Sioen’s major strength is innovation, and we spare no effort in finding new solutions to protect our end users. Today, the Sioen group has over 200 dedicated personnel tirelessly working in our R&D department, developing new products or processes in collaboration with Siotec. Thanks to our in-house testing laboratory reserved to firefighting garments, we can efficiently test our products and adapt them to the ever evolving challenges firemen face today.
This test measures the limited spread of flames of vertically oriented textile fabrics (one or several layers), when subjected to a flame.
A defined flame is applied for 10 seconds to the surface of the fabric, whereupon one ascertains:
This test defines a method to compare the heat transfer index (HTI) of materials and material assemblies.
Each fabric sample is exposed horizontally to an intensive heat flux of 80kW/m².
The heat which passes through the fabric(s) is measured with a copper calorimeter.
The average value of 3 tests is calculated.
HTI24-HTI12 is the reaction time between +12°C and +24° C.
The EN 367 test indicates 2 performance levels in the EN 469 standard: a lower protection level, Xf1 and a higher protection level Xf2.
The EN ISO 6942 test exposes the fabrics to an intensive radiant heat of 40kW/m2 and determines the values of the RHTI12 (first degree burns) and the RHTI24 (second degree burns) and those of the RHTI24-RHTI12 as reaction time.
The EN ISO 6942 indicates two performance levels in the EN 469 standard: a lower protection level Xr1 and a higher protection level Xr2.
The fabrics are tested after a preceding treatment and after exposure to a radiant heat flux of 10 kW/m2. The resistance of the fabric has to be higher than 450N to guarantee resistant garments.
During the ISO 17493 test all the materials are exposed to a temperature of 180°C for 5 minutes. Not one of the materials of the garment (fabrics, zippers, thread, stripings,...) can inflame, melt or present a shrinkage higher than 5%.
The used accessories have to function at the end of the test.
During the test the material has to present a minimum tensile strength of 450N.
The principal seams of the outer material have to present a minimum tensile strength of ≥ 225N.
The outer material has to present a minimum tear strength of 25N when the fabric already presents a tear.
This standard indicates the water repellency of outer fabrics.
The test materials have to be washed and dried in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer before the testing.
The outer material has to reach a minimum score of 4 (5 being the highest score). The test has to be performed even when the assembly has a waterproof barrier.
This test makes sure that the materials won't shrink or deform after they have been washed.
The dimensional change has to be equal to or lower than ± 3% in both directions after 5 washing and drying cycles. Every material layer (or the different components of an assembly for multi-layered garments) has to be tested individually and in the assembly.
The materials have to be washed and dried in accordance with the specifications of the manufacturer before being tested.
The chemical products are applied for 10 sec. The assembly can on no account present penetration in the inner surface (penetration 0%) whilst the repulsion has to be more than 80%.
| Used chemicals | ||
|---|---|---|
| NaOH | sodium hydroxide | 40% |
| HCI | hydrochloric acid | 36% |
| H2SO4 | sulphuric acid | 30% |
| C8H10 | O-xylene | 100% |
The entire assembly is tested to verify the breathability of the assembly. This standard determines 2 levels of resistance limiting breathability:
Higher than 30 Pa/W m² (< 45 Pa/W m²)
The water vapour resistance is high, the garment has a poor breathability. The EN 469 warns that a high water vapour resistance can involve an increased risk on burns caused by water vapour.
≤ 30m² Pa/W
A lower water vapour resistance, the garment has a better breathability. It has to be noted that suits without membrane are far more breathable (< 10m²Pa/W).
This test submits the assembly to hydrostatic pressure. The water penetration resistance has to reach one of the following levels:
As a customer, you can attend the tests in our in-house laboratory. That way, you can witness our products’ extremely high quality with your own eyes. Contact our team to find out more about this opportunity.
