TÜV SÜD Thermal Manikin Testing – Powering a New Engine for Cold- environments Garments in the Global Market

Against the backdrop of volatile global climate conditions and increasingly frequent extreme low temperatures, cold- environments garments have become essential protective equipment for workers in outdoor operations, cold-chain logistics, polar exploration, and other fields. The Euro-pean standard for cold- environments protective clothing, EN 342, sets clear requirements for the thermal insulation performance of garments, and thermal manikin testing is the core technical method used to verify the thermal resistance of such products. The internationally recognized thermal manikin testing standards primarily include ISO 15831 and ASTM F1291. However, due to their complex structures, multi-layer compositions, and diverse fabrics, cold- environments garments present a critical challenge for enterprises seeking to accurately assess thermal re-sistance under real-world usage conditions when entering international markets.


(TÜV SÜD Thermal Manikin Testing)

The EU PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and the EN 342 standard impose strict requirements on the “resultant effective thermal insulation (Icler)” of cold- environments garments. Insufficient insu-lation values can directly affect product conformity certification, preventing the acquisition of the CE mark, obstructing market access, and even leading to consumer complaints and product re-turn risks. Meanwhile, insulation requirements vary significantly under different activity levels, wind speeds, and movement conditions, yet enterprises often lack scientific and highly repeata-ble testing methods to verify product performance.

Pain Points for Enterprises

• Exporting products to the EU requires meeting the quantitative thermal insulation re-quirements of EN 342. However, building a manikin testing system compliant with ISO 15831 or ASTM F1291 is prohibitively expensive.
• Cold- environments garments involve multiple layers of materials (outer shell, insulation filling, lining), and different combinations and designs can have complex effects on overall thermal resistance. Traditional flat-plate or material-level testing cannot accurately reflect real wearing conditions.

To help cold- environments garment manufacturers overcome technical barriers and enhance product competitiveness, TÜV SÜD launches a dedicated thermal manikin testing service based on ISO 15831 and ASTM F1291. Leveraging globally leading thermal manikin testing systems, we provide a full-process thermal resistance evaluation solution that meets EN 342 require-ments—making compliance verification more precise and product upgrades more efficient.

Two Core Services to Solve Cold- environments Garment Thermal Resistance Testing Challenges

• Thermal Manikin Testing (ISO 15831 & ASTM F1291): Using segmented, independent-ly controlled thermal manikins that support both stationary and walking states, we conduct testing in accordance with ISO 15831 or ASTM F1291, depending on target market re-quirements. This enables precise measurement of total thermal resistance (Itr) and effec-tive thermal resistance (Icler), with data meeting both EN 342 certification and North Amer-ican market access requirements.
• Product R&D and Benchmarking Optimization: Comparative testing based on ISO 15831 or ASTM F1291 can be conducted for different insulation fillings, fabric combina-tions, and design configurations. This quantifies the impact of each variable on thermal resistance and helps enterprises shorten R&D cycles.

TÜV SÜD – Ready to Move Forward with You

As a globally leading third-party testing and certification organization, TÜV SÜD has extensive expertise in PPE testing and certification. Whether you aim to strengthen internal quality control or support product entry into European and North American markets, EN 342 (in conjunction with ISO 15831) and ASTM F1291 thermal manikin testing can provide reliable support—helping you take the lead in thermal resistance verification for cold- environments garments and succeed in global market competition.

About TÜV SÜD

Founded in 1866 as a steam boiler inspection association, the TÜV SÜD Group has evolved into a global enterprise. More than 30,000 employees work at over 1.000 locations in about 50 countries to continually improve technology, systems and expertise. They contribute significantly to making technical innovations such as Industry 4.0, autonomous driving and renewable energy safe and reliable.