La Revue du Textile - The Textile Journal

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A technical specification must express the needs of the user and the needs of the market. Most of all, it must express standards that are established by reputable organizations that perform specialized tests, which give these standards the proper credibility, and it must meet minimum requirements. MARTIN FILTEAU

rapidement qu’il vaut mieux se tourner vers des tests qui sont reconnus mondialement pour développer des spécifications. D’ailleurs, le fait de s’adresser à des organismes réputés facilite l'adhésion des acheteurs à ces spécifications, qui seront convaincus de la validité des essais réalisés et qui, finalement, seront mieux outillés pour préparer leurs devis techniques d’achat.

Les normes et spécifications décrivent donc le produit ?

Can these tests be conducted inhouse?

It’s certainly possible, but a test MARTIN conducted in your company is harder to endorse than one based FILTEAU on the results of a recognized analysis, like those of ASTM, for instance. A good example of this is a test we developed a few years ago in the CTT Group laboratories to determine boots’ comfort level in relation to the outdoor temperature. No similar test existed at that point, so we had to develop one to measure the boots’ performance level. It took a little while before the test became known and used by manufacturers, so a few years went by before the test really became a reference. Today, products evolve so quickly that it’s best to go for tests that are recognized worldwide for developing specifications. Also, the fact that a reputable organization is involved will facilitate the sale of those specifications to buyers, who will be convinced of the tests’ validity and who in the end will be on a better footing to prepare their technical specifications for purchase.

Therefore, standards and specifications des cribe the product?

Technical specifications should be based on a product’s performance rather than its characteristics. Let’s say that a manufacturer develops a new fabric to make firefighters clothing. Let’s then say that the added value of this material is that it’s both waterproof and more breathable than other fabrics usually used for this type of clothing. The result is a product that protects the firefighter from water and bacteriological or viral contaminants while providing a decent degree of comfort MARTIN FILTEAU

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VOL. 130, NO 1 | 2013 HIGHTEX ISSUE – ÉDITION HIGHTEX 2013 THE TEXTILE JOURNAL | LA REVUE DU TEXTILE

En fait, les spécifications techniques doivent préférablement être axées sur les performances d’un produit plutôt que sur ses caractéristiques. Disons qu’un industriel développe un nouveau tissu pour la confection de vêtements de pompier. Disons ensuite que la valeur ajoutée de ce matériau est qu’il est à la fois plus imperméable et plus respirant que les autres étoffes habituellement employées pour ce type de vêtement. Le résultat est un produit qui protège le pompier de l’eau et des contaminations bactériologiques ou virales, tout en assurant un bon degré de confort, lui permettant de compléter ses opérations. On doit maintenant exprimer cette valeur ajoutée en MARTIN FILTEAU


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