Windstopper clothing in the workwear environment
November 19th 2007 Wind chill can cause problems for outdoor workers but Gore’s WINDSTOPPER garments can help. They ensure consistent climate comfort for the body without bulky layers so they don't restrict freedom of movement.
Feeling good means being neither too hot nor too cold but having a balanced microclimate between skin and clothing. A biting wind blowing through a garment destroys the microclimate so the body becomes chilled and the temperature feels much colder than it actually is. For example, with an outside temperature of 10C and a wind speed of 50 km/h the perceived temperature is -2C.
This can have such a detrimental effect on the body it becomes difficult for workers to function properly. But businesses can safeguard employees’ well being – and avoid illness and absence - by providing clothing that maintains the balance between the body’s heat production and heat loss.
Garments made from materials with the WINDSTOPPER membrane are absolutely windproof and also breathable so heat and perspiration can quickly escape, thus avoiding an unpleasant accumulation of moisture.
WINDSTOPPER clothing's performance was demonstrated in a Gore field trial with German builders who tested shirts made from three-layer WINDSTOPPER functional layer. Worn next to the skin the fabric’s inner layer has a push—pull construction, one fibre pulls moisture away, the other pushes it towards the membrane where it evaporates, while the WINDSTOPPER membrane gives 100% windproof protection.
The builders reported the shirts’ moisture management and wind protection made them pleasant and comfortable to wear, showing how essential WINDSTOPPER fabrics are for PPE clothing.
Find out more about how WINDSTOPPER can protect your workforce, just  click here.
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