Whole Suit Tests Overview and Description
| Type | Standard & Test Method | Test Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 3 Jet Spray Test |
EN 14605+A1 :2009
|
 |
This test involves exposing a whole suit to a series of short jets of a water based liquid (with a low surface tension of 30-35 m N/m) aimed at various critical parts of the suit. The pressure of the jet when leaving the firing nozzle is 3 bar and the firing nozzle is situated at a distance of 1m away from the garment. The liquid is coloured, so that any inward leakage will visibly stain the undergarment. A suit has passed the test when the total stained area on the undergarment is smaller than three times the calibration stain. (The calibration stain is the stain area produced by 0.02 ml of the test liquid.) |
| Type 4 Saturation Spray Test |
EN 14605+A1 :2009
|
 |
This test involves exposing a whole suit to an intense spray of a water based liquid (with a low surface tension of 30-35 m N/m). A total quantity of 4.5 litres is sprayed as a fine mist for one minute. There is no pressure exerted by the fine spray on the suit. While being sprayed, the wearer of the suit will perform gentle movements while rotating. The liquid is coloured, so that any inward leakage will visibly stain the undergarment. A suit has passed the test when the total stained area on the undergarment is smaller than three times the calibration stain. (The calibration stain is the stain area produced by 0.02 ml of the test liquid.) |
| Type 5 Particle Inward Leakage |
EN ISO13982-1:2004+A1:2010
|
This test involves exposing a whole suit (10 test suits) to a dry aerosol of sodium chloride. The particle size is 0.6 μm. While being exposed to the dry aerosol, the wearer of the suit performs the following sequence of 3 movements: 9 minutes standing, 9 minutes walking, 9 minutes squatting. The total inward leakage is expressed as a percentage of the concentration of sodium chloride outside the suit measured for each test suit at 3 points – knee, waist and chest. Therefor, for each suit 9 measurements are taken. In order to pass the test the inward leakage must be less than 30%, for 82 of 90 of the measurements. (Ljmn, 82/90 ≤ 30%). And the average inward leakage (all movements and measurement positions for each suit – 9 readings) must be less than 15% for 8 of the 10 suits. (Ls, 8/10 ≤ 15%). |
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Type 6 |
EN 13034 :2005+A1 :2009
|
 |
This test is essentially the same as the Type 4 spray test however the liquid in the Type 6 test has a slightly higher surface tension of 57 m N/m and the quantity sprayed is reduced to 1.9 litres. A suit passes the test when the total stained area on the undergarment is smaller than three times the calibration stain. (The calibration stain is the stain area produced by 0.02 ml of the test liquid.) |
