Standards matrix and test methods
Hazard types mapped to Chinese, European and US standards, with test items and methods.
Reference by hazard type
The same word "flame retardant" means different things by context: firefighting is assessed on heat flux and assembly performance, workwear on afterflame and wash durability, metalworking on liquid metal splash, and electrical work on arc energy.
| Hazard type | China GB / XF | Europe EN / ISO | US NFPA / ASTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firefighting Flame · high heat flux · assembly | XF 10-2014 | EN 469 · ISO 11613 | NFPA 1971 |
| Technical rescue Debris · abrasion · moderate heat | XF 633 | EN ISO 11612 | NFPA 1951 |
| Proximity and insulation Predominantly radiant heat | XF 634 | EN ISO 11612 (C) | NFPA 1971 (insulation) |
| Flame retardant workwear Flash fire · industrial laundering | GB 8965.1-2020 | EN ISO 11612 | NFPA 2112 |
| Welding and hot work Spatter · contact heat | GB 8965.2-2022 | EN ISO 11611 | NFPA 2112 |
| Molten metal splash Liquid metal · iron | GB 8965.3-2022 | EN ISO 11612 (D / E) | ASTM F955 |
| Arc flash Arc energy · ignition | GB 8965.4-2022 · DL/T 320 | IEC 61482-1-1 / -1-2 | NFPA 70E · ASTM F1959 |
| Antistatic Static accumulation · spark ignition | GB 12014-2019 | EN 1149-1 / -3 / -5 | NFPA 2112 (related) |
| High visibility Low light · traffic | GB 20653-2020 | EN ISO 20471 | ANSI/ISEA 107 |
| Liquid chemical protection Splash · penetration | GB 24539 | EN 13034 · EN 14605 | NFPA 1992 |
| Rain and wet conditions | GB/T 23330 | EN 343 | — |
| Aircraft interior materials | — | EN 13501 | FAR 25.853 |
| Basic safety and ecology Formaldehyde · pH · odour | GB 18401-2010 | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (own certificate required) | — |
| General requirements for protective clothing | GB/T 20097 | EN ISO 13688 | — |
This table is a standards index for technical communication. Items marked as requiring an own certificate are stated only where TAIKELUN holds the corresponding certificate.
Test items and methods
The value of a test report depends on what was tested, to which method, and which batch the result relates to.
| Category | Test item | Method standard | What it evaluates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flame and thermal | Vertical flame spread | GB/T 5455 · ASTM D6413 · ISO 15025 | Afterflame, afterglow and char length |
| Convective heat (TPP) | ISO 9151 | Time to second-degree burn under flame and hot gas | |
| Radiant heat (RHTI) | ISO 6942 | Heat transmission level from a radiant source (levels B / C) | |
| Molten metal splash | ISO 9185 | Resistance to aluminium or iron splash penetration | |
| Arc and static | Arc thermal performance (ATPV / EBT) | ASTM F1959 · IEC 61482-1-1 | Incident energy the fabric can withstand |
| Point-to-point resistance and charge decay | GB/T 12703.4 · EN 1149-1 / -3 | Static accumulation and dissipation | |
| Physical and durability | Tensile strength | GB/T 3923.1 · ISO 13934-1 | Warp and weft strength, determining service life |
| Tear strength | GB/T 3917.2 · ISO 13937-2 | Resistance to tear propagation | |
| Dimensional change | GB/T 8628 / 8629 · ISO 6330 | Shrinkage after domestic or industrial laundering | |
| FR retention after industrial washing | To contracted wash cycle count | Durability of flame resistance (key distinction between inherent and treated FR) | |
| Colour fastness and ecology | Wash, rub and light fastness | GB/T 3921 · GB/T 3920 · GB/T 8427 | Colour change and staining |
| Perspiration and water fastness | GB/T 3922 · GB/T 5713 | Performance in skin-contact and wet conditions | |
| Formaldehyde, pH, odour | GB 18401 | Basic safety classification |
Flame resistance ≠
thermal insulation
Flame resistance describes whether a fabric continues to burn; thermal insulation describes how long heat takes to reach the skin. A fabric that does not burn can still cause serious injury if heat passes through quickly.
- Flame resistance — vertical flame test: afterflame, afterglow, char length (GB/T 5455)
- Convective heat — TPP value; higher values mean longer time to second-degree burn
- Radiant heat — RHTI 24 / RHTI 12, determining working distance and duration
- Contact heat — tolerance of short contact with hot solid surfaces
- Assembly performance — a compliant fabric does not by itself make a compliant garment
Four notes on specifications
Report subject and batch
Test reports should correspond to the supplying entity, the fabric model and the batch. Reports that do not align with these are of limited value in acceptance and incident investigation.
Wash durability of treated FR
Treated FR performance declines after repeated industrial laundering. Where long service life is required, the wash cycle count should be agreed and stated in the contract.
Standard revisions
The GB 8965 and XF series have both been revised in recent years, and criteria and methods may change. Confirm the version cited in tender documents.
Fabric and garment performance
Seam construction, components, reflective tape and closures all affect assembly performance. Garment-stage verification is advisable for assembly-certified projects.
Need a standards cross-reference for a model?
Provide the model or the garment specification and we can supply the corresponding standards list, test items and sampling arrangements.