ISO 15831-2004 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 15831-2004 — Clothing — Physiological effects — Measurement of thermal insulation by means of a thermal manikin. This International Standard specifies the requirements for a thermal manikin and the test procedures used to measure the thermal insulation of clothing ensembles under relatively calm environmental conditions with the wearer represented as standing or moving.

Abstract

ISO 15831:2004 describes the thermal‑manikin characteristics and the step‑by‑step test method to determine the thermal insulation of garments and ensembles as experienced by a wearer in practical use (calm environment; standing or walking). The standard provides guidance on preparing and dressing test ensembles, instrumentation and data needed to compute clothing thermal resistance.

General information

• Status: Published — International Standard (confirmed as current following ISO systematic review).
• Publication date: 2004-02 (Edition 1, 2004).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 61.020 (Clothing).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2004).
• Number of pages: 11 pages (published document).

Scope

Defines the construction, thermal control and measurement requirements of a heated thermal manikin and the standardized procedure to measure clothing thermal insulation (total and local), including preparation of ensembles, test environment conditions and calculation methods for reporting results relevant to ergonomic, comfort and protective‑clothing applications. The method is intended for relatively calm air conditions and for mannequins representing a wearer either standing still or moving at a defined walking rate.

Key topics and requirements

• Specifications for thermal manikin design and instrumentation (zone layout, heating control, temperature sensors and data acquisition).
• Standardized environmental and test conditions (skin/manikin temperature, air velocity and ambient temperature ranges appropriate for measurement).
• Procedures for dressing/manipulating garments on the manikin and for measuring ensembles (static and walking configurations).
• Calculation methods for total and local thermal resistance (reporting in SI units and commonly used clo units).
• Requirements for calibration, repeatability and reporting of uncertainty/accuracy of measured insulation values.
• Guidance on selection and preparation of test garments (fit, layering, closures, footwear and accessories) to ensure representative ensemble measurement.
• Comparative context with other manikin standards and methods (differences in manikin geometry, posture and procedure versus alternative standards such as ASTM F1291).

Typical use and users

Used by textile and garment manufacturers, protective‑clothing and PPE developers, independent test laboratories, academic and applied researchers in thermal comfort and human physiology, and standards committees for validation, product development and compliance evaluation of clothing insulation properties. It supports inputs to thermal‑comfort models and the assessment of clothing systems for occupational and outdoor use.

Related standards

Commonly applied alongside or referenced with: ISO 9920 (estimation of thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of clothing ensembles), ISO 7730 (ergonomics of the thermal environment and thermal comfort indices), and relevant regional/adopted versions such as EN/UNE‑EN ISO 15831. ASTM manikin standards (for example ASTM F1291) and international standards on instruments and test conditions are also frequently compared when selecting a test method.

Keywords

thermal manikin, clothing thermal insulation, Icl, clothing ensemble, manikin test method, thermal comfort, ISO 15831, manikin calibration, clothing testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 15831:2004 is an International Standard that specifies the requirements for heated thermal manikins and a standardized test procedure to measure the thermal insulation of clothing ensembles.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers manikin construction and instrumentation requirements, environmental/test conditions, dressing and preparation of garments, measurement procedures for static and walking modes, calculation of total and local thermal resistance, and reporting of results and uncertainty.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Garment and textile manufacturers, PPE designers, testing laboratories, researchers in thermal physiology and comfort, and standards/approval bodies use this standard for product evaluation and research.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 15831:2004 was published in 2004 (Edition 1) and was reviewed and confirmed as current in ISO's systematic review process (confirmed in 2024), so the 2004 edition remains the current published version.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the broader family of standards addressing clothing thermal properties and thermal environment ergonomics (for example ISO 9920 for estimation of clothing insulation and ISO 7730 for thermal comfort assessment); users commonly apply these documents together.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: thermal manikin, clothing insulation, clothing ensemble, Icl, thermal comfort, manikin test method, ISO 15831.