InduBarrier™ Type 5B & Type 6B – Particle & Dust Barrier and Lightweight Limited-Splash Protective Fabrics for Industrial Safety
Kae Hwa’s InduBarrier™ series offers advanced breathable protective fabrics tailored for distinct industrial hazards. The Type 5B is a high-performance laminate engineered to protect industrial workers from hazardous dry particulates and biological aerosols; certified to meet EN 13982-1 Type 5B standards, this fabric combines exceptional particle filtration with dynamic moisture vapor transmission, significantly reducing heat stress and ensuring compliance in demanding occupational safety environments.
In contrast, the Type 6B provides a lightweight, highly flexible solution engineered for environments with risks of low-concentration liquid splashes and light chemical aerosols. Fully compliant with EN 13034 (Type 6B) standards, this advanced laminate offers the perfect balance between essential liquid barrier protection and all-day wearer comfort, making it the ideal choice for general industrial maintenance, automotive painting, and light chemical handling.
Lightweight
Breathable
Waterproof
Kae Hwa Industrial InduBarrier™ Lightweight Protective Solutions: Type 5B Particulate Protection and Type 6B Limited-Splash Fabrics
In the modern industrial safety landscape, the hazards found in working environments are becoming increasingly complex. With over 60 years of polymer engineering expertise, Kae Hwa Industrial has developed the InduBarrier™ series of breathable protective fabrics.
The series provides specialized material solutions tailored to different hazard sources, helping enterprises protect frontline personnel while maintaining operational efficiency and wearer comfort.
InduBarrier™ Type 5-B: A Robust Shield Against Dry Particulates and Hazardous Dust
When industrial operations involve invisible airborne threats, InduBarrier™ Type 5-B serves as a critical first line of defense. This high-performance microporous composite is purpose-built to protect against dry solid particulates and biological aerosols.
Its technical strength lies in balancing particulate barrier performance with moisture-vapor management, helping workers remain protected and comfortable during demanding operations.
Protective clothing using InduBarrier™ Type 5-B material is designed to meet EN ISO 13982-1 requirements for protection against airborne solid particulates.
A key performance consideration is the control of Total Inward Leakage (TIL), which evaluates how effectively the complete garment limits the entry of fine particles through the material, seams, closures, and garment openings.
The specialized microporous membrane structure helps block microscopic hazardous dust, including asbestos particles, toxic chemical powders, and contaminated dry particulates. This supports a cleaner and safer internal environment during extended working periods.
Heavy industrial work generates significant body heat. Traditional non-breathable protective suits can trap sweat and humidity, increasing wearer fatigue and the risk of heat stress.
InduBarrier™ Type 5-B provides a Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate exceeding 3,000 g/m²·24 hr, allowing perspiration and humidity to escape through the breathable material structure.
This continuous moisture-vapor release helps manage the internal microclimate of the garment, improving comfort during long shifts, physically demanding work, and operations in warm or confined environments.
Industrial workplaces often contain abrasive surfaces, equipment edges, and conditions that place repeated mechanical stress on protective clothing.
InduBarrier™ Type 5-B is supported by physical performance testing covering flex-cracking resistance, tear strength, tensile strength, puncture resistance, abrasion resistance, and bursting strength.
Through advanced lamination technology, the material is engineered to maintain structural and barrier integrity during bending, reaching, lifting, and other demanding physical movements.
Due to its strong protection against dry particulate hazards, InduBarrier™ Type 5-B is suitable for applications including:
Pharmaceutical and cleanroom environments: Handling fine chemical powders and controlling exposure to contaminated aerosols.
Hazardous-material abatement: Supporting asbestos removal, toxic-dust cleanup, and industrial powder handling.
Agricultural protection: Providing body protection during dry-powder pesticide handling and spraying operations.
InduBarrier™ Type 6-B: Limited-Splash Protection with Lightweight Mobility
Not every industrial environment requires heavy particulate protection or a fully spray-tight chemical barrier. For routine maintenance, cleaning, coating, and surface-treatment work, lightweight flexibility may be equally important.
InduBarrier™ Type 6-B is designed specifically for environments involving low-concentration liquid splashes, fine liquid aerosols, and light chemical mist.
Unlike stiff conventional chemical-protective materials, InduBarrier™ Type 6-B uses a lightweight composite structure with a soft hand feel and flexible drape.
This construction supports a greater range of movement and helps reduce physical fatigue during repetitive operations. It is particularly suitable for work requiring frequent bending, climbing, reaching, or extended arm movement.
A key benefit of InduBarrier™ Type 6-B is its clean, low-
lint material surface.
In automotive painting, industrial coating, and precision surface treatment, loose fibers may settle on freshly coated surfaces and create visible quality defects. InduBarrier™ Type 6-B helps support a cleaner working environment while allowing painters and operators to remain mobile and comfortable.
Automotive painting and industrial coating: Helping reduce exposure to fine paint mist and limited solvent splash.
General industrial maintenance and cleaning: Supporting work involving light chemical cleaners, mist, and accidental low-pressure splashes.
Light chemical processing: Suitable for assessed low-risk environments where fully liquid-tight protection is not required.
International Certifications and Physical Performance Standards
In addition to their primary protective classifications, InduBarrier™ series materials have undergone comprehensive material-performance and biological-barrier testing. Kae Hwa Industrial also implements quality and process management under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems, providing a reliable manufacturing foundation for protective-apparel brands, garment manufacturers, and OEM customers.
The following section outlines the principal certifications and material-performance characteristics of the InduBarrier™ series.
Certification / Test Standard
Test Item & Description
Applicable Product / Performance
EN 13982-1
(Type 5B)
Chemical protective clothing providing protection to the full body against airborne solid particulates. The critical metric is preventing "Total Inward Leakage" (TIL) of fine dust.
