In performance apparel and textile R&D, one challenge consistently stands in the way of accurate thermal comfort evaluation: traditional fabric tests cannot capture how moisture, body heat, and sweat interact in real conditions.
This is exactly where a Sweating Fabric Manikin becomes an indispensable tool.
A Sweating Fabric Manikin precisely simulates human body heat and sweat production, allowing researchers, testing labs, and apparel brands to measure thermal resistance, evaporative resistance, moisture management, and clothing comfort under controlled yet realistic environments.
From outdoor apparel to firefighter suits, the manikin helps engineers quantify what human wearers feel — before products reach the market.
A Sweating Fabric Manikin is a life-sized or torso-only mannequin equipped with heating elements and a controlled sweating system.
It is designed to replicate:
Human metabolic heat
Perspiration rate
Sweat distribution
Skin temperature
Thermo-physiological response under different environments
The result is a highly realistic simulation of real human comfort during heat, cold, humidity, wind, or physical exertion.
1. Traditional fabric tests don’t reflect real-world comfort
Moisture transfer, sweat evaporation, and thermal insulation behave differently when combined.
Only a sweating manikin can evaluate the complete clothing system.
2. Human subject tests are inconsistent
Human testers vary in:
Sweat rates
Pain threshold
Movement
Fatigue
A manikin provides repeatable, consistent, quantifiable data.
3. Growing demand for comfort performance
Performance apparel, PPE, sportswear, outdoor gear, and military clothing increasingly require:
Heat stress protection
Moisture management analysis
Comfort rating scores
A sweating manikin delivers data that directly supports marketing claims and product differentiation.
4. Regulatory and standardization requirements
More global standards now recommend thermal and evaporative resistance measurement using sweating manikins.
1. Outdoor Apparel & Sportswear
Used for jackets, base layers, hiking pants, rainwear, ski suits, running apparel, and cycling wear.
2. PPE & Firefighter Gear
Structural firefighting suits
Chemical protective clothing
Heat-resistant uniforms
Hazmat suits
Manikins provide essential data for heat stress assessment and evaporative cooling performance.
3. Military Uniforms
Thermal burden, evaporative resistance, and comfort validation for various climatic conditions.
4. Industrial & Protective Workwear
Ensures workers’ clothing maintains comfort and safety under extreme temperatures.
5. Textile and Material Research
Evaluation of:
Waterproof–breathable membranes
Moisture-wicking fabrics
Phase change materials (PCM)
Thermal insulation systems
6. Academic & Physiological Research
Used by universities and human thermophysiology labs worldwide.
Sweating manikins support testing under major global standards, including:
ISO 15831 – Thermal insulation measurement (clothing)
ISO 11092 / ISO 18640 – Evaporative resistance & thermal stress
ASTM F2370 – Clothing evaporative resistance
ASTM F1291 – Thermal insulation of clothing ensembles
EN 469 / NFPA 1971 – Firefighter PPE performance
ISO 7933 – Heat stress evaluation
These standards define manikin performance requirements, environmental conditions, and calculation methods for Rct (thermal resistance) and Ret (evaporative resistance).
1.Full-Body or Segmented Heating Zones
Allows uniform or zoned heating to simulate realistic metabolic heat distribution.
2.Precision Sweating System
Micro-porous skin or capillary tubes distribute sweat evenly and predictably.
3.Human-Like Thermal Mass
Provides accurate thermal response similar to a real body.
4.Climate Chamber Compatibility
Designed for use under controlled:
Temperature
Humidity
Wind speed
Radiation load
High Repeatability & Calibration Stability
Ideal for long-term product development and certification work.
Step 1 — Dressing the Manikin
Clothing layers are placed carefully to avoid compression or wrinkles.
Step 2 — Climate Chamber Setup
Environmental conditions are set:
Air temperature
Relative humidity
Wind velocity
Radiant heat if required
Step 3 — Heating Activation
Manikin body zones are warmed to the target skin temperature (e.g., 34°C).
Step 4 — Sweating Initiation
Controlled sweat rate begins, simulating:
Light perspiration
Moderate activity
Heavy sweating
depending on the research goal.
Step 5 — Data Collection
Sensors record:
Heat loss
Evaporation rate
Thermal insulation (Rct)
Evaporative resistance (Ret)
Moisture distribution
Step 6 — Analysis & Reporting
Researchers evaluate:
Breathability
Moisture comfort
Drying time
Heat stress risk
Clothing system efficiency
Results are often used for R&D, certification, and internal benchmarking.
When selecting a manikin, consider the following factors:
1. Body Type & Size
Options include:
Torso-only
Full-body
Multi-zone (8–36 heating segments)
Gender-specific anthropometry
2. Sweating Method
Micro-porous porous skin (more realistic)
Tubing-based sweating (high controllability)
3. Number of Sensors
Higher sensor count = more detailed thermal mapping.
4. Sweating Capacity
Look for adjustable sweat rates suitable for:
Light exercise
Heavy activity
Extreme environmental tests
5. Compatibility With Climate Chambers
Ensure the manikin fits your existing chamber setup.
6. Calibration & Maintenance Requirements
Quality manikins provide stable calibration and easy skin replacement.
7. Software Integration
Modern systems offer:
Real-time control
Data logging
Thermal modeling
Automated calculation of Rct / Ret
8. After-Sales Service
Given the complexity, strong technical support is essential.
A Sweating Fabric Manikin is one of the most valuable tools for modern apparel engineering — combining human-like thermophysiological behavior with scientific precision.
It helps brands reduce dependence on variable human trials, accelerate product development, comply with global standards, and deliver scientifically validated comfort performance.
