Burning topic for flame resistant clothing

More SIDS boost Satra flame resistance testing.

Satra has commissioned two more instrumented manikins to assess the heat and flame resistance of protective clothing.

The purchase, to cope with increasing test demands from the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) consumer sector, means the international technology centre now has three heat and flame dummies available for apparel and footwear assessment.

The original Satra Instrumented Dummy nicknamed SID made its public debut at A+A2001, the health and safety at work exhibition in Germany.

It has since been used to evaluated specialist clothing, such as for firefighting and welding/foundry environments, against heat and flame conditions simulating real fire scenarios using a moveable framework of 16 propane burners which project a uniform flux of heat of 1,000C.

More than 100 temperature sensors embedded in SID's body are monitored using a sophisticated logging system and readings predict the extent and area of burn damage to human skin.

Representatives of UK fire brigades have witnessed SID's capabilities at a flammability test open day at Satra and 'he' was recently featured on National Geographic TV as part of a scientific series ultimately expected to be shown in 164 countries.

Satra executive director Austin Simmons says: "Traditionally laboratory tests had been undertaken on samples by subjecting them to a small ignited flame to assess the flammability performance of materials".

""However they did not always simulate what happens in real-life settings.

The design and construction of the whole garment can have a crucial effect on heat and flame protection, which can only be simulated by testing as worn in a made-up form.

SID provides a more realistic assessment.

"The investment we have made in additional manikins shows not only our faith in this type of assessment but is a reflection of demand for our test expertise.".

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