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Bedding encasings are a great relief to those suffering from house dust allergies. Barrier textiles prevent the smallest particles of mite feces and the allergens contained within them getting into indoor air. The effectiveness of encasings can be established in many different ways. The experts in the specialist “Function and Care” department at the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim, Germany also investigate the comfort of the encasings.
The breathability of mattresses, duvets and pillows is extremely important for sleeping
comfort. If the sleeper starts to sweat, bedding must be able to absorb the sweat and divert it away from the body, and encasings can have a negative impact on this quality. As they should suppress the smallest particles, such as any fallen mite feces and dust, the materials used must have a very small porosity, which can greatly restrict the breathability and increase water vapor resistance (Ret). In order to obtain the Hohenstein Institute quality label for breathability, the water vapor resistance of encasings must not be higher than 20 m2Pa/W.
At the Hohenstein Institute, the breathability attribute of encasings is tested using
what is known as the Skin Model, which simulates the heat and moisture emissions of the skin. It consists of a porous sintered metal plate that can be heated electrically to skin temperature and to which water is fed. This is located in a climate-controlled cabinet to ensure that environmental conditions are constant.