DesertKewl®: A High-Performance Cooling Workwear Solution for Extreme Environments

DesertKewl® Cooling Workwear Solution: Developed by Necessity, Proven by Science

DesertKewl® is our latest cooling workwear solution, first developed in 2017, when the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Workers’ Welfare Department joined forces with our parent company, TechNiche UK Ltd and Hamad Bin Khalifa University to address the growing risks of heat stress in Qatar’s extreme climate.

Initially branded StayQool, this cooling workwear solution sort to address the underperformance of international ‘off-the-shelf’ cooling solutions and engineer a 'total' cooling solution that would perform in temperatures exceeding 49°C (120°F) and humidity reaching 75%.

A Rigorous R&D Process

The initial development of the StayQool solution involved an extensive, scientific, and iterative approach based upon four site-based heat trials to collect thermographic data and over 3,000 man-hours of dedicated development work

In July 2019, Workers' Welfare & Labour Rights collaborated in a major study commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to assess the impact of heat stress on workers. The study consisted of over 5,000 hours of fieldwork and was the largest study of its kind in the construction industry. As part of the study, heat stress experts, FAME Lab, examined the FIFA World Cup construction sites and found that our workers were at low risk of occupational heat strain due to the extensive heat stress mitigation strategies in place. A key factor in these strategies was the StayQool cooling suit solution. Source: Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Workers’ Welfare Department

FIFA World Cup 2022: Deployment & Validation

During the construction infrastructure phase of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, StayQool achieved its milestone deployment:

• 30,000 StayQool suits were successfully issued across all project sites

• The cooling workwear was praised by workers for comfort and performance

• Contributed to the broader deployment of 180,000 cooling garments

• Featured in TIME Magazine as a transformative heat-mitigation innovation

Breakthrough Technologies

The original StayQool solution comprised two key technologies:

Evaporative Cooling

Our market leading evaporative cooling fabric was integrated onto key pulse points (wrists, collar, groin) to provide efficient evaporative cooling, lasting 5 to 10 hours under harsh conditions.

Biometric Wearable Sensors

StayQool was the first ISO20471-compliant cooling garment to integrate optional biometric monitoring, enabling real-time physiological data capture.

Further supported by ergonomic & protective design elements including:

• Loose-fit architecture with cooling air vent panels

• Breathable nylon and wicking polyester for moisture transport

• Chevron reflective tape, dual cargo pockets, and targetted cooling zones

• Dust mask system compliant with GB/T 32610-2016

FIFA World Cup 2022: Performance Summary

Feature	Specification
Skin Cooling	6–8°C (10–14°F) temperature reduction
Duration of Relief	5–10 hours
Worker Approval Rate	98% positive feedback
Endorsements	FAME Lab, ILO, MOADLSA
Deployment at FIFA 2022 Sites	30,000 units
Performance Advantage	Up to 15°C cooler than traditional PPE

A New Adaption: DesertKewl® Is Industry-Leading

Today product adaption specifically for the market in Saudi Arabia has led to the the creation of DesertKewl® distinguished by further fabric development and wearable technology advancements. We're now in the process of gaining:

• Further scientifically validation and field-tested trials at scale

• Offering custom-fit designs with interchangeable health sensors & diagnostics

• Full HSE adoption and implementation into heat stress management systems

• Transformative climate-adaptive PPE from reactive protection to proactive prevention

Conclusion

DesertKewl® today represents a pinnacle achievement in occupational health innovation. Built on scientific rigor, collaborative R&D, and real-world application, it is the most complete and credible cooling workwear solution for the world's most extreme work environments.

Click below to download our DesertKewl® Presentation

DesertKewl Presentation.pdf

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OR to learn more about DesertKewl® contact us at sales@heatstressglobal.com