Discover the Science Behind Clothing Comfort and Protection April 30-May 2

By Susan Fandel

If your work involves the production or testing of high-performance athletic apparel and/or advanced garment systems for the military and first responders, you won’t want to miss Clothing Comfort and Protection Science, a three-day course taught by experts at the world-renowned Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) at the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University. Led by Dr. Roger Barker, TPACC is the nation’s leading center for research and education on advanced clothing systems.

This is the second time the center has offered an onsite short course on topics including comfort, systems ergonomics, heat strain, functionality and protection from thermal, chemical, biological and physical threats. Those who attend this limited-seating course from April 30-May 2, will not only attend lectures and take part in class discussions, they will observe tests in TPACC’s state-of-the-art labs. The cost to attend is $1,195 and registrations are being accepted now. The class will take place at the Wilson College of Textiles on NC State’s Centennial Campus.

The course presents the science behind the characterization and development of comfortable and/or protective textiles and clothing.

What makes clothing comfortable? How do you define the limits of high-performance apparel? How do you ensure materials provide protection from various threats?

Properties associated with human tactile response, thermal comfort and heat stress are emphasized. Inherent issues of balancing comfort versus protection are illustrated by research studies on performance garments or protective clothing systems. Methods and standards for evaluating comfort and protective performance range from bench level instruments to system level tests for ensembles using instrumented manikins, human clothing wear trials, and physiological tests. Protection from mechanical, thermal, chemical and ballistic threats are addressed, and the key role of standards is discussed.

• What makes clothing comfortable?  
  • Tactile Comfort
  • Moisture Management
  • Breathability and Heat Exchange
  • Thermal burden
  • Hand
• Evaluating protective materials
  • Flame
  • Radiant threats
  • Stored Energy
  • Chemical barriers
    • Permeation
    • Penetration
    • Respiratory Protection
  • Smoke and aerosols
• System Level Testing
  • Functionality and Ergonomics
    • Boots and Gloves
    • System Operability
  • Comfort
  • Physiological Burden
    • Manikin testing
    • Human Testing
    • Physiological Models
  • Thermal Protection
    • Flashfire
    • Radiant
    • Wildland Shelters
  • Chemical & Biological Protective Ensembles
    • FAST Aerosol Test
    • Man in Simulant Test (MIST)
    • Other System-Level Tests
• Standard test methods and consensus performance standards

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from the best!  Secure your seat in the class today.

For questions about registration or course logistics, contact:
Melissa Sharp
919-515-0236
mcgardne@ncsu.edu