Rain Poncho Testing

Rain poncho and raincoat inspection mainly conducts scientific testing and analysis on rain protection performance testing, seam water penetration resistance testing, fabric tearing strength testing, anti-blocking testing, hydrostatic pressure resistance testing and surface water repellency, objectively assessing the product quality grade and issuing a detailed test report, providing a basis for manufacturers' quality control and downstream users' product acceptance.

Testing Items

Rain protection performance testing: This is the core functional testing of the rain poncho and raincoat, mainly evaluating their water penetration resistance and surface water repellency. By simulating the artificial rainfall or hydrostatic pressure testing, whether the water droplets penetrate the fabric under the specific water pressure is measured, ensuring that the product can effectively block the water entry in the rainy and windy weather and keep the wearer dry.

Seam water penetration resistance testing: The seams of the raincoat are the weak links of the waterproofing. This testing specifically evaluates the sealing of the seam processes such as the sewing, heat sealing or bonding. The hydrostatic pressure method or spray method is usually adopted, applying the water pressure or continuously spraying water to the seams, checking whether the water leaks from the seams, ensuring the overall protection without dead corners.

Fabric tearing strength testing: Evaluates the ability of the raincoat fabric to resist the tearing damage, simulating the force conditions when the raincoat is hooked by the sharp objects or accidentally torn. The commonly used methods include the tongue method or trapezoid method, and the test results are directly related to the durability and wearing safety of the product, preventing the waterproof failure caused by the accidental tearing.

Anti-blocking testing: For the plastic or coated raincoats, it is detected whether the inner layers of the fabric are easy to adhere together after folding, storage or heating. The blocking will make the fabric difficult to unfold or even damage the coating. The testing is usually carried out under the specific temperature and humidity conditions, evaluating the difficulty of separation, ensuring the use convenience of the product.

Hydrostatic pressure resistance testing: The key item for quantitatively evaluating the waterproof grade of the fabric. The fabric sample is fixed on the tester, and the water pressure is continuously increased until three water seepage points appear on the back side, recording the pressure value at this time (unit: kPa or mmH₂O). The higher the value, the stronger the ability of the fabric to resist the heavy rainfall.

Surface water repellency (spray) testing: Evaluates the wetting state of the water droplets on the fabric surface in accordance with the standards (such as GB/T 4745). The water is sprayed on the surface of the taut sample, and the water repellency grade is rated by comparison with the standard sample photos. The high grade indicates that the water droplets roll off in the bead form and are not easy to wet the fabric, helping to maintain the lightweight and breathable feel of the raincoat.

Moisture permeability testing: An important indicator for measuring the water vapour transmission ability of the raincoat fabric. The high moisture permeability helps to discharge the human perspiration in the form of steam, reducing the stuffy feeling. The commonly used method is to seal the moisture permeability cup containing the desiccant with the sample, place it in a constant temperature and humidity chamber, and measure the mass of the water vapour passing through within the specified time.

Colour fastness testing: Including the colour fastness items such as the colour fastness to water, perspiration and rubbing (dry/wet). It is detected whether the colour of the raincoat fades or contaminates the other clothes under the action of the water, friction or perspiration. This not only affects the appearance, but also is related to the safety of the dyes used, preventing the migration of the hazardous substances through the skin contact.

Testing Scope

Plastic/PVC rain ponchos: Usually the disposable or simple rain ponchos. The testing focus is on the thickness uniformity of the film, puncture resistance, low-temperature softness (preventing the low-temperature brittleness) and the heat sealing strength of the joints. For this type of products, the contents of the hazardous chemicals such as the possible plasticizers need to be strictly controlled.

Coated waterproof raincoats: Referring to the products coated with the waterproof layers such as the PVC, PU and rubber on the base fabrics (such as the polyester and nylon). The testing needs to cover the peel strength of the coating, resistance to washing or dry cleaning, and low-temperature flexing resistance, ensuring that the coating does not fall off or crack during use, maintaining the lasting waterproof effect.

Laminated composite fabric raincoats: The high-performance raincoats made by the lamination of the high waterproof and moisture permeable films (such as the e-PTFE and TPU) with the fabrics. In addition to the basic waterproof and moisture permeability, the testing scope also includes the composite bonding strength, the hydrostatic pressure durability of the film and the performance retention rate after multiple washes. It is the representative of the high-end functional garments.

Children's raincoats: On the basis of the adult raincoat testing items, the stricter safety requirements are added. Including the firmness testing of the small parts (such as the buttons and Velcro), preventing the swallowing risks; the hazardous substances such as the phthalates and decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes are strictly controlled; and whether the design may bring the mechanical hazards such as the tripping and entanglement is evaluated.

Motorcycle/electric vehicle riding rain ponchos: In addition to the conventional waterproof performance, the testing needs to pay attention to the structural design such as the wind resistance, front and rear rain shielding ranges and the durability under the strong wind conditions, ensuring the riding safety and the protection effect in the complex road conditions.

