PVC or butyl rubber (l) coated (on either side) polyamide fabrics, 523 and 490 g/m(2), 0.44 and 0.42 mm thick, resp., were exposed 1-7 times to a 15 mm high column of aq. 96% H2SO4 or 15-30 times to aq. 50% NaOH at 23 +/- 2 degrees C. PVC was superior as a coat against 50% NaOH but inferior to l as a coat against concd. H2SO4. In 30- and 10-min contacts, the 2(nd) and the 5(th) contact ended in drastic reduction of protective properties, resp. With l, even 30 contacts (10 and 30 min) with NaOH produced no damage to the fabric. The protective properties of a fabric are related to the type of coating material, time of exposure, and nature of an aggressive chemical.