Current Status onStandards & Specifications

for Protective Textiles

Presentationby

Center of Excellence (Protech)

Indian armed forces being the major users of protective textiles, CoE has critically examined specifications of protective textiles used by them with an objective to identify whether these specifications match with the state-of-art technology and address if gaps exist.

Background

CoE hopes that this exercise will help in providing

maximum protection to Indian armed forces and

at the same time it assists the manufacturers to

produce the right product.

CoE examined the specifications of

Bullet proof jackets, Combat clothing, Canvas tent fabrics and Woolen blankets

They were critically analyzed for the level protection against - missiles, fire and heat.

Recommendations are made wherever necessary to have highest degree of protection

Recommendations are also made to provide operational efficiency, maximum comfort and smarter look to the wearer

Background

Technical Specification of Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I

Recently MHA finalized the above specification as per NIJ Standard of Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armour ( Standard -010104 – Threat Level III A

Hemant Karkare and Ajay Kamte who died of bullet injuries during operation against militants in Mumbai even while wearing the protective gear.

E Clause. Weight Jacket

Exisiting:Total weight Jacket including Hard and Soft armour panels, trauma pads and other carrier should not exceed 6.31 Kg and 6.62 Kg for std. and large sizes respectively

Recommendation:Weight of individual components should be specified along with total weight of the jacket

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I

I Clause. Material

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I

CoE

Recommendations !Outer carrier material is made out of high tenacity PU coated Nylon material.

Existing Specifications RecommendationsParameter Test Method Requirement

Fire retardant

IS 11871 Duration after flame and glow : 5 seconds each

Requirements are to be modified as there are two test methods – vertical and inclined

Hydrostatic head

IS 391(100 cm water)

Not specified Minimum to be specified

Water Penetration

IS 392 Should be Zero Should be rated in 0 to 100 scale

UV Protection factor

IS 3417 Minimum 100 Test method is wrong (it is older version for color fastness

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I CoE

Recommendations !Clause M. Soft Armour Panel (SAP)

Existing Specifications Recommendations

Parameter Test Method Requirement

Fiber Not specified

Aramid/suitable material

To specify what are the other suitable materials

Weave and GSM

Not specified

To specify

Hydro static head

Water penetration

IS 391(100 cm water)

IS 392

Not specified

Should be Zero

Requirement to be given

Should be rated in 0 to 100

PU coating Not specified

% PU coating and test method for identification

Clause H (vi): Velcro Existing: It is a Trade name of USA based company. Test method is not specified.Recommendation: Name should be replaced by “Hook and Loop fastener” and tested as per IS 8156-1994

Clause H (viii): Belt/KamarbandhExisting: Made of Woven Nylon/polyester.Recommendation: It should be made of same material as outer carrier (Pu coated HT Nylon) with Hook and Loop fastener.

Clause K: ColorExisting: Specification not givenRecommendation: Provide specification

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. ICoE

Recommendations !

Existing:Made of Polyethylene fibers; not covered with PU Coated fabric to make it water proof

Recommendation:Test method for PE fiber andTest methods and minimum requirements for identification of PU coating, %PU coating and water proof to be included

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. ICoE

Recommendations !Clause H Hard Armour Panel (HAP)

1. Fabric construction: EPI, PPI, weave, What about warp and weft counts and GSM

2. Durability: Tensile & Tear strength, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, color fastness to washing, light and rubbing

3. % PU coating on the fabric and test method for identification of the coating

4. “Surface Ignition” test

IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. ICoE

Recommendations !

Following test parameters are to be included

To be deletedUV protection factor as the jacket is made of multi layers of material

• The existing specifications do not speak about certain other properties related to wear, comfort and safety which depend upon the varying battle field conditions.

• Besides, combat uniform should also provide high mobility and smart look to the soldier.

Revise the specifications for• Durability• Operational efficiency

Requirements for Advanced Integrated Combat Clothing System

CoE

suggestions !Wear properties In general mechanical properties such as tensile, tear and bursting strengths indicate the fabric wear property. However for combat uniform in addition to these general wear properties, it is essential to measure wear resistance in terms of abrasion.

