Windstopper N2S next-to-skin fabric technology

German builders give Gore's Windstopper N2S next-to-skin fabric technology the thumbs up.

Workers in the building profession are constantly exposed to heavy wind and have to tolerate a vast array of climate condition.

Extreme heat in the summer, year round wind and rain are standard conditions for builders who can very rarely stop work due to the changing weather.

In Staufen, Germany an active field test took place from mid March to mid April this year whereby a team of roofers and builders were asked to test out shirts made from Gore's Windstopper N2S fabric.

What is Windstopper N2S Fabric?.

Windstopper N2S fabric is made of 3 layers and garments made from this high tech and extremely breathable fabric are worn directly next to the skin with no need for a base/ thermal layer.

The inner layer of the fabric is based on a push-pull construction - whereby one fibre pulls moisture away from the skin and the other pushes it towards the membrane where it can escape and results in excellent moisture management.

The Windstopper layer provides 100% windproof production.

How Windstopper N2S fabric works Traditional cotton clothing absorbs sweat but moisture is not expelled and as a result the sweat cools and cools down the wearer.

This can result in cool and clammy clothing conditions and the wearer can feel uncomfortable and chilled.

The Windstopper N2S fabric technology offers the wearer complete moisture management.

Sweat is wicked away from the skin by the fabric and distributed over a wide area by the Gore membrane.

The sweat evaporates to the outside of the fabric leaving the wearer damp free and comfortable.

At the same time the Windstopper membrane prevents the risk and discomfort of chill by its 100% windproof qualities.

Why Is Comfort Important To Builders? Scientific studies and also field tests show that a person's well-being essentially depends on core body temperature.

Deviations of more than one degree above or below the normal core body temperature of 37 degrees are immediately perceived as a loss of comfort.

The physiological benefits of Windstopper N2S clothing provide optimum moisture management and climate comfort to the wearer.

Exposed to wind and weather: Master roofer Christian Schneider's team in Staufen enjoys the advantages of the new functional clothing at the team's airy workplace ) Test Results During the trial in Germany most builders/ roofers wore the Windstopper N2S garment with only light outerwear and several individuals wore it completely without additional outer garments.

Christian Schneider and his team were one of several companies who where given the Windstopper N2S garment to test.

Test results included; The textile properties were described as 'pleasant'.

All testers praised the extremely short drying times in the under arm area and was unanimously judged to be 'drier'.

Testers agreed that the product does not stick to the body during extreme physical exertion/ sweating.

All testers thought the protection from body heat loss was 'useful' and ten wearers judged it to be 'very useful'.

Christian Schneider at the end of the trial comments; "the material feels cool on the skin at first but it is both pleasant and comfortable to wear.

The comfort benefits of the Windstopper N2S garment technology to my workers were extremely tangible".

Planned Future Developments: Larger Garment Cut Due to the size and shape of builders and roofers and following on from the feedback from the German test programme, Gore will be modifying the shape and cut of their Windstopper N2S shirts for the building market to allow large shoulders and forearms to have easier movement.

Windstopper N2S garments had previously been used in tests and trials involving sportsmen and footballers where the average physical frame was considerably different.

Testimonial: Functional Clothing Reduce Absences By providing his workforce with Gore's Windstopper N2S shirts another German builder noted a decrease in illness of his workforce.

MD of the FAN building company in Nunchritz, Jan Bartels comments "because of the functional clothing, absences have been reduced especially in the period between Winter and Spring".

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