Impermeability is a feature of fully encapsulated chemical protective ensembles (FCPE), which can affect people's sweat and affect their clothing's thermal-wet comfort. This study investigated the dynamics of upper-body sweat distribution in young males wearing FCPE and explored variations in sweat rate intra-region and inter-time for 10 young and healthy male college students. The study was carried in a climatic chamber (environment temperature 35 °C, relative humidity 60%) with participants exercising on a treadmill at 4 km/h, 5%. Sweat was collected using a 35-pad set of absorbent pads that were changed every 5 min during the course of the experiment. A total of 7-pad sets were collected with an average sweat rate of 389, 631, 920, 1137, 1100, 1211, and 1105 g m−2 h−1, respectively. The medial upper back, lateral lower back, medial upper chest, medial mid-back, and lateral top back had the highest sweat rates, with average values of 1406, 1278, 1198, 1181 and 1139 g m−2 h−1, respectively. The waist (with average values of 557, 370, 596, and 332 g m−2 h−1, respectively) and bottom zones (373, 398, 661, and 849 g m−2 h−1, respectively) had the lowest sweat rates. The above data showed that the role of FCPE in promoting body perspiration. The upper body may be split into three zones of sweat rates based on the distribution result allowing for the design of more comfortable clothing. The study includes the fundamental physiological data as well as the design recommendations for advanced personal protective equipment.

Fully encapsulating chemical protective ensembles (FCPE) has characteristic of impermeability, which may affect people’s sweat, accordingly influences clothing thermal-wet comfort. This study investigated upper-body dynamic sweat distribution in young males wearing FCPE, and evaluating changes in sweat rates both intra-region and inter-time. Participants were 10 healthy young male college students, aged 23.1\(\pm\)0.8 years. In a climatic chamber (environment temperature 35 ℃, relative humidity 60%), participants exercised on a treadmill at 4 km/h, 5%. A set of absorbent pads with 35 pads was used to collect sweat. Participants change a new set of absorbent pads every 5 minutes until trial stopped. Seven sets of pads were obtained. Average sweat rate of every 5 minutes is 389, 631, 920, 1137, 1100, 1211 and 1105 g.m−2.h−1, respectively. The top five high sweat rates were observed at the medial upper back, lateral lower back, medial upper chest, medial mid back and lateral top back, with average values 1406,1278,1198,1181 and 1139 g·m−2·h−1, respectively. The lower sweat rates were observed at waist (with average values 557, 370, 596 and 332 g·m−2·h−1, respectively) and bottom zones (with average values 373, 398, 661 and 849 g·m−2·h−1, respectively). Wearing FCPE greatly promoted body profuse sweating. Based on the distribution result, upper body can be divided into three levels of sweat rate zones, which could be used to improve clothing comfort. The present study provides basic physiological data and guidance for personal protective clothing design.