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India’s First Manikin Flame Engulfment Test System Unveiled At NITRA

• By  Textile Excellence
• November 29, 2025

NITRA, Ghaziabad marked a major milestone in India’s protective textile capability as the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, dedicated the nation’s first Manikin Flame Engulfment Testing Equipment to the industry. The advanced system places India among a select group of countries equipped to conduct full scale thermal protection performance evaluation for fire resistant clothing.

The new facility is built to meet leading global standards, including ISO 13506, ASTM F1930, NFPA 2112 and IS 17881. The system uses over 100 thermal sensors to measure second degree and third degree burn predictions and assess the integrity of garments under sudden flame exposure. Stakeholders noted that the global demand for certified flame-resistant workwear has risen steadily in recent years as safety compliance in industrial operations becomes more stringent.

The Minister reviewed the unit along with NITRA’s research team led by Director General Dr M S Parmar and emphasised its role in raising safety benchmarks for steel, chemical, refinery, petroleum, railway and high-risk industrial sectors. The new facility reduces dependence on overseas testing and shortens certification timelines for Indian manufacturers competing in export markets.

Officials described the launch as a strategic step toward strengthening India’s technical textile ecosystem, which recorded a market size of nearly US$ 22 billion last year. NITRA stated that the new testing system will support greater innovation in flame resistant fibres, fabrics and garment systems while opening new opportunities for domestic and global partnerships.

The Minister reviewed the unit along with NITRA’s research team led by Director General Dr M S Parmar and emphasised its role in raising safety benchmarks for steel, chemical, refinery, petroleum, railway and high-risk industrial sectors. The new facility reduces dependence on overseas testing and shortens certification timelines for Indian manufacturers competing in export markets.