A Literature Review on the Improvement of Construction and Performance Evaluation Standards for Waterproof Suit

Jemin Han1, Hee Eun Choi1,2^†

1 Department of Fashion and Textiles, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

2 Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea

Introduction

As industrial and military activities in maritime environments expand, reports of associated accidents and fatalities have persisted (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, 2024). To protect the body from risk factors such as extreme cold and swift currents, the demand for waterproof suits that safeguard the wearer is increasing. Categorized into wet, semi-dry, and dry suits according to their structural features and watertight integrity, these garments play a critical role in enhancing survivability by preventing water ingress and mitigating heat loss. Although basic performance standards for waterproof suits are established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Korean Industrial Standards (KS), these criteria primarily focus on material-oriented safety, such as waterproofness and thermal insulation. However, specific design guidelines regarding ergonomic performance—such as actual wearer fit or movement adaptability—have not been clearly presented. Accordingly, further refinement of design and performance evaluation guidelines is necessary. Therefore, this study aims to provide foundational data for refining the design and performance evaluation guidelines of waterproof suits.

Theoretical Background

 The structure and functions of waterproof suits vary depending on the intended purpose and wearing environment. Wet suits are generally made of neoprene and are not completely watertight; a small amount of water enters the suit and is warmed by the wearer’s body heat to maintain thermal insulation. Representative examples include suits for surfing and scuba diving. In contrast, dry suits are manufactured with a fully sealed structure featuring waterproof zippers and seals to completely block water ingress. This structure minimizes moisture penetration and is advantageous for maintaining body temperature in extreme environments, with immersion suits used for rescue, military, and industrial maritime operations being representative examples. However, due to their complex structure, dry suits have disadvantages such as difficulty in donning and doffing and limited mobility caused by their bulk. These structural and functional characteristics directly influence the design and evaluation systems of waterproof suits. In particular, as required performance elements differ by the wearing environment, a comparative analysis of international/domestic standards and previous literature is necessary to identify these requirements.  There is a growing interest in anthropometric measurement and size recommendation technologies utilizing 2D imagery. While these technologies offer high portability and accessibility, issues regarding projection distortion and contour occlusion—caused by varying shooting conditions and physical characteristics—remain significant impediments to ensuring reliability. These distortions are particularly pronounced in muscular physiques, exacerbating measurement difficulties. Consequently, this study validates the effectiveness of a 2D image measurement protocol specifically for muscular males and proposes concrete measures to mitigate its limitations.

For this study, subjects were recruited from a pool of 220 Special Forces personnel, a group distinctively characterizing the muscular somatotype. A primary screening selected individual meeting a quantitative chest circumference criterion of 103–106 cm. From this subset, 15 participants exhibiting a "Y-shape" physique—representative of significant contour occlusion due to muscular development—were ultimately selected via expert visual assessment. Full-body images were analyzed using a standard protocol designed to minimize projection distortion (2 m distance, 100 cm camera height).

Method

To derive directions for improving the design and evaluation systems of waterproof suits, this study conducted a comprehensive literature review of relevant domestic and international standards and prior studies. Five standards related to waterproof suits published up to 2024 (including IMO MSC.81(70) and KS V ISO 15027-1–3) and 27 academic articles were collected and reviewed. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) establishes performance requirements for dry immersion suits through the SOLAS Convention and the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code. In Korea, KS V ISO 15027 defines the classification, structural requirements, performance criteria, and test methods for immersion suits. Academic articles were retrieved from databases including Google Scholar, RISS, and ScienceDirect. The primary search keywords were immersion suit, wet suit, diving suit, waterproof suit, and their Korean equivalents. Studies were included regardless of suit type (wet or dry), and relevant research was comprehensively reviewed to identify required performance factors and recent research trends. In particular, the analysis of academic literature compared each study in terms of research objectives, performance variables, evaluation methods, and analytical levels, in order to examine the extent to which international and domestic standards were reflected in actual research practice. Based on this review, the practical applicability of existing standards was assessed, and foundational data were established for improving ergonomic design and evaluation guidelines.

