Automatic Air Permeability Tester

Automatic Air Permeability Tester

Skip to product information
Automatic Air Permeability Tester
  • Automatic Air Permeability Tester
Automatic Air Permeability Tester
SKU:

Automatic Air Permeability Tester

Get personalized pricing for your specific requirements

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series

Automatic Air Permeability Tester

The QualiPermatest™ Automatic Air Permeability Tester measures the ease with which air passes through fabrics, nonwovens, foams, paper, and filter media under a controlled pressure differential. Designed for accurate and efficient laboratory testing, the QualiPermatest™ Series is suitable for textile mills, PPE manufacturers, filtration producers, and independent testing laboratories across North America.

The series includes two configurations to suit different laboratory requirements. QualiPermatest™ I features onboard PLC and touchscreen control, while QualiPermatest™ II combines PC control with dedicated testing software. Both configurations deliver test results in approximately 10 to 15 seconds, supporting efficient sample evaluation and quality control.

A pneumatic clamping arm securely seals the specimen against the selected test head. The vacuum system then draws air through the sample until the specified pressure differential reaches a stable condition. The tester automatically identifies the installed test head and indicates when a nozzle change is required if the measured airflow falls outside the operating range of the selected orifice.

Test results are displayed on the touchscreen in seven selectable measurement units. For test series, the system calculates maximum, minimum, and average values, while the integrated thermal printer provides a convenient hard copy for laboratory and batch records. An RS232C interface also enables test data transfer to a PC or LIMS, reducing the need for manual data entry.

The QualiPermatest™ Series offers multiple test areas, including 5, 20, 50, and 100 cm², along with Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads. This range supports air permeability testing for apparel fabrics, airbag textiles, geotextiles, coarse filter mats, and other porous materials.

With an air permeability range of 0.1 to 12,000 mm/s and measurement error of ±2%, the tester provides broad measurement capability for demanding laboratory applications. Ten interchangeable nozzles, ranging from 0.8 mm to 16 mm bore, help maintain the differential pressure across the orifice within its accurate operating range.

Key Features

  • Automatic air permeability testing for fabrics, nonwovens, foams, paper, and filter media

  • Air permeability range from 0.1 to 12,000 mm/s

  • Measurement error of ±2%

  • Test results available in seven measurement units

  • 10–15 second measurement time

  • Pneumatic specimen clamping system

  • Automatic test head recognition

  • Automatic nozzle change indication

  • Test areas from 5 to 100 cm²

  • Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads

  • Ten interchangeable nozzles from 0.8 to 16 mm

  • Maximum, minimum, and average result calculation

  • Integrated thermal printer

  • RS232C connection for PC and LIMS data transfer

  • PLC and touchscreen control on QualiPermatest™ I

  • PC control and dedicated software on QualiPermatest™ II

The QualiPermatest™ Automatic Air Permeability Tester provides a versatile solution for fabric air permeability testing, textile quality control, nonwoven evaluation, filter media analysis, and laboratory permeability measurements.

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Applications

The QualiPermatest™ Series is designed for laboratory testing of flat, porous materials where air permeability, airflow, or air resistance is an important performance characteristic. Its broad measurement range supports applications across textiles, nonwovens, filtration media, foams, paper, automotive materials, and construction products.

  • Apparel and Home Textiles: Measures the breathability and air permeability of woven and knitted fabrics used in sportswear, outerwear, bedding, upholstery, and other textile products. Results can support comfort evaluation, product specifications, and quality control.

  • Technical and Industrial Fabrics: Evaluates airflow through coated fabrics, tarpaulins, sailcloth, parachute textiles, tenting materials, and other technical fabrics where controlled porosity can affect product performance.

  • Nonwovens and Hygiene Products: Measures the air permeability of spunbond, meltblown, and composite nonwoven webs used in wipes, diapers, absorbent products, and hygiene applications. Testing can be performed in accordance with EDANA 140.1 and ISO 9073-15.

  • Medical Textiles and PPE: Assesses airflow through face mask materials, surgical gowns, medical drapes, and protective clothing. Air permeability testing helps evaluate airflow resistance, wearer comfort, and the balance between breathability and protective performance.

  • Air and Liquid Filtration Media: Characterizes filter paper, pleatable filter media, HEPA substrates, and dust-collector fabrics during product development, process control, and incoming material inspection.

