Importance of QRs for Procurement of Protective Textiles A case study CRPF-CoBRA
15 th India International Security Expo 2012 Pragati Maidan , New Delhi 13 th Sept 2012
by Center of Excellence (Protech) Northern India Textile Research Association Ghaziabad CoE (Protech) CoE (Protech) was established in 2008-09 with one time grant received from Ministry of Textiles, GoI to assist all stakeholders: • create awareness • promote state of art technology • product development; • preparation of standards and specifications • and facilities to undertake testing as per national and international standards. Quality Specifications “A written description of a product to guide the development process” A well documented quality specification should cover the following:
Forward Scope Material and Manufacture Requirements Sealed Sample Sampling and Criteria for Conformity Marking and Labeling Packaging and Packing Reference FORWARD
• Who prepared the QR s • From where it can be sourced • Who is authorized to amend or withdraw the QR s • Any other information as per the requirement
SCOPE
This prescribes the item for which the QR s are framed MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURE Type and quality of material used and guidelines to manufacture the item WORKMANSHIP Indicates types of defects which should not be present in the finished product
REQUIREMENTS Essential QR s (with tolerance) of all materials present in the final product along with the test methods to measure the Quality SEALED SAMPLE A sample in sealed condition to be present at the buyer’s place.
SAMPLING AND CRITERIA FOR CONFORMITY It defines the sampling process and conforming of a lot to the requirement at manufacturer site.
MARKING AND LABELING should indicate • Size • Name of manufacturer or trade mark, if any • Any other information required by the buyer PACKAGING AND PACKING should specify type and quality of packaging material to be used for packing and also the quantity to be packed in one carton/package
REFERENCES All standard test methods referred should be listed Quality Specifications prepared by NITRA CoE (Protech) for
CoBRA
8 Specifications Finalized & approved
NYCO Uniform
Life Jacket
Nylon Belt
9 Specifications
Multi purpose light weight load bearing frame with carrier facilities and convertibility as stretcher
Water proof multipurpose rain poncho with convertibility as bivouac
10 Specifications
Balaclava with convertible properties as cap comforter, face mask and cold weather muffler
11 Specifications
Tactical 3 points sling Special operation Rope Durable Combat Rucksack
Compact light weight Blanket with good insulating properties Pouches 12 “LIGHT WEIGHT GROUND SHEET”
COAT PARKA
WATER BOTTLE
SLEEPING BAG Technical Specifications
prepared by NITRA for
Indian Navy
14 Finalized & approved
UNARMED COMBAT DRESS FOR MARINE COMMANDOES
15 Specifications for Divers
T-Shirt Finalized & approved
Cap FS Blue
Short
Socks 16
Indian armed forces being the major users of protective textiles, CoE has critically examined QR’s/Specifications of protective textiles used by them with an objective to identify whether these specifications match with the state-of-art technology and address if gaps exist. CoE hopes that this exercise will help in providing maximum protection to Indian armed forces CoE examined the specifications of • Bullet proof jackets, • Combat clothing, • Canvas tent fabrics and • Woolen blankets
They were critically analyzed for the level protection against - missiles, fire and heat.
Recommendations are made wherever necessary to have highest degree of protection
Recommendations are also made to provide operational efficiency, maximum comfort and smarter look to the wearer Technical Specification of Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I
Recently MHA finalized the above specification as per NIJ Standard (National Institute of Justice) of Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armour (NIJ Standard -010104) – Threat Level III A Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I Limitations….
Bullet-proof jackets available with most police departments are of the grading III A — designed to withstand small arms fire from handguns and carbines at a range of 5 metres.
These jackets, the experts say, provide inadequate safety against machine gun fire or AK 47 bullets. Even handgun shots from a range closer than 5 metres can be fatal despite the jacket IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I
E Clause . Weight Jacket
Exisiting: Total weight Jacket including Hard and Soft armour panels, trauma pads and other carrier should not exceed 6.31 Kg and 6.62 Kg for std. and large sizes respectively
Recommendation: Weight of individual components should be specified along with total weight of the jacket IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I I Clause . Material Outer carrier material is made out of high tenacity PU coated Nylon material.
Existing Specifications Recommendations Parameter Test Method Requirement Requirements are not Fire IS 11871 Duration after flame and correct as there are two retardant glow : 5 seconds each test methods – vertical and inclined
Hydrostatic IS 391(100 Not specified Minimum to be specified head cm water)
Water IS 392 Should be Zero Should be rated in 0 to Penetration 100 scale
UV IS 3417 Minimum 100 Test method is wrong (it Protection is older version for color factor fastness Clause M . IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I Soft Armour Panel (SAP)
Existing Specifications Recommendations
Parameter Test Method Requirement Fiber Not Aramid/suitable To specify what are specified material the other suitable materials Weave and Not To specify GSM specified Requirement to be Hydro IS 391(100 Not specified given static head cm water)
Water IS 392 Should be Zero Should be rated in 0 to penetration 100
PU coating Not % PU coating and test specified method for identification IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I
Clause H (vi): Velcro Existing: It is a Trade name of USA based company. Test method is not specified. Recommendation: Name should be replaced by “ Hook and Loop fastener” and tested as per IS 8156-1994
Clause H (viii): Belt/Kamarbandh Existing: Made of Woven Nylon/polyester. Recommendation: It should be made of same material as outer carrier (Pu coated HT Nylon) with Hook and Loop fastener.
