ISO 5085-1-1989 PDF

Full title and description

Textiles — Determination of thermal resistance — Part 1: Low thermal resistance. Method for measuring the thermal resistance (R-value) of textile materials with relatively low thermal resistance; includes guidance on apparatus construction and reference data in annexes.

Abstract

The standard specifies a laboratory test method suitable for textile materials up to about 20 mm thick (above that thickness edge losses become appreciable). Annex A gives advice on suitable components for constructing the apparatus, Annex B describes means of determining thermal conductivity, and Annex C lists numerical values for some textile materials.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed by ISO review in 2020)
• Publication date: 2 November 1989
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 59.080.01 (Textiles in general)
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1989)
• Number of pages: 7

Bibliographic and lifecycle information as recorded in the ISO catalogue confirms the published date, page count and current (confirmed) status.

Scope

Specifies a test procedure for determining the thermal resistance of textile materials of low thermal resistance (suitable for specimens up to ~20 mm thickness). The scope covers apparatus and measurement technique, calculation of thermal resistance, and reference values; it is intended for single-layer materials and simple fabric constructions where edge losses remain small. Annexes provide construction details for the measuring apparatus, methods to obtain thermal conductivity, and example numerical values.

Key topics and requirements

• Test method for low thermal resistance textiles (measuring R-value / thermal resistance).
• Specimen limits and considerations: suitable for materials up to about 20 mm thick; edge-loss effects noted above that thickness.
• Apparatus description and construction guidance (Annex A).
• Procedures for determining thermal conductivity where needed (Annex B).
• Reference numerical values for selected textile materials (Annex C).
• Calculation and reporting of thermal resistance results and test conditions (temperature, specimen conditioning, contact plates, etc.).

Typical use and users

Used by textile test laboratories, material researchers, product developers and manufacturers of clothing, bedding and insulating textiles to quantify thermal resistance for product design, quality control and comparison of materials. Relevant for standards developers and regulatory or certification bodies needing repeatable thermal-resistance data on fabrics and assemblies with low insulation levels.

Related standards

ISO 5085 is a multipart series; Part 2 (ISO 5085-2:1990) covered high thermal resistance but has been withdrawn. Other national and international methods for textile thermal resistance (and related single-plate or guarded hot-plate techniques) may be referenced alongside ISO 5085-1 for different thickness ranges or specific applications.

Keywords

thermal resistance; R-value; textiles; thermal conductivity; insulation; test method; low thermal resistance; ISO/TC 38; guarded plate apparatus; specimen conditioning.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5085-1:1989 is an international standard that specifies a laboratory method for determining the thermal resistance (R-value) of textile materials of low thermal resistance.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the test procedure, apparatus guidance (Annex A), methods for determining thermal conductivity (Annex B), and example numerical values (Annex C); it is intended for specimens up to about 20 mm thick where edge losses are small.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Textile test laboratories, material and garment developers, researchers, quality managers and certification bodies concerned with measuring or specifying thermal insulation properties of fabrics and simple fabric assemblies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The original 1989 edition remains published in the ISO catalogue and was confirmed in a 2020 systematic review; some related parts of the series (for example Part 2 on high thermal resistance) have been withdrawn. Users should check national catalogues or ISO for any more recent replacements or national equivalents before applying the method.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 5085 is a multipart series addressing thermal resistance of textiles (Part 1 for low thermal resistance, Part 2 historically for high thermal resistance). Consult the ISO catalogue for the status of other parts.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Thermal resistance, R-value, thermal conductivity, textiles, insulation, test method, guarded plate, ISO 5085, low thermal resistance.