  • Flexible Foams and Cellular Polymers: Determines airflow characteristics of polyurethane slabstock foam, molded foam, and seat cushioning materials. The tester supports testing based on ISO 7231 and ASTM D3574.

  • Paper, Board, and Packaging: Evaluates air permeability and porosity of tissue paper, kraft paper, cigarette paper, packaging board, and related materials where airflow can influence converting processes and end-use performance.

  • Automotive Interiors and Airbag Fabrics: Tests seat-cover materials, headliners, and airbag fabrics where controlled air permeability can influence deployment characteristics, cushioning behavior, and cabin comfort.

  • Geotextiles and Construction Membranes: Measures airflow through geotextiles, breathable building membranes, and other porous construction materials to support material characterization, quality control, and performance evaluation.

Standards

The QualiPermatest™ Series supports air permeability testing across a wide range of internationally recognized standards for textiles, nonwovens, foams, paper, and other porous materials. Configurable test areas, pressure differentials, measurement ranges, and reporting units help laboratories set up testing according to the requirements of the applicable method.

  • ISO 9237 – Textiles: Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

  • ISO 7231 – Polymeric Materials, Cellular, Flexible: Determination of Air Flow Value at Constant Pressure-Drop

  • ISO 5636 – Paper and Board: Determination of Air Permeance and Air Resistance

  • ISO 9073-15 – Textiles: Test Methods for Nonwovens, Part 15: Determination of Air Permeability

  • ASTM D737 – Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics

  • ASTM D3574 – Standard Test Methods for Flexible Cellular Materials: Slab, Bonded, and Molded Urethane Foams

  • BS 5636 – Method for Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

  • DIN 53887 – Testing of Textiles: Determination of Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics

  • JIS L 1096 – Testing Methods for Woven and Knitted Fabrics

  • AFNOR G07-111 – Textiles: Determination of the Permeability of Fabrics to Air

  • EDANA 140.1 – Nonwovens: Determination of Air Permeability

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Key Features

Automatic Air Permeability Tester

Automatic Air Permeability Tester

The QualiPermatest™ Series streamlines air permeability testing with automatic specimen clamping, test head recognition, nozzle guidance, pressure control, and result calculation. With a typical test cycle of 10 to 15 seconds, the system helps laboratories achieve consistent results while reducing manual calculations and operator input.

  • Fully Automatic Test Cycle: Specimen clamping, air evacuation, pressure stabilization, measurement, and result calculation are completed automatically, delivering test results in approximately 10 to 15 seconds.

  • Pneumatic Clamping Arm: Provides consistent sealing pressure across each specimen to help minimize edge leakage and variations caused by manual clamping.

  • 7-Inch PLC Touchscreen: Displays live airflow, pressure, and air permeability readings through an intuitive interface with functions for zeroing, manual operation, calibration, and test setup.

  • Automatic Test Head Recognition: Detects the installed test plate and automatically applies the corresponding test area during calculations, helping reduce setup and reporting errors.

  • Nozzle Change Prompting: Identifies when airflow falls outside the accurate operating range of the installed orifice and indicates the appropriate nozzle for the test.

  • Ten Interchangeable Nozzles: Includes nozzle bores from 0.8 mm to 16 mm, providing measurement flexibility for materials ranging from dense coated fabrics to open filter media.

  • Six Test Areas: Supports 5, 20, 50, and 100 cm² test areas, plus Ø50 mm and Ø70 mm test heads to accommodate different test methods and material specifications.

  • Seven Built-In Measurement Units: Displays results in mm/s, m³/m²/min, cm³/cm²/s, m³/m²/h, L/dm²/min, L/m²/s, and cfm, supporting different laboratory reporting requirements.

  • Self-Cleaning Variable-Hole Test Plate: Helps remove lint and fiber debris between tests while maintaining a consistent effective open area for reliable measurements.

  • High-Precision Differential Pressure Sensing: Dedicated pressure sensors monitor the specimen and nozzle pressure drops independently, supporting measurement accuracy of ±2%.

  • Statistical Result Analysis: Automatically calculates and displays maximum, minimum, and mean air permeability values across a series of specimens without requiring external spreadsheet calculations.

  • Integrated Thermal Printer: Produces an immediate printed record of test results for batch documentation, quality control, and laboratory records.

  • RS232C Data Interface: Transfers stored test data to a PC or LIMS for electronic archiving, reporting, and trend analysis.

  • PC Control on QualiPermatest™ II: Dedicated software provides recipe storage, extended reporting, and centralized data management, offering additional control for laboratories that require PC-based operation.

