Thermal Manikin Garment Insulation Testing ISO 15831
topic
Thermal manikin testing measures the total insulation of complete clothing systems on a three-dimensional anthropometrically representative heated mannequin with independently controlled surface heating zones, each maintained at skin temperature while recording the power required to sustain thermal equilibrium against ambient air conditions. The manikin accounts for real garment geometry including air gaps, fit variation across body regions, and the contribution of dead air trapped between clothing layers — factors that flat-plate testing cannot capture. Results are expressed as total garment insulation in CLO units across the full body surface area, enabling direct comparison of complete clothing systems for cold environment protection.
Role
Thermal manikin testing provides the whole-garment insulation measurement that translates flat-fabric thermal resistance data into real-world clothing system performance — capturing the critical contribution of fit and trapped air layers that can account for thirty to fifty percent of total garment insulation, making manikin testing the essential validation tool for military cold-weather clothing, polar expedition gear, and occupational protective clothing rated for specific ambient temperature limits.