A Sweating Thermal Manikin is a highly sophisticated instrument used to replicate human thermoregulation, including heat generation, moisture transport, and perspiration. It allows researchers to evaluate how clothing interacts with real physiological processes, making it indispensable for modern apparel engineering, PPE certification, and environmental ergonomics. With the continuous rise of performance textiles and protective gear, sweating manikins have become a core part of scientific testing.
A sweating manikin is engineered with multiple independent heating zones, high-precision temperature sensors, and controlled sweating pores. Through its artificial skin layer, water is supplied evenly or selectively to simulate realistic sweating intensities.
During a test, the manikin maintains stable “skin temperature” while releasing sweat. As garments absorb, wick, evaporate, or retain moisture, sensors measure:
Heat flux distribution
Thermal insulation (Clo value)
Evaporative resistance
Moisture retention and drying time
Microclimate humidity inside the clothing system
This replicates real human heat and sweat responses—something no static fabric test can achieve.
Outdoor Performance Apparel
Sweating manikins help assess how jackets, mid-layers, and base-layers perform under wind, humidity, or high sweating conditions.
Sportswear Development
Used to test quick-dry fabrics, ventilation zoning, breathable materials, and cooling technologies for athletes.
PPE & Protective Clothing
Essential for evaluating firefighter gear, military uniforms, chemical protective suits, and industrial workwear under heat stress.
HVAC & Indoor Comfort Engineering
Used in building science labs to evaluate airflow distribution, thermal comfort, and localized cooling strategies.
Transportation & Cabin Comfort
Automotive and aerospace industries test cabin microclimate comfort using sweating manikins.
Sweating manikins typically support key global standards such as:
ISO 15831 – Clothing thermal insulation
ASTM F2370 – Evaporative resistance using a sweating manikin
ISO 7933 – Heat stress prediction model
ISO 11999 – Protective clothing for firefighters
ISO 11092 (related) – Material-level evaporative resistance
Compliance ensures repeatability, comparability, and certification-grade accuracy.
1. High Realism
Reproduces actual human sweating, heat transfer, and environmental interaction.
2. Repeatable and Scientific
Provides controlled, standardized, and highly repeatable test data.
3. Accurate Evaluation of Layered Clothing Systems
Unlike fabric-only tests, manikins can evaluate entire garment systems including base, mid, and shell layers.
4. Reduced Need for Human Trials
Minimizes risks associated with heat-stress experiments on human subjects.
5. Global Standardization
Fully compatible with ISO and ASTM test methods.
1. High Purchase and Maintenance Cost
A full-body sweating manikin is expensive and requires specialized handling.
2. Limited Motion Simulation
Most manikins are static; dynamic models exist but are more complex and costly.
3. Human Variability Cannot Be Fully Replicated
Real individuals differ in metabolic rate, sweating patterns, and physiology.
4. Test Time Can Be Long
Evaporation, stabilization, and environmental cycling require extended test durations.
Sportswear brands
Outdoor apparel manufacturers
Universities and research institutions
PPE and military equipment developers
HVAC engineers
Automotive and aerospace climate-control teams
These users rely on sweating manikins to optimize garment design, validate performance, and ensure comfort and safety in real-world environments.