Theory and Method

Air permeability refers to the amount of air that passes perpendicularly through a defined area of material under a controlled pressure differential. Fabrics and other porous materials contain interconnected pores, so airflow is influenced by factors such as pore structure, material thickness, fiber arrangement, density, and surface finish. The resulting measurement represents the bulk air transport characteristics of the material and can be expressed as face velocity in mm/s or as a volumetric airflow rate per unit area.

During testing, the QualiPermatest™ clamps the specimen securely over a selected circular test head while a vacuum pump draws air through the material. Airflow increases until the differential pressure sensor reaches the value specified by the applicable test method. Typical pressure differentials include 100 Pa for ISO 9237 and 125 Pa for ASTM D737. The closed-loop pressure control system maintains the selected differential pressure, with operation available up to 1,000 Pa, while a separate sensor measures the pressure drop across the calibrated nozzle.

The calibrated nozzle functions as an orifice flowmeter, allowing airflow to be determined from the pressure drop across the orifice. Proper nozzle selection is important for maintaining measurement accuracy because each nozzle provides its most reliable readings within a specific flow range.

The QualiPermatest™ Series includes 10 interchangeable nozzles with bore sizes from 0.8 mm to 16 mm, covering applications ranging from open scrims and porous materials to dense coated fabrics. When airflow moves outside the recommended operating range of the installed nozzle, the system prompts the operator to select a more suitable nozzle.

Once the airflow and pressure conditions are established, the controller calculates air permeability by dividing the measured airflow by the effective test area. The result is then converted to the selected measurement unit for display and reporting. Different test head sizes, including 5 cm² and 100 cm², can be selected according to the applicable standard or material specification while maintaining the same fundamental measurement principle.

Automatic Air Permeability Tester - QualiPermatest™ Series Technical Specifications

Parameter QualiPermatest™ I QualiPermatest™ II
Operation and Display PLC + touch screen PLC + touch screen + PC control
Test Method Automatic
Test Time 10 to 15 s
Permeability Range 0.1 to 12,000 mm/s
Measuring Error ≤ ±2%
Nozzle Pressure Difference 4,000 Pa
Specimen Pressure Difference 1,000 Pa
Measuring Units mm/s, m³/m²/min, cm³/cm²/s, m³/m²/h, L/dm²/min, L/m²/s, cfm
Test Areas 5 cm², 20 cm², 50 cm², 100 cm², Ø50 mm (≈19.6 cm²), Ø70 mm (≈38.3 cm²)
Maximum Specimen Thickness 12 mm
Data Port RS232C
Voltage AC 220 V, 50/60 Hz, 2 kW (110V is also available)
Dimensions (L × W × H) 1,020 × 460 × 1,016 mm
Weight 93 kg

Nozzle Set

Nozzle Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Bore Diameter (mm) 0.8 1.2 2 3 4 6 8 10 12 16

Standard Accessories

Item Quantity QualiPermatest™ I QualiPermatest™ II
20 cm² test plate and fixture 1 set Included Included
38.3 cm² test plate and fixture 1 set Included Included
Standard calibration plate 1 set Included Included
Nozzle set 1 set Included Included
Power cord 1 pc Included Included
Operating software 1 pc Not applicable Included
PC connection cable 1 pc Not applicable Included

Optional Accessories

Item QualiPermatest™ I QualiPermatest™ II
Additional test plates and fixtures Optional Optional
Air compressor Optional Optional
Computer Not applicable Optional

Delivery time varies upon stock availability. Our standard dispatch and shipping times are generally within 1 week, however for some high demand items the delivery may be extended to 2-3 weeks. If you require these items urgently please contact us to check accurate stock availability and to organize faster shipping methods.

🚚

Important Delivery Information

Delivery time varies upon stock availability. Our standard dispatch and shipping times are generally within 1 week, however for some high demand items the delivery may be extended to 2-3 weeks.

Need it urgently? Contact us here to check stock and organize faster shipping.

Orders:
Purchaser acknowledges that when placing an order on the Qualitest:

A. the placing of the order signifies the purchaser's assent to place said order at the Qualitest and that the order will be accepted by the successful processing of the order by Qualitest USA LC.
B. the purchaser typing their name when requested to do so by the Qualitest constitutes a signature to contract
C. the purchaser has the full authority to enter into the contract for such entity, and such grant of authority was indicated by purchaser by placement of the order through the Qualitest.
D. A minimum handling fee will be applied to the shipping total for all orders.

