GB20827-2025
Criteria of physical examination for commercial divers
职业潜水员体格检查要求
GB 20827-2025 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Criteria of physical examination for commercial divers. It appears in the Machinery compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Nov 1, 2025.
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 specifies the technical requirements for the physical examination and result evaluation of commercial diver trainees and the annual physical examinations for active commercial divers. It is applicable to personnel engaged in commercial diving operations, while physical examinations for hyperbaric operations personnel may refer to this standard. It covers occupational diving activities directly serving the national economy, also known as engineering, industrial, or industrial diving.
Technical requirements
The standard comprehensively outlines the medical and physical criteria across multiple physiological categories. For trainee selection, it mandates strict baseline metrics including age, BMI, blood pressure, and heart rate, alongside rigorous disqualification criteria for various systemic diseases. Specific requirements are detailed for surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, and ENT to ensure candidates are fit for hyperbaric environments. For annual examinations, the standard provides adjusted criteria for active divers, allowing certain mild or cured conditions (like mild concussions or chronic gastritis) provided they are asymptomatic and fully recovered. It includes specific diving medicine evaluations for conditions like decompression sickness and pulmonary barotrauma. Divers with Stage I dysbaric osteonecrosis are restricted to specific depth and pressure limits, while Stage II and III are strictly disqualified. Additionally, the standard specifies auxiliary diagnostic requirements including blood, urine, and fecal routine tests, blood glucose, lipids, and liver enzymes. It also mandates imaging tests such as X-rays for the chest, spine, and long bones/joints to detect conditions like bone necrosis or lung bullae, alongside ECG and ultrasound examinations.
Testing methods
The standard outlines specific specialized testing procedures critical for diving fitness, primarily conducted in professional institutions with hyperbaric chambers. The Eustachian tube function test uses the Valsalva maneuver to assess middle ear pressure equalization. The compression test evaluates tolerance to increased ambient pressure up to 0.3 MPa (30m), monitoring for sinus pain, breathing difficulties, or neurological symptoms. The oxygen tolerance test assesses susceptibility to high-pressure oxygen toxicity at 0.18 MPa (18m) while breathing from a mask, looking for adverse symptoms like muscle twitching or nausea. Strict decompression procedures must be followed during these tests to prevent decompression sickness.
FAQs
What personnel and operations are regulated under GB 20827-2025?
The standard applies to the physical examinations for commercial diver trainee selection and the annual physical examinations for active commercial divers. It can also be referenced for personnel performing hyperbaric operations.
Are there any significant updates from the previous GB 20827-2007 version?
The 2025 version introduces several updates, including revised age, height, weight, and blood pressure requirements. It also adds new criteria for bronchiectasis, post-excimer laser eye surgery complications, sinusitis, and female-specific examinations, while removing the disqualification for positive Hepatitis B surface antigen.
Does GB 20827-2025 include specific tests for hyperbaric environments?
Yes, the standard includes specific specialized tests such as the compression test and oxygen tolerance test. These must be conducted in professional facilities equipped with hyperbaric chambers operating at pressures greater than 0.3 MPa.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 20827-2025. To ensure complete compliance for your personnel entering the Chinese commercial diving market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 20827-2025 today to access all detailed medical parameters, examination tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Safety
- CCS
- R 53
- ICS
- 03.220.40
- Competent department
- Ministry of Transport
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Transport
Relationships
Replaces:GB 20827-2007