Water Resistance and Penetration Tester

Hydrostatic Head Tester Overview

At Qualitest, our fabric water penetration equipment measures how effectively waterproof fabrics, treated cloth, and tightly woven textiles resist fluid penetration under regulated water pressure. Systems like the DHPT-45 apply hydraulic pressure up to 4.5 kgf/cm2 (45,000 mmH2O) through a high-precision valve body, allowing you to observe the exact pressure threshold where droplets seep through the test specimen.

These testing stations evaluate water-repellent performance through continuous pressurization routines and sustained pressure holds lasting up to 50 minutes. Whether you require pneumatic specimen clamping with up to 1,500 kg of holding force or an unpowered field-testing apparatus like the Suter tester, these units provide dependable data to verify fabric quality before materials move into garment assembly.

Compliance & Standards

International textile evaluations require strict alignment with globally recognized test procedures. Equipment in this category supports primary worldwide benchmarks, notably ISO 811 for determining resistance to water penetration under hydrostatic pressure and ISO 4920 for evaluating surface wetting via spray exposure. These procedures help your inspection team verify that waterproof textiles maintain uniform barrier performance under fluid contact.

The test stations also satisfy widely referenced international standards from North America and Japan. The floor-standing model and digital benchtop units align with AATCC 127 as well as JIS L1092 Method A and Method B, providing cross-laboratory consistency across international supply chains. In addition, our spray testing unit supports surface-wetting criteria outlined in BS EN 24920, ASTM D1913, ASTM D583-54, and AATCC 22. Incorporating an ISO 811 compliant weatherproof test system ensures that your laboratory findings correspond directly to international commercial specifications.

Key Features

• Multi-Unit Digital Interface: The DHPT-45 features a 7-inch color touch screen displaying pressure variations over time alongside temperature readouts. You can switch between eight separate pressure units, including bar, Mpa, kpa, kgf/cm2, mbar, psi, mmH2O, and cmH2O, with reading precision down to 0.001 bar, eliminating manual conversion steps during testing.
• Controlled Pressurization Rates: The digital hydrostatic head tester provides a stepless pressure increase from 0.1 to 4.5 kgf/cm2/min through a high-precision valve body. This steady delivery maintains consistent tracking across both pliable and stiff fabric textures.
• Customizable Multi-Step Testing: DHPT-45 allows your lab technicians to configure up to three distinct pressure stages and test durations, with sustained pressure holding times reaching up to 50 minutes to simulate extended exposure.
• Pneumatic Specimen Clamping: Outfitted with a 100 cm2 standard test area (11.28 cm diameter), the digital apparatus provides pneumatic specimen grip with adjustable clamping force up to 1,500 kg to prevent fabric slippage without damaging delicate coatings. Dual-hand press activation safeguards operators during clamping.
• Safety and Decompression Controls: A transparent acrylic shield prevents water from splashing if a fabric ruptures under high pressure, while an automatic decompression system relieves pressure immediately to avoid water sputtering.
• Multiple Evaluation Techniques: Floor-standing units (QualiFWPT-127) provide three operational modes, including the continuous water pressure increase method, the fixed water pressure method, and the ml-based leakage collection method, allowing flexible resistant test routines.
• Non-Electric Field Inspection: The Suter tester features an aluminum frame weighing 5.9 kg and operates completely without electricity, enabling quality auditors to conduct water penetration checks on site with switchable ranges up to 10,000 mmH2O (1.0 kg/cm2 ).

Product Applications & Operating Environments

These testing systems serve textile production plants, inspection facilities, and technical fabric development centers. Verified applications include assessing high-waterproof clothing, coated fabrics, waterproof-fiber cloth, raincoats, outdoor gear, and tent materials. Technicians use these setups to inspect base fabrics, laminates, and post-treatment finishes before they enter commercial manufacturing lines.

Because the verified product data covers standard factory and laboratory configurations without extreme environmental tolerances or IP ratings, these units are intended for controlled indoor facilities, textile quality-control rooms, and routine field-inspection settings. Portable aluminum-frame units give testing personnel the flexibility to perform spot evaluations directly at textile storage docks and warehouse staging areas, while stationary floor and benchtop systems handle high-volume indoor laboratory workflows. Using a dedicated weatherproof test system helps manufacturers confirm that garments and shelter fabrics satisfy end-use fluid-barrier requirements.

DHPT-45 Technical Specifications