Incorporating Standards 

Education into Courses in 

Textile Protection and 

Comfort

2014-NIST SSCD-01

NIST Standards Education Research 

November 6, 2015
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Center for Research on Textile 

Protection and Comfort

(T-PACC)

Mission

Improve safety and health for the military, 

emergency responders, law enforcement, medical 

community, industrial & agricultural workers and 

the general public

Strategies: 

– Research collaborations and partnerships

– Development of educational opportunities

– Building research infrastructure

TEXTILE PROTECTION & COMFORT CENTER
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

TPACC Testing & Research

Strong involvement in standards development and evaluation of test methods
• NFPA Correlating Committee 

on Protective Clothing and 

Equipment

– TCS on Structural Fire, Wildlands, Station 

Wear, Technical Rescue, Surface Water, 

CBRN, Respiratory Protection, EMS Ops, 

Thermal Imaging, PASS, Life Safety Ropes

• ASTM Technical Committee 

F23 (Personal Protective 

Clothing and Equipment)

• ISO Protective Clothing and 

Equipment Standards Groups

• IOM Committee on Personal 

Protection

Professional Organization 

Involvement
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

NIST Project Objectives

• To create new course content 

– the need for standards for performance and 

protective technologies

– role of standards in field performance and 

protection

– the processes used to create standards

– Making standards work in practice (user interface)

• To incorporate new pedagogical procedures to 

deliver the knowledge to students
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Methodology

• Standards education modules incorporated into 

traditional MS, PSM and Institute PhD program

• Traditional & Virtual labs/multi-media graphic tools

being prototyped in 2016

• Distance education/on-line courses will be created 

for PSM: DELTA—Distance Education& Learning 

Technology Applications

• Expertise in Analysis, Design, Development, 

Implementation, and Evaluation

• Learning objectives developed for each module

• Graphics, “scripts” and demonstrations support

• Utilize Moodle learning management system

• Test instruments developed to assess learning 

outcomes
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Program Accomplishments

• Course Development 

– Two Graduate courses added to Textile Engineering 

Curriculum (35 students in 2013-2015)

• TE 550 Principles of Human Protection and Comfort 

• TE 551 Human Physiology for Clothing and Wearables

– Syllabi completed for two Special Topics Couses

• Thermal and physical protection clothing systems

• Chemical, biological and mechanical prottive technologies

• Standards content has beeng developed 

– Incorporation of Standards

• All Courses Incorporate Standards Instructional materials

• Student learning assessments include initial survey of standards 

knowledge and mastery of standards content

• Courses include student projects on standards and test methods 

incorporated into clothing systems
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Program Accomplishments

– Other Accomplishments

– Added standards and test methods principles to 

undergraduate Textile Testing Course

– Short courses versions of all four courses will be added to the 

Textile Extension Program (2016-2017)

• A Certificate in Human Protection and Comfort Completion 

requires completion of all four plus Technical Textiles short 

course

– Surveys of manufacturers and user groups at professional 

meetings and through trade publications will be used to 

assess content for distance education and short courses 

– Recording TE 550 & 551 for DE will occur in 2016

• Recording of laboratory tests has begun 

• Editing and revisions for use as exercises for courses will follow testing 

and evaluation with student groups 
• Graduate/advanced 

undergraduate course 

– an introduction to materials and 

clothing systems 

– protection against occupational 

exposures [hazardous 

environment

• Comfort & heat stress of 

clothing systems

• Standardized and advanced 

test methods 

– physical properties 

– comfort

– protective performance

• Demonstrations with unique 

TPACC laboratory facilities 

• Basics foundation for

– clothing physiology

– thermal protection

– chemical and biological 

protection

– other hazards protection

Principles of Human Protection and Comfort (TE 

550): Roger Barker
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Incorporation of Standards

 Introduction to the role and use of standards in 

PPE

 Development of performance criteria for PPE 

based on risk assessment

 Processes used to create standards for PPE

 Identification and mission of standards 

organizations relevant to PPE(ASTM,NFPA, ISO, 

NIOSH)

 Procedures used to propose and adopt test 

methods within standards

 Case studies based on actual standards for PPE
• Standard can be 

proposed by anyone

• Ballots can be run 

concurrently

• Strict consensus 

process (all negatives 

must be resolved)

• 5-year review cycle

ASTM Approval Process

Proposed Standard

Subcommittee Ballot

Committee Ballot

Society Ballot

Approved Standard
Comparison of Standards 

Organizations

Organization Membership Development 

Process

Consensus 

Type

Focus

ASTM Open Open-ended 

(3 years)

Full Test 

methods

NFPA By appt.

(limited)

Fixed length

(2 1⁄2 years)

2/3 majority Product

specs.

CGSB By appt.

(limited)

Open-ended 

(3 years)

2/3 majority Product

specs.

CEN By EEC or 

EFTA nation

Fixed length

(3 years)

based on 

ballot

Product

specs.

