China’s new mandatory standard for clothing that provides protection
from heat – GB 38453-2019 – came into effect on July 1, 2020.
Issued by the Standardization Administration of China and included in
China’s No.17 announcement on newly approved standards in 2019, GB 38453-2019 applies
to protective clothing that is designed to reduce the potential for injury from:
- Contact heat
- Convective heat
- Radiant heat generated by
high temperature objects - Sources of heat in the
environment
[if !supportLists]
It does not apply to protective clothing used in firefighting or when
working with molten metal or during welding.
Among the primary technical obligations in the standard are requirements
relating to fabric quality and protective performance.
Fabric quality consists
of appearance, physical and chemical performance for woven fabrics,
knitted fabrics and leather materials. Test items include:
- Woven fabrics – formaldehyde, pH value, dimensional change after
laundering, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amines, color fastness to
perspiration, color fastness to dry rubbing, color fastness to artificial
light, breaking strength, tear strength - Knitted fabrics – formaldehyde, pH value, dimensional change after
washing, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amines, color fastness to
perspiration, color fastness to dry rubbing, color fastness to artificial
light, bursting strength - Leather materials – formaldehyde, chromium (VI), pH value, decomposable
carcinogenic aromatic amines, tensile strength, tear strength and fat content
in the leather material
[if !supportLists]
Protective performance requirements
include:
- General requirement for thermal stability and flames retardant performance
- Thermal insulation requirements for contact heat transmission, convective heat transmission, and radiant
heat transmission - Ready to wear requirements for style and structure, size, specification,
sewn, attachment, and dimensional change
[if !supportLists]
Stakeholders
are advised to check that their clothing products designed to protect the
wearer from injury caused by heat conform to the latest Chinese standard.
SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40
state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear and
home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary
backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical,
chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished
products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with
international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services.
SGS
SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news
and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full China Releases a new Mandatory National Standard for
Protective Clothing-Protective clothing against heat– GB 38453-2019 SafeGuardS.
Subscribe here to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your
inbox.
For further information contact:
Louann Spirito
Consumer and
Retail — Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection,
verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the
global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees,
SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.