Exclusive to InduBarrier™ Type 5B
EN 13034
(Type 6B)
Designed for low-risk environments, providing limited protection against liquid chemicals. Effectively repels light sprays, liquid aerosols, and low-pressure splashes where a fully liquid-tight garment is not required.
Exclusive to InduBarrier™ Type 6B
EN 14126
(Suffix "B" Certification)
Protective clothing against infective agents (biological hazards). Includes:
• ISO 16603/16604: Penetration by blood and bacteriophage (Up to Class 6)
• ISO 22610/22612: Penetration by wet and dry microbial (Up to Class 6)
• ISO 22611: Penetration by contaminated aerosols (Up to Class 3)
Passes all biological defense tests
(Applicable to Type 5B & 6B)
EN 1149-5 / 1149-1
Performance standard for antistatic clothing materials. Primarily tests fabric surface resistance to ensure effective static dissipation, preventing spark hazards in flammable or explosive environments.
Test Passed (Pass)
Surface Resistance ≤ 2.5 × 109 Ω
ASTM E96 BW
Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) test standard (inverted cup method). Evaluates the fabric's heat dissipation capability and breathable comfort during prolonged wear or in hot environments.
High Heat Dissipation
WVTR > 3,000 g/m²·24hr
Physical Mechanical Strength
Comprehensive evaluation of fabric physical strength to ensure structural integrity:
• EN 530: Abrasion resistance
• EN 863: Puncture resistance
• ISO 7854 Method B: Flex cracking resistance
• ISO 9073-4: Trapezoidal tear strength
• ISO 13934-1: Tensile strength
High Durability Standard
Maintains integrity without tearing under high-stress stretching and friction.
Precision Selection for Frontline Safety
Kae Hwa Industrial maintains strict quality control under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 management systems to support consistent quality across every roll of InduBarrier™ protective fabric.
When selecting protective materials, enterprises should first identify the primary workplace hazard. For airborne dry particulates, hazardous dust, and contaminated solid particles, Type 5-B should be prioritized for its particulate-protection performance and control of inward leakage.
For light liquid mist, low-pressure splashes, and work requiring greater mobility, the lightweight and flexible Type 6-B provides a more appropriate solution.
This precision-protection approach helps enterprises avoid unnecessary over-specification, optimize procurement decisions, and provide frontline workers with protection suited to their actual operating environment.
Our InduBarrier™ Type 5B fabric undergoes rigorous testing to ensure an impenetrable shield against solid airborne particulates. The precise pore structure of the microporous membrane physically filters out fine hazardous dust and biological contaminants, ensuring the internal micro-environment remains safe and uncompromised throughout the shift.
Industrial labor generates significant body heat. Traditional non-breathable protective suits trap this heat, leading to rapid exhaustion and dangerous heat stress. InduBarrier™ leverages high Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) technology, actively venting sweat and humidity outward. This continuous respiration keeps workers cooler, more focused, and productive.
Industrial environments are unforgiving, filled with sharp edges and abrasive surfaces. Our advanced in-line lamination process creates a tear-resistant, puncture-proof composite. This structural integrity ensures the protective suit will not rip or split open during rigorous physical exertion, maintaining total barrier continuity.
Protection should not restrict movement. InduBarrier™ Type 5B is engineered to be exceptionally lightweight and drapable. It provides a soft, flexible fit that accommodates a full range of motion, allowing workers to perform complex tasks, climb, and bend without fighting the resistance of a stiff garment.
Specification
Brand
InduBarrier™
Product Form
Roll
Material
Breathable PE Film + Nonwoven Fabric
Structure
2-Layer or 3-Layer Microporous Composite
Breathability Mechanism
High Vapor Permeability (Optimized for Heat Stress Reduction)
Barrier Properties
Type 5B Particulate & Aerosol Filtration, High Tear and Puncture Resistance
Surface Treatment
White / Blue / Custom Industrial Colors
Weight
10 - 100 gsm
Overall Width
80 - 2000 mm (Customizable)
Length
300 - 1500 m
Application
Type 5B Protective Coveralls, PPE garments, Cleanroom suits
Redefining the Boundaries of Breathable Technology
Understanding Type 5B — The Benchmark for Particulate Defense
Under CE PPE regulations, EN 13982-1 (Type 5) specifies performance requirements for chemical protective clothing providing protection to the full body against airborne solid particulates. The critical metric here is preventing "Total Inward Leakage" (TIL) of fine dust. InduBarrier™ Type 5B goes beyond basic requirements by ensuring the membrane's micropores are strictly controlled to block microscopic solids while maintaining essential vapor diffusion, offering uncompromising defense for hazardous material handlers.
Why Kae Hwa Is Trusted in Industrial Safety Materials
With over 60 years of polymer engineering expertise, Kae Hwa Industrial is a globally recognized supplier of high-performance PPE barrier fabrics. Our materials undergo rigorous quality control under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 systems. By providing certified, durable, and breathable laminates, we empower global safety brands to manufacture protective clothing that workers can trust with their lives.
Type 4B materials are engineered to be liquid-tight, protecting against heavy chemical sprays and liquid aerosols. Type 5B materials, like this specific InduBarrier™ fabric, are designed to block hazardous dry particulates (such as toxic dust or asbestos) and airborne biological aerosols while maximizing breathability.
Industrial workloads raise body temperature quickly. InduBarrier™ Type 5B uses a microporous film that allows water vapor (sweat) to diffuse through the fabric. This continuous venting mechanism cools the worker naturally, extending safe working hours and reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Yes. When appropriately converted and seam-sealed into a garment, our fabric provides an excellent barrier against biological aerosols and fine chemical powders, making it highly suitable for pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleanrooms, and outbreak response scenarios.