Testing Methods

Hydrostatic pressure testing (ISO 811/GB/T 4744): The specimen is clamped on the tester, and the water pressure is applied to one side of the specimen at a specified rate. When the three water seepage points appear on the other side, the current pressure value is recorded, which is the hydrostatic pressure resistance value. This method quantifies the ability of the fabric to resist the water penetration under the static pressure, and is the core method for evaluating the waterproof grade.

Spray testing (AATCC 22/GB/T 4745): A specified amount of distilled water is sprayed onto the surface of the taut specimen through a standard nozzle, and after the spraying is completed, the wetting state of the specimen surface is compared with the standard sample photos to rate the water repellency grade (0-100 grades). The operation is simple and fast, and is suitable for the rapid evaluation of the surface water repellency.

Rain simulation testing: A rain simulation device is used to simulate the rainfall of the different intensities, and the raincoat is worn on the mannequin or fixed on the frame, observing and recording the water leakage situation of the various parts after the rain. This method can evaluate the overall rain protection effect of the product, including the weak parts such as the seams and hoods.

Tearing strength testing (tongue method/trapezoid method): In the tongue method, the specimen is cut into a trouser shape, and the two legs are clamped on the tensile tester to be stretched until the tear propagates, recording the maximum force; in the trapezoid method, the specimen is clamped along the marked trapezoid line, and the tearing force is measured during the stretching. Both methods reflect the tearing propagation resistance of the material.

Moisture permeability testing (cup method): The moisture permeability cup containing the desiccant or water is sealed with the specimen, placed in a constant temperature and humidity chamber, and after a specified time, the mass change is weighed, and the moisture permeability (g/(m²·24h)) is calculated. This method simulates the water vapour exchange between the human skin and the external environment.

Colour fastness testing: The rubbing fastness tester, perspiration fastness tester and washing fastness tester are used, and the specimen is treated under the specific conditions, and then the grey scales are used to rate the change in colour and the staining of the adjacent fabric, evaluating the colour stability of the raincoat.

Testing Standards

Domestic Standards:

1. GB 18401-2010, National general safety technical code for textile products

2. GB/T 4744, Textiles — Evaluation of water resistance — Hydrostatic pressure method

3. GB/T 4745, Textiles — Evaluation of water resistance — Water repellency test

4. GB/T 12704.1, Textiles — Test method for water vapour transmission of fabrics — Part 1: Desiccant method

5. GB/T 3920-2024, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to rubbing

6. GB/T 3921-2008, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to washing with soap or soap and soda

7. GB/T 3922-2013, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Colour fastness to perspiration

International Standards:

1. ISO 811, Textiles — Determination of resistance to water penetration — Hydrostatic pressure test

2. AATCC 22, Water repellency: Spray test

3. ISO 1420, Rubber- or plastics-coated fabrics — Determination of resistance to penetration by water

4. ISO 13934-1, Textiles — Tensile properties of fabrics — Part 1: Determination of maximum force and elongation at maximum force using the strip method

5. ISO 105, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness

Note: The applicable standard can be selected according to the product use and customer trade requirements; standards agreed in the contract take precedence over general standards.

Testing Instruments and Equipment

Hydrostatic pressure tester: The core equipment for precisely measuring the hydrostatic pressure resistance value of the fabric. The instrument applies the continuously rising water pressure or air pressure to one side of the specimen and automatically detects the leakage points. The high-end equipment can programmably control the pressurization rate, conforming to the various standards such as ISO 811 and GB/T 4744, providing the objective and repeatable quantitative data, and is the key instrument for evaluating the waterproof grade of the raincoat.

Spray-type waterproof tester: In accordance with the standards such as AATCC 22, used to evaluate the surface water repellency (spray rating) of the fabric. The instrument sprays the quantified distilled water onto the surface of the taut specimen through a standard nozzle, and then the spray grade is intuitively rated by comparison with the standard sample photos. The operation is simple and fast, and is suitable for the rapid detection of the surface water repellency of the raincoat.

Universal material testing machine: Used for the mechanical property tests such as the tensile strength, tearing strength, seam slippage and peel strength. Through the different fixtures and sensors, it can simulate the various external forces borne by the raincoat during wearing, evaluating the tear resistance of the fabric, seam strength and mechanical durability.

Moisture permeability tester: The desiccant method or skin model method is adopted. Through the precise temperature and humidity control, the water vapour exchange conditions between the human skin and the external environment are simulated, and the water vapour transmission resistance or moisture permeability of the fabric is directly measured, used to evaluate the moisture permeability and wearing comfort of the raincoat.

Rubbing fastness tester: Including the dry rubbing and wet rubbing testing functions. The rubbing head carries out the reciprocating friction on the specimen with the specified pressure, number of times and stroke, and then the grey scales are used to rate the staining grade of the white cloth, used to evaluate the colour fastness and safety of the raincoat fabric.

Constant temperature and humidity chamber: Provides the stable and standard environmental conditions for the tests such as the moisture permeability and shrinkage, precisely controlling the temperature and relative humidity in the chamber, ensuring that all the specimens are in the same environmental state before and during the testing, guaranteeing the comparability and accuracy of the test results.