Tested at 0 °C for 6 Hours — And the Subject Was Still Warm: Inside the Ergopro Trondheim Trials
- diego7475
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Published: January 2026
In late August 2022, at Ergopro's specialized laboratory in Trondheim, Norway, White Glacier pushed the Arctic 10+ PC immersion suit to limits no manufacturer had publicly attempted before. The goal: simulate real polar abandonment conditions far beyond regulatory minimums—and prove the suit could keep a person not just alive, but comfortable.
The test setup was unforgiving:
Water temperature: 0.0 °C (freezing seawater equivalent)
Air temperature: −20 °C
Wind speed: 10 km/h (creating an effective wind chill of approximately −30 °C)
Duration: 6 full hours (limited for ethical reasons to avoid unnecessary risk)
Configuration: Arctic 10+ PC with the patented Splash Tent fully deployed
A healthy male volunteer entered the tank wearing standard polar undergarments. What followed redefined expectations for cold-water survival gear.
Key results from the independent Ergopro report:
Core body temperature: Started at ~37.2 °C and ended at ~37.0 °C — essentially no measurable drop
Forehead/skin temperature inside the Splash Tent: Steady at ~20–21 °C, breathing warm, recycled air
No flushing events: The triple-seal system kept face, neck, and interior completely dry despite wind and simulated spray
Subject feedback: Remained alert, comfortable, and reported being "bored, not cold." Many past test subjects in milder conditions have even napped or watched videos during trials.
The lab observers noted: "The results indicate that the test subject would have been satisfactorily protected for a considerably longer period."
Why this test changed everything Standard immersion suits are approved for calm 2 °C water with no wind—conditions rarely seen in real Arctic or Antarctic incidents. In those regulatory tests, even top neoprene suits show core temperature drops within hours. Wind, waves, and sub-zero air accelerate heat loss dramatically.
The Arctic 10+ didn't just endure these extreme conditions—it turned the tank into a personal habitat. The deployed Splash Tent created a micro-environment that trapped body heat, blocked wind chill, and allowed free breathing without fogging or icing.
White Glacier Arctic Survival Suit First to Exceed Testing Standards
For context, here's a typical core temperature graph from immersion suit research in cold water (illustrative of standard suit performance vs. the flat line seen with Arctic 10+):
The real-world impact In a delayed-rescue scenario—common in polar waters where helicopters can be 12, 24, or 72+ hours away—this performance translates to functional, multi-day survival. Crews stay warm, coherent, and capable of self-rescue actions like signaling, eating from the integrated pack, or aiding others.
No other commercially available suit has undergone and published results from testing this severe. The Arctic 10+ isn't just Polar Code compliant—it's engineered for when compliance isn't enough.
Ready to equip your fleet with the suit that left Norwegian experts speechless? Contact info@whiteglacier.com or schedule a demo with CEO Diego Jacobson.