The water column, measured in millimetres, indicates the water pressure at which a material becomes permeable when new. For workwear, however, this figure alone is not very meaningful because it does not take into account the stresses encountered during actual use (dirt, oil, abrasion, movement) – which is why STRAUSS works with the EN 343:2019 standard and tests under realistic, mechanical conditions rather than relying solely on water column values.
How exactly does STRAUSS test workwear for waterproofing in accordance with EN 343:2019?
The clothing is pre-treated under realistic conditions prior to testing (e.g. with oil, dust, mechanical stress).
Only then is the waterproofing tested – this produces ‘snapshots’ under practical conditions.
The classification is divided into standard categories (1–4): the higher the category, the longer the garment withstands water pressure and stress.
How is the breathability test carried out in accordance with EN 343:2019?
The material is tested in a standardised procedure for its ability to allow water vapour to pass from the inside to the outside (water vapour transmission).
A characteristic value is determined from the measured water vapour transmission rate, which describes the material’s breathability. Here too, the classification is into standard categories (1–4). The higher the category, the greater the breathability.
A water column value alone says nothing about breathability, durability, stability and service life under stress. Only the combination of functionality (water resistance/breathability) and mechanical properties (durability, service life) realistically reflects the performance of workwear.
You can find items to suit your needs using the filter function for water resistance and breathability in the STRAUSS Online Shop.