Clause K: Color Existing: Specification not given Recommendation: Provide specification IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I
Clause H Hard Armour Panel (HAP)
Existing: Made of Polyethylene fibers; not covered with PU Coated fabric to make it water proof Recommendation: Test method for PE fiber and Test methods and minimum requirements for identification of PU coating, %PU coating and water proof to be included IV-21011/10/2009-Prov. I
Following test parameters are to be included 1. Fabric construction: EPI, PPI, weave, What about warp and weft counts and GSM 2. Durability: Tensile & Tear strength, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, color fastness to washing, light and rubbing 3. % PU coating on the fabric and test method for identification of the coating 4. “Surface Ignition” test
To be deleted UV protection factor as the jacket is made of multi layers of material Requirements for Advanced Integrated Combat Clothing System
– Physical • durability to prolonged exposure to inclement weather and heavy wear • good tensile and tear strength and abrasion resistance – Environmental • water repellency, wind proof • Battlefield (good camouflage & low noise generation) – Physiological • low weight, easy to wear, minimum heat stress • air, moisture and vapor permeability • comfort and good appearance Specifications P/C 50:50 Disruptive Pattern Printed Cloth
• Construction details • Fiber composition • Breaking strength • Heat Shrinkage • Dimensional change • Scouring loss &pH • Color Fastness • The existing specifications do not speak about certain other properties related to wear, comfort and safety which depend upon the varying battle field conditions. • Besides, combat uniform should also provide high mobility and smart look to the soldier.
Revise the specifications for • Durability • Operational efficiency Wear properties In general mechanical properties such as tensile, tear and bursting strengths indicate the fabric wear property. However for combat uniform in addition to these general wear properties, it is essential to Abrasion resistance should also be measure wear resistance in terms of included as one of the requirements. abrasion.
The requirement should be such that there should not be “thread breaks” up to 50,000 abrasion cycles when tested as per IS: 12673:1989. Comfort Properties To enhance comfort properties of the Indian solider the following two requirements may be added to the existing specifications. Air permeability of the fabric shall be at least 5 cc/sec/cm2 when tested according to IS 11056:1984.
Water vapor permeability (water method) shall be 1400 g/m2/day (Minimum) when tested according to ASTM E-96 Safety (Heat or flame resistant properties) The presence of synthetic material such as polyester if exposed to heat or flame melts and sticks to skin causing severe burns. Combat uniforms having heat or flame resistance properties is essential in the present day context..
The use of either FR fibers or FR coating should also be included in the present specifications to meet surface ignition test when tested as per ISO 15025 (no hole formation, no melting and no dripping). Wrinkle Recovery Although wrinkle recovery property of the combat clothing is not directly linked to the performance of the fabric during the battle but good wrinkle recovery cloth makes smarter look to the solider.
Therefore it is recommended that the WR rating (after 24 hours) of the combat shall be minimum 4 when tested according to AATCC 128-2004. Color specification In the developed countries, camouflage print Colors often include khaki, green, brown and black, with additional colors such as olive, yellow, orange, pink, grey, beige and sand to extend use to other urban, rural and desert backgrounds
In India, almost same camouflage print (mostly developed using khaki, green, brown and black) is used for all types of surroundings. If the solider is engaged in the urban area, he/she should have such type of camouflage print uniform that matches with the urban surroundings. In such case the use of dark green and black need to be minimized. Indian Camouflage Prints
CRPF
BSF CISF
National Riffles NSG
ITBP Color specification Most of the specifications do not provide the color values leading to subjective decisions while making pass/fail decision
Therefore it is suggested that the specifications should also include CIE color values . Cloth Gabardine (Combat Dress) - Sashastra Seema Bal
Specification No. IND/TC/0050(c): Requirement of following parameters are given in the specification: • Width • Thread/cm • Count of yarn • Mass/Sq meter • Breaking load FR properties to be included in the • Heat Shrinkage specification • Relaxation shrinkage • Weave • Composition • Colour fastness to various agencies • Scouring loss • pH Blanket woolen superior dyed olive green- Assam Rifles
Specification: G/TEX/W-69/Blanket/2003 • Composition • Fineness grade of wool • Count • EPI & PPI • Mass • Breaking strength FR properties to be included in the • Length & width specification • Weave • Colour fastness to various agencies • pH • Loss in mass • Pilling resistance Cloth Serge BD -Assam Rifles Specification: IS 2319 • Colour fastness to various agencies • FR properties to be included in the Relaxation shrinkage specification • pH • Water resistance • Ether-soluble matter • Composition etc Cloth Combat Disruptive (Dope dyed) -Assam Rifles Specification: IND/TC/7C/0043 • Colour fastness to various agencies • pH • Shrinkage FR properties to be included in the • Water repelency specification • Mass • EPI & PPI • Breaking load Cloth Shirt Terry Wool Black -NSG • Composition • Width • Wool grade • Count • Weave FR properties to be included in the • EPI/PPI specification • Breaking load • Colour fastness to various agencies • Relaxation shrinkage • Mass etc Tent cloth-Cotton duck
Specification: IS 6803 • Count • EPI/PPI • Mass • Breaking load • Length, width FR properties to be included in the • Weave specification • Scouring loss • pH • Shrinkage • Colour fastness to various agencies etc.