Water column is a term we use to indicate how high pressure with water our materials can withstand before the water penetrates. In our tents, we use different water columns on different types of tents, which in turn are adapted to different areas of use and situations. All our tents are 100% waterproof.
Too many people are fooled into thinking that the quality of the fabric is good as long as the water column is high. International standard EN 343 defines fabric as waterproof if it has a water column of more than 800 mm. However, different manufacturers use different methods to measure the water column, and the results can vary enormously. Furthermore, it is not the water column in the new state that is important, but the substance's ability to maintain its properties over time. At Helsport, we set very strict requirements when we test substances, both in terms of water column (ISO 811) and tear strength (ISO 13937-4).