• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.727-732
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flame-proof clothing on physiological responses and subjective sensation. We measured rectal temperatures, local skin temperature, clothing microclimate, blood pressure, heart rate, body weight loss and subjective sensation during 90 minutes (30 min of rest, 45 min of exercise and 15 min of recovery periods). Seven male subjects wore flame-proof clothing or reformed flame-proof clothing under the environmental condition of $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $45{\pm}5%$ RH and $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}5%$ RH. The results of this study were as follows; Rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, clothing microclimate and blood pressure were significantly lower levels in reformed flame-proof clothing. Heart rate and body weight loss were also showed lower levels. Subjects replied less hot, less uncomfortable and less wet in wearing a reformed flame-proof clothing. Our present results suggest that the ventilation through of gusset in underarm seam and zipper in sideseam of slacks are qualitatively useful for physiological needs.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2007

Ergonomic methods have been effectively applied to design and evaluation of functional clothing. The goals of the present study are to: (1) develop an ergonomic evaluation system for the systematic analysis of functional clothing and (2) examine the usefulness of the proposed evaluation system by applying to flame-proof clothing. Based on the survey of literature and the brainstorming of experts in clothing design and ergonomics, factors considered for clothing evaluation were selected, classified, and complemented, resulting in an ergonomic clothing evaluation system consisting of four factor categories (clothing construction, user, work and environment, and user response). Using the proposed system, a field survey and a laboratory experiment were conducted for flame-proof clothing to identify its design problems. The field survey to workers found a comprehensive set of problems on the flame-proof clothing design in terms of pattern, textile, and color. The laboratory experiment identified additional design problems using a questionnaire that was developed based on an analysis on the relationship between clothing design components and ergonomic evaluation measures. The present study showed the ergonomic evaluation system and the relationship analysis of clothing design components and ergonomic evaluation measures are of use to identify design problems of functional clothing in a comprehensive and analytic manner.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.597-603
• /
• 2006

This study was aimed to find out the problems of wearing flame-proof clothing and to analytically assess functional working-clothes, thus to propose a new design. We carried out a questionnaire with workers in the field and evaluated the facility for wearing, the sensation of wearing and clothing microclimate in the environmental chamber. We found out the problems were in the parts of neck, armpits, armhole, sleeve, crotch and suspenders. Thermal sensation, wet sensation and comfort sensations were evaluated to be 'hot', 'wet' and near to discomfort', respectively. Therefore, improvement of movement and air permeability is needed. If we can add gusset on armpit for air permeability, this gusset will enable to enlarge the surface in armpit area and finally give a movement efficiency. We suggested several new partly modified design for flame-proof clothing which can be applied to other protective clothing for improvement. This must be further considered in the ergonomic evaluation of new proposed functional working-clothes as well as in the suggestion of design.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.45-58
• /
• 2008

Ergonomic techniques have been required to analyze the effectiveness of functional clothing design improvement in a systematic and analytic manner. The goals of the present study are to: (1) comprehensively and analytically examine the effectiveness of clothing improvement by using the relationship analysis between clothing design components (D) and ergonomic evaluation measures (E) and (2) prove the usefulness of cost-effectiveness analysis for clothing design optimization. The cost effectiveness analysis is comprised of the preliminary evaluation based on expertise and the in-depth evaluation where the D-E relationship analysis is applied. As a result of the cost effectiveness analysis applied to flame-proof clothing, an optimal design was identified by analyzing costs and qualitative/quantitative effects. In the preliminary evaluation, the expected effectiveness of each design alternative on wear efficiency and wear comfort was estimated. In the in-depth evaluation, however, the effectiveness of each design alternative was analyzed by quantitative evaluation in a wearing test using a questionnaire prepared based on the D-E relationship analysis. It was concluded that the D-E relationship analysis and the cost-effectiveness analysis are useful for comprehensive evaluation and optimization of functional clothing design.

• Proceedings of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.112-114
• /
• 2005