At HAYLEY DEXIS, we partner with suppliers to ensure our customers have access to the best possible products, powered by the latest technology. That’s why we sat down with DuPont to discuss Tyvek® APX™ 400, their most breathable chemical protective clothing yet.
Hot, Hot, Hot Needs Breathability
The last few summers have brought extraordinary temperatures, which is ideal if you’re in your garden with a cold drink, but not so much if you work in industry, where temperatures can far exceed the 38 degrees felt outside. According to the British Safety Council, 56% of Health & Safety Executives flagged high temperatures as a workplace hazard. And while more drinks, breaks, air cooling, and a relaxed dress code can help some, those who need to wear full chemical protection for safety are left with an extra layer.
When workers operate in high-temperature environments, heat stress impacts far more than comfort. Core body temperature can increase, heart rate can increase, and dizziness can occur, which can impact safety and the ability to work. That’s why, historically, health and safety managers had to balance protecting their workers with breathability for comfort. But thankfully, DuPont has moved the needle on technology, providing a solution.
Protection Without Compromising Comfort
For a long time, protective clothing design operated under the constraint that increasing breathability compromised the protective barrier performance or fabric durability. By focusing on protection, chemical-protection clothing often created a microclimate trap inside the garment, trapping sweat and heat against a worker’s skin.
DuPont Personal Protection has broken this trade-off with the introduction of DuPont™ Tyvek® APX™ 400, its flagship garment in the innovation range. Positioned as the next generation of protective clothing, Tyvek® APX™ 400 combines the trusted barrier protection and durability associated with DuPont™ Tyvek® material with the extreme breathability performance of the innovative Tyvek® APX™ fabric technology. The chemical protection clothing effectively encourages active evaporative cooling, allowing the body to do what it is built to do: keep the body cool.
By removing the need to choose between comfort and protection levels, health and safety leaders can select an option that fully supports their team in every way, so the team can focus on the task at hand.
The Science of Thermoregulation and Evaporative Cooling
The word and feeling of comfort can be quite subjective, as each team member’s experience with protective clothing is unique. That can make comfort a difficult area to assess. So, DuPont partnered with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, also known as EMPA, to assess the physiological response of people wearing protective clothing under controlled, strenuous conditions.
Here’s the science bit. During physical labour or exposure to warm temperatures, the human body initiates sweating to cool down. To do this, blood flow increases near the skin’s surface, transferring internal heat to moisture on the skin (sweat). Sweat absorbs body heat and transitions from liquid to water vapour. And for cooling to happen, this vapour must pass through the protective clothing into the surrounding environment. Non-breathable fabric traps sweat, stopping the process. Whereas Tyvek® APX™ 400 features an engineered material structure that facilitates rapid water vapour transmission. So, sweat can do its job and evaporate, while water from the outside (chemicals) can’t get in – it’s like a two-way mirror. We can see out, but nothing can see in.
Data from DuPont’s collaboration with EMPA demonstrated that Tyvek® APX™ 400 supports natural thermoregulation, helping stabilise heart rate and manage core body temperature during intense physical activity.
Compliance and Comfort
At HAYLEY DEXIS, we’re behind this new breathable technology because we believe that compliance and comfort are closely connected. When workers feel overheated, sweaty, or physically constricted, the natural temptation is to unzip clothing to release trapped heat. But in hazardous environments, even the smallest adjustment can expose a team member to contamination or exposure risks.
By maintaining a balanced microclimate where sweat evaporates, as DuPont has taught us, non-compliance will surely be reduced. And that means working longer shifts without needing to adjust or remove protective clothing, being able to concentrate better, and having a happier employee. It’s hard enough to fill the skills gap and retain great team members, so ensuring they’re comfortable while maintaining a high level of protection has to be part of retention strategies.
Regulations
As regulatory frameworks across Europe and globally place stronger emphasis on occupational health, worker well-being, and climate risk management, health and safety professionals will continue to need to substantiate their PPE selections with verified data. That’s why the integration of proven empirical data, such as the EMPA physiological study, ensures that procurement and safety teams can confidently justify their choice of protective clothing based on performance criteria.
As a 360-degree strategic partner, we work alongside leading technical innovators like DuPont to deliver safety solutions backed by rigorous technical expertise and complete product traceability. By combining technical innovation with deep industry insights, together HAYLEY DEXIS and DuPont can empower safety managers to protect their workforce effectively by delivering both comfort and safety.
For more information on DuPont™ Tyvek® APX™ 400 protective coverall and technical safety assessments for your workplace, contact your local HAYLEY DEXIS branch.