range of ambient conditions,
the wind tunnel is equipped with cooling, heating, and humidity controls.
Temperatures from approximately 0 to 45°C and relative humidities from approximately
20% to 85% may be achieved. The ventilation systems of the wind tunnel include
a recirculating, high-efficiency filtration system for the removal of aerosol
from the wind tunnel atmosphere and an ambient air purging system.
Texas Research International They
test protective clothing.
The effectiveness of protective clothing against chemicals is assessed
by the performance of clothing materials, seams, and components in preventing
the passage of the chemicals in question. The chemical protective clothing
industry uses two principal methods for measuring barrier effectiveness
of protective clothing materials and seams against chemicals: permeation
resistance and penetration resistance.
ASTM F1342 - 05 ASTM
F1342 - 05 Standard Test Method for Protective Clothing Material Resistance
to Puncture. This test method evaluates puncture resistance of protective
clothing materials which may include plastics or elastomeric films, coated
fabrics, flexible materials, laminates, or textile materials. This test
method is not intended to measure puncture resistance of all types of punctures
encountered using protective clothing material. This test method involves
a procedure where a puncture probe of specified dimensions is used for puncturing
specimens.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Protective clothing
-- Test methods for clothing providing protection against chemicals -- Part
4: Determination of resistance to penetration by a spray of liquid (spray
test).
Protective Clothing ISO 17491-4:2008 specifies methods for determining
the resistance of chemical protective clothing to penetration by sprays
of liquid chemicals at two different levels of intensity:
- Method A: low-level spray test. This is applicable to clothing that
covers the full body surface and which is intended to be worn when there
is a potential risk of exposure to small quantities of spray or accidental
low volume splashes of a liquid chemical.
- Method B: high level spray test This is applicable to clothing with
spray-tight connections between different parts of the clothing and,
if applicable, between the clothing and other items of personal protective
equipment, which covers the full body surface and which is intended
to be worn when there is a risk of exposure to sprayed particles of
liquid.
Test Methods for Protective Clothing (OSHA: United States Department
of Labor) This appendix contains test methods which must be used to determine
if protective clothing affords the required level of protection as specified
in 1910.156, fire brigades.
Learn more about
apparel quality testing.
Learn
about the following apparel quality testing subjects:
AQL Inspections Chart
Quality
Control Managers
Piece
Good Inspection
Cutting
Room Quality Control
fabric Defects
In-Process Quality Control
Quality Assurance
fabric Testing Methods
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