As we head towards the winter months and the weather begins to get progressively worse, we understand that wearers in all parts of the country need protective clothing that will keep them safe, visible and also comfortable whilst carrying out their daily tasks.
We also understand that workers deserve to know the products they are wearing perform well. But it can be hard to keep up with all of the technical jargon used to describe the garments. This blog will help you, the wearer, understand what exactly it is you are wearing.
Several years ago, PULSAR® introduced the PULSAR® Evolution collection to the market. They did this to offer a high quality, increased comfort and lighter weight set of waterproof garments – the ultimate, if you may, performance in high-visibility clothing. With this comes a lot of technical language that could be tricky to understand, so let’s dig a little deeper into some of the collection’s key features…
3-layer Laminate Fabric Technology
Simply put, the fabric PULSAR® use in every garment included throughout the Evolution collection is made up of 3 different layers:
- An outer polyester layer (the high-visibility outer part)
- A breathable and waterproof middle layer
- An inner protective backing
The outer layer is designed to keep you visible in poor light conditions, the middle layer keeps the water out whilst allowing perspiration to pass through (a bit like your skin) and the inner protective backing protects the middle layer from getting damaged.
All 3 layers are bonded – sandwiched in simple terms and work together to protect you against poor weather conditions, keeping you visible, dry, comfortable and protected from the elements.
13x more waterproof
All high-visibility garments that claim to be waterproof must conform to the EN Standard EN343. EN343 is measured in different classes and, depending on the level of performance, are allocated a Class 1, 2 or 3 status. The higher the class, the more waterproof it is.
PULSAR®’s EVOTECH fabric is 13x more waterproof than what is required to achieve Class 3 of the EN343 standard – i.e. the highest possible class. In reality, this means you can be certain that the Evolution collection will keep you dry.
10x Stronger
Another part of the certification process is putting the fabric’s tensile strength to the test. Tensile strength is testing the amount of resistance of fabric under tension before breaking point.
The EVOTECH fabric passed this test reaching 10x stronger than the industry standard before tearing, making it tough and durable.
Breathe Easy
Breathability is measured in RET (Resistance of Evaporation of a Textile). The less resistance, the more breathable. And the higher the resistance, the less breathable.
RET is measured on a numerical scale with a score of 1-20 being highly breathable (Class 3), 20-40 is breathable (Class 2) and 40+ being non-breathable (Class 1).
The PULSAR® EVOTECH fabric scored 11.3 RET – so sits firmly in the highly breathable bracket.
All of these things added together give you a collection of high-visibility clothing that performs above and beyond the industry requirements for breathability, water resistance, durability and comfort.
So, hopefully now, this fantastic range makes a bit more sense and you can see just how much PULSAR® are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the protective clothing market-creating garments that exceed, not just meet, your expectations.
#visiblysuperior
Disclaimer: The information provided through Greenham Pulse is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Greenham Pulse is not a substitute for Health and Safety consultancy. You should seek independent advice about any legal matter.