Result & Discussion

◆ Analysis of Domestic and International Standards (IMO LSA Code & KS V ISO 15027)

 The analysis of current standards revealed that the major performance requirements for waterproof suits can be classified into two domains: material-centered performance and ergonomic performance. The former includes material properties intended to ensure protection from external environments, such as waterproofness and thermal insulation. Both international and domestic standards (IMO LSA Code and KS V ISO 15027) specify evaluation criteria for these properties. The IMO LSA Code defines leakage test procedures to verify watertight integrity and establishes body temperature maintenance requirements under cold-water conditions. Durability assessments, including cut resistance and abrasion resistance tests, are also prescribed. Similarly, KS V ISO 15027 provides detailed evaluation items for material-based performance, including waterproofness, thermal insulation, and buoyancy. In contrast, ergonomic performance—related to dimensional fit, mobility adaptability, and ease of donning and doffing—is addressed only at a requirement level, without providing quantitative design guidelines. Current standards evaluate whether the wearer can perform minimum survival-related movements (e.g., walking, climbing a ladder, swimming); however, they do not specify detailed criteria regarding sizing systems, ease allowances, or seam constructions that should be considered during design and production stages.

◆ Analysis of Domestic and International Research Trends

An analysis of 27 domestic and international studies showed that approximately half (44.5%) focused on finished-product-level functional performance, such as thermal insulation, thermophysiological responses, and wear trials. Material-level property evaluations accounted for 18.5% of the studies and primarily examined waterproofness and breathability. Studies utilizing virtual garment simulation for fit assessment represented 7.4%, while non-performance studies addressing design, consumer behavior, and purchasing factors accounted for 29.6%. Among the total, research conducted from a design and production perspective comprised 29.6% (8 out of 27 studies), including five finished-product studies, two virtual garment simulation studies, and one material-level study. Specifically, virtual fitting and pattern design research accounted for 50%, mobility-related studies for 25%, and seam strength and donning/doffing improvement studies each represented 12.5%. Overall, a material-centered protective approach to waterproof suits predominated in the literature. Although some studies addressed ergonomic performance, most established independent evaluation criteria or experimental conditions rather than directly adopting international or domestic standards. In fact, among the eight design- and production-related studies, seven (87.5%) employed self-developed evaluation protocols rather than international standards. The remaining study referenced ISO standards but modified certain test conditions for application. These findings suggest that while current standards are effective as fundamental safety performance benchmarks, they lack detailed quantitative criteria for evaluating ergonomic performance. Therefore, future research should aim to establish quantitative design criteria from a design and production perspective, including dimensional fit, mobility adaptability, ease of donning and doffing, and seam construction. For example, quantitative allowances for key joint regions could be defined to ensure adequate range of motion, and detailed design guidelines for opening and closure systems (e.g., zippers and flaps) could be developed to improve donning and doffing convenience. Ultimately, the formalization of such design guidelines could serve as foundational data for improving waterproof suit evaluation protocols and informing future revisions of international standards.

Conclusion

This study was conducted to provide foundational data for improving the design and performance evaluation guidelines of waterproof suits used in maritime environments. The literature analysis revealed that current international and domestic standards for waterproof suits are primarily focused on material-oriented performance criteria, while quantitative design and evaluation standards for human-based performance remain insufficient. Accordingly, it is suggested that future evaluation protocols be improved to include quantitative criteria for human-based performance, including sizing suitability, mobility, ease of donning and doffing, and seam construction. This research is significant as it provides a basis for supplementing and revising ergonomic design and evaluation guidelines for waterproof suits. It is expected to serve as foundational data for re-establishing effective waterproof suit standards that reflect industrial field verification data in the future.

References

International Maritime Organization. (1998). Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving

appliances(MSC.81(70)). London: IMO.

Korean Standards Association (KSA). (2019). KS V ISO 15027: Protective clothing — Immersion suits —

Part 1: Constant wear suits, Part 2: Abandonment suits, and Part 3: Test methods. Korean Agency

for Technology and Standards (KATS).

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, (2024). Marine Accident Statistics. Sejong: MOF