Shipping within the U.S.A.:

All orders will be shipped best way prepaid, via courier for smaller packages or via Freight forwarders for larger crates. A handling fee may be applicable to orders. Title to merchandise transfers to the purchaser upon delivery to the carrier. Loss or damage in transit is the responsibility of the purchaser. Qualitest USA will provide assistance with information needed for processing claims.

Shipping outside of the U.S.A.:

All orders will be shipped best way, via courier for smaller packages or via Freight forwarders for larger crates. A low handling fee may be applicable. Title to merchandise transfers to the purchaser upon delivery to the carrier. Loss or damage in transit is the responsibility of the purchaser. Qualitest USA will provide assistance with information needed for processing claims. Export fees, duties, taxes, and customs clearance are the responsibility of the purchaser.

Shipping insurance is not included, please contact our sales representatives if you need shipping insurance.

Partial shipment: Qualitest USA reserves the right to make partial shipments unless otherwise instructed by the purchaser.

Payment terms: All payments to Qualitest USA are to be made in U.S. Dollars (USD)

A. Credit Card - Qualitest USA will accept Visa, Master Card, AMEX or Discover. Required information from the purchaser is the credit card number, 3 digit security code, expiration date, card holder's name (exactly as it appears on the card), billing address, and valid telephone number for us to use in case of difficulty. Qualitest USA reserves the right to delay shipment pending verification of credit card validity.
B. Wire Transfer - Transfer must be made to Qualitest and confirmed for the full purchase amount (merchandise, handling and shipping) prior to shipment. Please contact us by phone at 1.877.884.TEST (8378)(outside U.S. +1.905.944.9825) or by fax at +1.954.697.8211 for bank information.
C. Open Account - Available to U.S.A. and Canadian customers only. Terms on open accounts are Net 30 days from date of shipment. Qualitest USA reserves the right to refuse shipment of new orders if any unpaid invoices are older than 30 days. Purchasers may apply for an open account by providing:

their bank information
3 credit references from other suppliers
Please allow 5 business days for confirmation of credit and creation of an open account.

Return Policy:

Qualitest USA may accept return of purchased merchandise within North America for refund or credit under the following conditions -

  • There may be an additional restocking fee charged to the transaction if items are already shipped to customer.
  • Goods must be returned to Qualitest USA within 5 days of the date of the receipt of the purchased goods.
  • All freight, duties, customs, and other related shipping charges for the returned merchandise are borne by the purchaser. Shipments made freight collect will be refused.
  • Merchandise must be returned properly packaged in brand new, salable condition, along with original packaging and all documentation, accessories and certificates.
  • Purchaser has confirmed return authorization directly with Qualitest.
  • Merchandise is regular catalog item. Special order items can not be returned.
  • All returned merchandise is subject to inspection by Qualitest. Qualitest reserves the right to refuse return of any merchandise that is used, damaged, or not part of the current published price list. In the case Qualitest does not accept the returned merchandise, reasonable attempts will be made to notify the Buyer and the merchandise will be returned to Buyer as they were received by Qualitest. Damaged merchandise that can be restored to original condition and thus accepted for return will be evaluated on an individual basis. The purchaser will be advised of additional expenses for the repair and restoration of the returned item. After approval, these expenses will be charged to the purchaser in addition to the restocking fee.


Change of Terms:

The acceptance of any order by Qualitest USA is subject to purchaser's assent to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein. Purchaser's assent to these terms and conditions shall be presumed from the purchaser's placement of an order through the Qualitest. Any and all other terms and conditions are expressly rejected, and no addition or modification of terms and conditions shall be binding without the prior agreement of Qualitest USA in writing.

Complete Agreement:

The terms and conditions in the Qualitest web site, incorporated herein by reference, including forms, acknowledgements, quotations, invoices and sales terms and conditions constitute the entire and exclusive agreement between the purchaser and Qualitest USA LC.

Information:

Qualitest USA makes every effort to insure the accuracy of the product information displayed on its web sites, but makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of the data portrayed on the web sites. Qualitest USA reserves the right to change product information, including pricing information at any time without notice. 

