Fabric tests predict; manikin tests demonstrate. An instrumented manikin dressed in the complete garment is engulfed in a controlled flame exposure, and over a hundred heat sensors map the predicted burn injury over the body - the test of ASTM F1930 and ISO 13506 that garment systems are ultimately judged by. Around that flagship, the PPE range covers the component tests the ensemble standards call up: EN 136 flame resistance for full-face masks, NFPA 1971 flame tests for helmets and gloves, and molten-metal splash methods ISO 9150 and ISO 9185 for foundry and welding clothing.
How the PPE Fire Test Equipment (Manikin, EN 136, NFPA 1971) works
In a manikin test, the dressed manikin stands in the test chamber while a burner array produces a uniform flame engulfment for the set seconds. Sensor data through and after exposure are converted by the manikin software into predicted burn maps and percentage body burn figures, with and without the undergarments the standard specifies. Component tests apply their method flames to the mask, helmet or glove specimen and assess afterflame, melting, dripping and functional condition.
Key specifications
| Manikin standards | ASTM F1930, ISO 13506 (instrumented manikin flame engulfment) |
|---|---|
| Component standards | EN 136 (full face masks), NFPA 1971 (helmets, gloves and ensembles), ISO 9150 and ISO 9185 (molten metal splash) |
| Codes in range | FFM (full face mask), FHT (helmet/glove flame), MMS and SPT (molten metal splash) configurations |
What the test reports
- Predicted burn injury map and total predicted burn (manikin)
- Afterflame, melting and dripping observations (components)
- Pass/fail against the calling standard's limits
Applications
Military, fire-service and industrial PPE programme laboratories use the manikin for system-level decisions; component manufacturers use the mask, helmet and splash rigs for product approval. This equipment is quoted as a configured package per programme.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
Can the instrument be installed in an existing laboratory?
Yes, in most cases. Tell us the available floor space, ceiling height, exhaust capacity and gas supplies in your inquiry; large systems such as the SBI and tunnel furnaces need a dedicated exhaust arrangement, which is confirmed in the layout proposal before ordering.
Is a manikin system realistic for a single-product manufacturer?
Manikin systems are programme-level investments, usually held by institutes and large PPE groups. If you need occasional manikin data, an accredited institute is the practical route; if you are equipping a national or corporate programme laboratory, we will specify the system with you.
Configuration, installation and support
Every PPE Fire Test Equipment (Manikin, EN 136, NFPA 1971) is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for ASTM F1930, ISO 13506, EN 136, NFPA 1971. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the PPE Fire Test Equipment (Manikin, EN 136, NFPA 1971) correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (ASTM F1930, ISO 13506, EN 136, NFPA 1971); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.