GB20265-2019
Foot protection — Footwear protecting against chemicals
足部防护 防化学品鞋
GB 20265-2019 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Foot protection — Footwear protecting against chemicals. It appears in the Chemicals compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Jul 1, 2020.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to footwear protecting against chemicals designed to protect the wearer's feet from chemical hazards in the workplace. It covers both Class I (footwear made of leather and other materials, excluding all-rubber or all-polymeric) and Class II (all-rubber or all-polymeric footwear). It is mandatory for all manufacturers producing chemical protective footwear for the Chinese market. The standard does not apply to footwear designed solely for protection against other hazards without chemical resistance claims.
Technical requirements
GB 20265-2019 specifies comprehensive technical requirements for chemical protective footwear, categorized by degradation level and permeation level. For whole footwear, the standard mandates specific design styles, upper height, and sole performance including bonding strength, water resistance, leak resistance, and slip resistance. Material requirements are detailed for the upper, lining, tongue, insole, and outsole. This includes specifications for thickness, tear resistance, tensile properties, flexing resistance, and pH value. For leather components, hexavalent chromium content must not exceed 3.0 mg/kg. The core of the standard lies in its chemical resistance requirements. Footwear must be tested against selected test chemicals from defined categories (e.g., alcohols, ketones, acids). Degradation level footwear must resist at least two chemicals, while permeation level footwear must resist at least three. Manufacturers must ensure that materials do not exhibit significant degradation or permeation beyond the specified time limits. Refer to GB/T 20991-2007 for general test method guidelines.
Testing methods
Testing methods involve evaluating both physical properties and chemical resistance. Physical tests include measuring upper height, bonding strength, water and leak resistance, and slip resistance on ceramic tile and steel surfaces. Material tests cover thickness measurement, tear performance, tensile testing, and flexing resistance. For chemical resistance, the standard outlines specific degradation tests (Annex A) where samples are exposed to chemicals and assessed for changes in hardness, tear strength, and elongation. Permeation tests measure the breakthrough time of chemicals through the material, classified into five levels based on duration. Testing must be conducted in standard atmospheric conditions of (23±2)°C and (50±5)% relative humidity.
FAQs
What products are regulated under GB 20265-2019?
GB 20265-2019 regulates footwear protecting against chemicals, including both leather-based (Class I) and all-rubber/polymeric (Class II) footwear designed to protect against chemical hazards in the workplace.
What are the key updates in GB 20265-2019 compared to previous versions?
The 2019 version replaces GB 20265-2006 and GB 20266-2006. Key updates include the addition of Class I product requirements, new classification and grading (degradation and permeation levels), modified chemical resistance requirements and test methods, and new provisions for manufacturer-provided information.
How is chemical resistance classified under GB 20265-2019?
Chemical resistance is classified into degradation level and permeation level. Degradation level footwear must resist at least two test chemicals, while permeation level footwear (Class II only) must resist at least three chemicals, with permeation times categorized into five performance levels.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 20265-2019. To ensure complete compliance for your chemical protective footwear entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 20265-2019 today to access all detailed parameters, tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Product
- CCS
- C73
- ICS
- 13.340.50
- Competent department
- Ministry of Emergency Management
- Technical committee
- National Technical Committee on Personal Protective Equipment of Standardization Administration of China
Relationships
Replaces:GB 20265-2006, GB 20266-2006