Trademarks and Copyrights:

The WorldofTest.com Qualitest contains trademarked product names. Product names are not to be reproduced or used in any fashion by any party other than Qualitest without the express written consent of Qualitest International Inc.. All pictures, descriptions, and other content of this web site are copyrighted by Qualitest USA and may not be used without the express written permission of Qualitest USA. Purchaser acknowledges that they have no right, title, or interest in the trademarks or copyrights in the products, and purchaser covenants that it will take no action to register or otherwise interfere with such rights. Please contact us with any requests for permission or questions about our trademarks. 

Warranty Disclaimer:

No warranty or affirmation of fact, express or implied, other than expressly set forth herein is made or authorized by Qualitest USA. Qualitest USA disclaims any and all liability for product defect claims. Qualitest USA does not express or imply a warranty that any product on the web site(s) is fit for a particular purpose. Qualitest USA honors the product warranty as published and made available by Qualitest USA. Warranty claims for products not manufactured by Qualitest are the responsibility of the manufacturer. Qualitest USA will always make its best good faith effort to resolve warranty claims. 


Force Majeure:

Qualitest USA shall not be liable for any delay in or impairment of performance resulting in whole or in part from Acts of God, service interruptions, labor disruptions, insurrections, governmental decrees or controls, war risks, severe weather, supplies or raw materials, inability to procure or ship products, inability to obtain permits and/or licenses, or any other circumstances or causes beyond the control of Qualitest USA in the conduct of its business. 

Qualitest USA Privacy Policy 

I. What legal provisions govern our data processing practices? How and from where (internal/external sources) is personal data acquired? What are the rights of the user (web site visitor/registered customer)? 

1. General
As a general principle, no personal details need to be provided when visiting our Internet site. Data made available to us by you is treated in strict confidence and in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act. With a few exceptions (see point 2 below), our web server only registers non-personal (anonymous) data concerning the use of our site. Specifically, the log files of our web server, as a general rule, only contain the user's IP address, the last page visited by the user, the browser used, date, time and the file requested. This anonymous data, however, does not permit conclusions to be drawn about the individual users, and merely serves to prepare statistics on the use of our Internet site for the purpose of its improvement. At the same time, great importance is placed on ensuring that usage data is not linked with personal data. 

2. Personal data

Person-related data (personal data) is only used if the newsletter is ordered (by email), product(s) is (are) ordered, or to supply product information. We undertake to use the personal data entrusted to us only for the purposes stated. Purchase history is retained for assistance with future customer needs. 

II. What security measures are used to protect personal data? What are the user's options for processing personal data? 

3. Technical measures

Databases are optimally protected against third party access, loss, misuse and falsification through the use of appropriate technical means. In order to determine the popularity of individual topic areas, cookies are used in those sections. These text files are stored on your hard disk and facilitate your use of our Internet site. Thanks to these cookies, there is no need for specific registration each time you visit a section requiring registration, and we can supply you with the personalized contents you request. 

It is for you to decide whether you want to work with cookies and, if so, which kind (permanently stored on the hard disk or only placed for the time of the browser activity). However, we draw your attention to the fact that access to fields requiring registration is only possible with activated cookies. 

III. What data is communicated to third parties and for what purposes? 

4. Communication of personal data

Personal data entrusted to us by you is not communicated, leased or sold to third parties. 

IV. Which department answers questions about the processing of personal data? 

5. Contact

In the light of the rapid technical developments in connection with the Internet, we make every effort to constantly improve our Internet site and technical precautions, including those connected with data protection. We will keep you suitably informed about such measures. Any changes will be published here. Further information is available at any time by contacting Qualitest USA.

Disclaimer of liability Qualitest USA shall not be liable for direct, indirect or consequential losses resulting from or in connection with access to, use of or queries to the Qualitest web site or its links with other web sites, even if Qualitest USA has previously been informed of the possibility of such losses. No guarantee is provided as to the accuracy of the information disseminated via the Qualitest USA web site. In addition, Qualitest USA guarantees neither the reliability nor the completeness of the information contained on its web site. The information made available on the Qualitest and WorldofTest.com web site may be amended at any time without prior notice. In particular, Qualitest USA shall not be liable for losses caused by transmission errors, technical faults and interruptions, breakdowns or an unlawful interference with the user's data processing system or the generally accessible systems and transmission networks. Nor shall Qualitest USA be liable for losses resulting from breakdowns, interruptions or overloads occurring to any data processing systems. If certain links are activated on the Qualitest and WorldofTest.com web site, the user may under certain circumstances leave the Qualitest web site. Qualitest USA assumes no responsibility for the contents, products or services offered or other information or offers contained on these linked web sites. 

Related Products