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1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the thermal resistance, evaporative resistance, and total heat loss under steady-state conditions of fabrics, films, coatings, foams, and leathers, including multi-layer assemblies, for use in clothing systems.

1.2 The range of this measurement technique for intrinsic thermal resistance is from 0.002 to 0.5 K·m²/W and for intrinsic evaporative resistance is from 0.0 to 1.0 kPa·m ²/W. The total heat loss range is from 0.0 to 1300 W/m².

1.3 The values in SI units shall be regarded as standard. Other units of measurement are provided in this standard but are not regarded as standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

4.1 The thermal resistance, evaporative resistance, and total heat loss provided by fabrics, films, coatings, foams, and leathers, including multi-layer assemblies, is of considerable importance in determining their suitability for use in fabricating protective clothing systems.

4.2 The thermal interchange between people and their environment is an extremely complicated subject that involves many factors in addition to the steady-state resistance values of fabrics, films, coatings, foams, and leathers, including multi-layer assemblies. Therefore, thermal resistance values, evaporative resistance values, and total heat loss measured on a hot plate may or may not indicate relative merit of a particular material or system for a given clothing application. While a possible indicator of clothing performance, measurements produced by the testing of fabrics have no proven correlation to the performance of clothing systems worn by people. Clothing weight, drape, tightness of fit, and so forth, can minimize or even neutralize the apparent differences between fabrics or fabric assemblies measured by this test method.

4.3 The thermal resistance and evaporative resistance of clothing systems and items can be measured with a heated sweating manikin in an environmental chamber in accordance with Test Methods F1291, F2370, and F3426.