Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
Human physiology as the determining factor in protective clothing design
Daanen, Hein
Publication date 2014
Document Version Final published version Published in
Enprotex Magazine
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Daanen, H. (2014). Human physiology as the determining factor in protective clothing design.
Enprotex Magazine, 1(2).
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Download date:27 Nov 2021
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Prof. Dr. HeinDaanen
Besides his function as prlncipal scientist at TNO, Hein is professor in thermal physiology at the faculty of Human Movement sciences of the VU University in Amsterdam Hein is also professor in Fashion Research and Technology at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Last but not least he has his own company Sizing Sciences that asslst manufactures in their clothing sizing processes to produce better fitting cÌothing.
Hein says that it is good to integrate sciences as thermal physiology,
anthropometrics, technique and fashlon to optimize protective clothing With different examples Hein illustrates the advantage ofthis approach. As a
professor in thermal physiology at the VU University he let his PhD-students experience the importance of this field of expertise in daily practice One of his students, Koen Levels, graduated on individual coping with heat stress by flre ñghLers Protective clothing is a serious component in the thermal load and thus a limiting factor in frreflghter operations
New sensor techniques can be used to assisL frrefighters in determining their duration limited exposure (DLE)
real-time during operations With this knowledge they can'play'with their work intensity (pacing) to extend or reduce DLE. In combination wlth knowledge of human physiology material technology can be used to cool flreflghters and lengthen the duration of work time Hein participated in the European'PROSPIE' project (www.
prospie.eu) in which protective clothing was developed thatyieìds a warning when thermal tolerance is exceeded.
In this context Hein also mentioned the important work of Proi Dr George
Havenith of Loughborough University where with special techniques sweating of the human body is mapped. With this knowledge you can produce clothing with special properties on different spots of the human body to optimize cooling by evaporation of sweat This technique is already considered for use in sports clothing by e g Adidas, Nike and Decathlon. It will be a good step to convince the manufactures of protective clothing to adopt slmilar techniques for optimisation of thelr products Important ls that they consider protectlve clothing as a system and not as a series of separate items. Hein thinks that this integration of flelds of expertise will develop and is leading to better individually adapted protective clothing
At the AMFI Hein is working with a
team ofresearchers on virtuai design of clothing and smart garments using a multidiscipllnary approach An important issue to solve is that
smart protectlve clothing has to be in compliance with European legislation European standards will
help the manufacturers to produce certifled products However the present standardisation is not yet prepared to the use ofnew techniques integrated in textiles, because textiles and electronics make use of different European
standards under CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. It is expected that close collaboration between the different European standardisation wilÌ soon make an end to this disharmony. If we then also develop functional standards lnstead of technical standards as it is nov/ u/e open the door to innovations in protective clothing The European proj ect'smart@f,re' (www.smartatfire eu) is according to Hein a f,rst good step forward is this process Especially precommercial procurement (PCP) helps manufacturers to develop innovative
products taking into account necessary research and standardization of the products.
Another problem of the use of electronics mentioned by Hein is washing of the clothing Electronics are 'allergic' for water and also the mechanical ìmpact on the clothing during washing is a problem for the electronics in textiles Working on other cleaning techniques may help in solving that problem, but that is a solutlon on the long-term because you have to replace the washing machines for other cleaning machines
For the near future Hein foresees that despite the past period of 15 years off experimenting with smart garmenls in the coming 5 years commercial products will be produced for the market å
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Photo: IFV (NL)
AS THE DETERMININ FACTOR IN PROTECT
CTOTHING DESIGN
Author: drs. Ronald Heus, IFV (NL)
Interwiewed by: Jyoti Mahabier Panday, IFV (NL)
Prolective clorhing is designed 1o protect humons ogoinst risks like fire, chemicols or blunt impoct.
Although protect¡ve clothing diminishes the effects
of exlernol risks, it moy hinder people in funclioning ond if moy olso introduce new (inrernol) risks.
Monufoclurers ore oflen noT owore of the seriousness
of lhose risks. Prof. Doonen, humon movemenl scientisl, postulotes thot knowledge on humon physiology musl be port of protective clothing design. After o coreer in prolective clorhing reseorch Thol storted obout 25 yeors ogo ot TNO (NL) he is
ent¡lled 1o soy Things like thot.
MAGAZINI FOR PUBLIC PROCURIRS
THE EFFECTS OI UNDERSHIRTS
ON RETEVANT PSYCHO PHYSIOTOGICAT PARAMETERS DURING EXERCISE. IN A CONTROTTED ENVIRONMENT WHITE WEARING PROTECTIVE GEAR Authors: ing. Harold Mugie MSc, Brandweer Hollands Midden,
drs. Eric Mol, Amsterdam-Amstelland and drs. Ronald Heus, IFV (NL)
In a study carried out by the University ofApplied Sciences ofArnhem and Nijmegen (HAN), three different fabric types ofundershirts were tested The research focused on the effects each of these shirts had on heat storage in the human body, speciñcal1y temperature, moisture sensation and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE Scale, Borg 1998)
The results of this specif,c test situation, showed no statistically signif,cant effect ofunderwear on heat storage,
temperature and moisture sensation or ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)
Introduction qnd problem slqtemenl
One of the roles of the Knowledge Centre of Hollands-Midden Fire Service, is to identify existing problems within the fire service sector and provide a
structured approach to problem solving,
1n order to support the flre flghters in theirjobs Currently the topic ofheat ABSTRACÏ
0ne of the ospecls in the work field of the Knowledge centre of Hollonds Midden Fire Service is the sofety ond comforl of lhe firefighting personnel.
0ne specific question thol wos idenlified wos, whot were the effects of weoring undershirts beneoth the stondord EN4ó9 tested Fire Fighting suit?
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