ISO By country Fixed length

(4 years)

based on 

ballot

Methods 

& specs.
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

TE 551 Human Physiology of 

Clothing and Wearables

Understanding main processes in the 

body that interact with clothing & outside 

world

• Important physiology and body functions

• Relevance of measurements

• Human performance 

• Maintaining homeostasis

• Limitations of Humans

8/23/2023 Human Physiology 13
• Understanding main 

processes in the body 

that interact with 

clothing & outside 

world

• Important physiology 

and body functions

• Relevance of 

measurements

• Human performance 

• Maintaining 

homeostasis

• Limitations of Humans

TE 551 Human Physiology of Clothing and 

Wearables: Emiel Den Hartog
• Physiology:

• ASTM: ASTM F 2668 

& ASTM F 2300

• EU: EU469 – Annex F 

(Protective clothing for 

fire fighting)

• Ergonomics:

• ASTM: F1154 – limited 

usability test

• NFPA: Limited Usability 

tests in some standards 

(HazMat suits)

• EU - Ergonomics: 

prEN14876-1 

Clothing Standards – Human 

Subjects
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Thermal Protection Course 

Objective

• Protective technologies

• Risk assessment

• Standardized test methods 

– Thermal protective performance of 

materials

– Clothing

– Other gear 

• Other threats in hot environments
• Protective technologies

• Risk assessment

• Standardized test 

methods 

• Thermal protective 

performance of materials

• Clothing

• Other gear 

• Other threats in hot 

environments

Thermal Protection Course 

Objectives
• Material-level and full 

ensemble perspectives on 

CBRN PPE

• Evaluation methods

• analytical chemistry 

• Toxicology

• Physiological and 

psychological burdens

• Standards & test methods

• Risk Assessments

• Standards processes

• Garment design & materials 

selection

• Medical and EMS 

applications

CBRN Course Summary
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Communication: Publications and 

Presentations

• Standards Engineering Article in 

Press: 

• Presentation: Gaps in Personal 

Protective Technology Standards 

(ASTM, January, 2016)

• Student Standards Paper Award at 

ASTM 2015

• Summary Publication Planned: 

Survey Outcomes and NIST Project 

Review
• Standards Engineering Article in 

Press: Don B. Thompson, Roger L. 

Barker, Emiel DenHartog, 

Integrating Standards into Courses 

on High Performance Garment 

Systems and Human Protection and 

Comfort at North Carolina State 

Unviersity

• William Gabler: Student Second 

Place Award at ANSI “World 

Standards Day,” Building 

Community: Innovation through 

Consensus

• Presentation: Gaps in Personal 

Protective Technology Standards 

(ASTM, January, 2016)

• Summary Publication Planned: 

Survey Outcomes and NIST Project 

Review

Communication: Publications and Presentations
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Evaluations

• Course Assessments: Surveys and Course 

Assignment versus learning objectives 

– Undergraduate (Textile Testing Courses & Senior 

Engineering Design Project Course)

– Short Courses (Questionnaires before and 

after) 

– Makers & Users: Trade Publications and 

Professional Meetings

• Project Assessment:

– Consolidate learnings into report/publication

– Comparison of project objectives versus 

accomplishments in Final Report
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Outcomes

• Addition of Two Graduate Courses with 

strong Standards emphasis

• Addition of Two Special Topics Courses

• Addition of Standards to Undergraduate 

Testing Course 

• Support for New Institute & PSM

– Future courses 

• Creation of Short Courses including 

Certification

• Publications and Presentations
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Future Outcome: 

Institute for Human Protection & Comfort 

Sciences: 

Safety, Security, Health and Economic 

Development Through Interdisciplinary 

Research and Education
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Professional Science Masters

– Both traditional and distance education students

– Career development focus (technology, project or 

organizational management specialization)

– Curriculum has been developed 

– Collaborate with industry and government partners : 

internships, research projects, etc.

– Enthusiastic response from potential 

industry/government partners:
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Program Mangement

• Working with NIST was not difficult

– Some internal management confusion, but 

easily resolved when recognized

– Good support from NIST Team

• Administrative Challenges for Institute 

and PSM have been greater than 

expected

– Resulted in acceleration of Short Courses

– Expected to resolve in future

– Issues have hindered expansion beyond 

College of Textiles 
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Development of Short Courses

• Certificate in Human Protection and Comfort 

Science

• Required Courses (3)

• Technical Textiles (Spring, 2016)

• Human Comfort and Protection (Fall, 2016)

• Clothing Physiology (Spring 2017)

• Optional Courses (Select 2)

• Thermal and Mechanical Protective Textiles (Spring 

2017)

• Chemical, Biological and Medical Textiles (Fall, 2017)

• Testing and Standards for Technical Textiles (Fall ‘17 or 

Spring ‘18)

• Design, Development and Validation of Performance 

Clothing (Spring 2018)
THERMAL PROTECTION LABORATORY

Conclusion

Key Project Outcome: Creation of unique 

courses on Human Protection and Comfort that 

are key parts of 

--A new Institute

--A new Professional 

Sciences Masters 

--Certificate Program

for Users and Industry

We wish to express our 

thanks to NIST for helping us 

move toward our vision