Abrasion resistance should also be included as one of the requirements.

The requirement should be such that there should not be “thread breaks” up to 50,000 abrasion cycles when tested as per IS: 12673:1989.

CoE

suggestions !Comfort Properties To enhance comfort properties of the Indian solider the following two requirements may be added to the existing specifications.

Air permeability of the fabric shall be at least 5 cc/sec/cm2 when tested according to IS 11056:1984.

Water vapor permeability (water method) shall be 1400 g/m2/day (Minimum) when tested according to ASTM E-96

CoE

suggestions !Safety (Heat or flame resistant properties)The presence of synthetic material such as polyester if exposed to heat or flame melts and sticks to skin causing severe burns. Combat uniforms having heat or flame resistance properties is essential in the present day context..

The use of either FR fibers or FR coating should also be included in the present specifications to meet surface ignition test when tested as per ISO 15025 (no hole formation, no melting and no dripping).

CoE

suggestions !Wrinkle Recovery Although wrinkle recovery property of the combat clothing is not directly linked to the performance of the fabric during the battle but good wrinkle recovery cloth makes smarter look to the solider.

Therefore it is recommended that the WR rating (after 24 hours) of the combat shall be minimum 4 when tested according to AATCC 128-2004.

Technical Specification completed by CoE (Protech) till-date

1. Indian Navy 52. CRPF 303. BSF 14. National Disaster Response Force 15. Railway Police Security Force 16. Defense Bio-engineering &

Electro-medical Laboratory 1

Technical Specificationsprepared by NITRA

for

Specifications/Standards

18

NYCO Uniform

Life Jacket

Nylon Belt

Multi purpose light weight load bearing frame

with carrier facilities and convertibility as stretcher

Waterproof multipurpose rain poncho with convertibility as bivouac

Specifications/Standards

19

Jungle HatAnti-Mosquito Veil

Balaclava with convertible properties as cap comforter, face mask and cold weather muffler

Pouches

Durable Combat Rucksack Special operation Rope

Specifications/Standards

20

Technical Specifications

Indian Navyprepared by NITRA for

UNARMED COMBAT DRESS FOR MARINE COMMANDOES

Cap FS Blue

T-Shirt

Short

Socks

Specifications/Standards

21

SPECIFICATION FOR COLOUR CODE OF CLOTH POLYESTER COTTON DISRUPTIVE PATTERN

BORDER SECURITY FORCE STANDARD

“Sleeping Bag”.

CRPF

“SPECIFICATION FOR Bottle”

“SPECIFICATION FOR COAT PARKA

SPECIFICATION FOR SPECIFICATION FOR “BLANKET SUPERIOR

SPECIFICATION FOR “LIGHT WEIGHT GROUND SHEETSPECIFICATION FOR “LIGHT WEIGHT GROUND SHEET

Current status of IS Standards & Specifications

Standards required for flowing products/areas

Current status (BIS) Remarks regarding COE’s role

Nylon Life Jacket with expendable polyethylene foam, buckle and whistle plastic

BIS standard framed in 1972 requires revisoin

Revised standard is prepared; forwarded to BIS

for guidance thro’ TXC.

NYCO Combat Uniforms

BIS standard is not available

COE has framed specifications and forwarded to BIS for guidance thro’ TXC

Unarmed Combat dress

Pouch for ammunition and grenades made of nylon 66

Durable Rucksack made of Nylon 66Tactical 3 Point Sling Universal

1. Protective clothing for welders2. Cut proof fabric3. Protective clothing for wildland firefighting4. Protective gloves against thermal risks5. Water Proof multipurpose rain poncho with

convertibility as bivouac 6. U.V. Protective wear

IS Standards are required for flowing products/areas

7. Multi purpose light weight load bearing frame with carrier facility and convertibility as stretcher (Aluminum)

8. Anti Mosquito Veil

9. Gown for microorganism protection

10. Protective clothing for automobile racing drivers

11. Electrostatic protective clothing

IS Standards are required for flowing products/areas