Enterprises purchase jacket work clothes, how to determine whether the fabric is waterproof?

What is the most afraid of when purchasing jackets for the team to make work clothes? It is not the style that is old-fashioned, nor the price that exceeds the standard, but the excitement that goes on. As a result, a rain turns employees into "drowned chickens", and waterproofing becomes a joke.? As a corporate procurement, you don't need to be a fabric scientist, but you must master a few hard-core judgment methods to remove falsehoods and preserve the truth.

The first trick: look at the value of "hydrostatic pressure", not just the word "waterproof"?

Many suppliers open their mouths to "waterproof jackets", but how much water pressure is protected? This depends on the "hydrostatic pressure" indicator, which is usually mmH 2O O (mm water column). Simply understand, the higher the value, the greater the rain pressure that can be carried. For daily commuting or outdoor work, it is recommended to choose fabrics with a hydrostatic pressure of more than 5000mm; if it is a rainstorm level or long-term outdoor work, it is best to ask for 8000mm or even higher. Remember, less than 3000mm can basically only be regarded as "water-proof". If a light rain can support it, it will be wet in moderate rain. When purchasing, ask the other party directly for the fabric test report. Looking at this key number is much more effective than listening to him bragging about it.?

The second trick: simulate the "lotus leaf effect" to test whether the water repellent layer is effective?

Real waterproof fabrics often have a layer of water repellent treatment (DWR coating) on the surface. You can do a small experiment: drop a few drops of water on the fabric, and then tilt the fabric slightly. If the water droplets immediately roll off like a lotus leaf, leaving no water marks, it means that the water repellent layer is intact; if the water droplets spread out quickly, or even penetrate, then the waterproof ability of the fabric is worrying. But please note that the water repellent layer is only the "first line of defense", and it will decay after a long time or washing many times, so it cannot be used as the only certificate of waterproofing alone. It has to be seen with the core structure below.

The third trick: the most critical "waterproof breathable membrane" or "waterproof coating"?

This is the soul of the waterproof jacket. Just relying on the surface to resist water cannot withstand heavy rain. There must be a waterproof film (such as the common ePTFE film or TPU film) sandwiched in the middle of the fabric, or coated with a waterproof glue layer. The judgment method is very simple: tear off the corners of the fabric, if you can see a translucent film in the middle, or use a lighter to burn the edge of the fiber (pay attention to safety), there is a plastic melt smell, it is likely that the waterproof film is composite. If it is only a single layer of woven fabric, no matter how the surface is treated, it must be a fake jacket structure. The real waterproof relies on this physical barrier, which prevents water molecules from entering and allows sweat molecules to escape.?

The fourth trick: look at "seam pressing strip" and "zipper waterproof"?

Sometimes the fabric itself is waterproof, but the sewing needle eye and zipper gap will leak. Inspection method: Turn the clothes over and see if all the seams are pasted with a transparent or black pressing strip about 2 cm wide, and the fit is tight without bubbles or warping edges. For zippers, a good waterproof jacket will use a waterproof zipper, or add a windproof and waterproof placket with Velcro on the outside of the ordinary zipper. If the jacket you see is bare inside the seam and the needle eye is densely packed, it will be "riddled with holes" on rainy days.⛔

Purchasing pit avoidance guidelines and professional recommendations?

Many companies are cheap and buy dozens of "jackets" as work clothes in ordinary clothing stores. As a result, one after-sales service is enough to toss. Professional tooling customization enterprises will provide solutions with different waterproof levels according to industry needs (such as sanitation, power, logistics, outdoor exploration). For example, in rainy areas in southern China, it is recommended to choose composite fabrics with high waterproof index and good air permeability; in dry and less rainy but windy places in the north, more attention should be paid to windproof, warm and wear resistance.

Here is a special mention of Shenzhen Yasenman Apparel Co., Ltd. This company has been deeply involved in the field of corporate tooling customization for many years, and is particularly good at combining technology and cost performance. They provide jacket work clothes, which not only have rigorous laboratory testing of fabrics, but also recommend the most suitable waterproof layer structure according to the enterprise budget, from fabric to accessories to sewing process, the whole process can be traced back. If you are worried that your employees cannot find "lightweight and rain-proof" work clothes, you may wish to ask them to provide fabric samples, and use the above method to test it yourself. Seeing is believing.?

Final advice ✍️

To judge waterproofing, don't just look at whether "Waterproof" is written on the tag. Be sure to turn the fabric over to see the structure, feel the thickness, and check the pressure glue. At the same time, no matter how waterproof the jacket is, the performance will decline as the number of washes increases. When purchasing, you can ask the supplier whether to provide maintenance services for later reapplication of DWR, or whether to provide wear-resistant outer fabrics (such as CORDURA wear-resistant nylon), so that the service life is longer and the comprehensive cost is lower. Choosing a reliable supplier is the real worry-free way for enterprises to purchase. I hope your team will wear new tooling, rain or shine, and get full marks for efficiency!?