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This standard is developed in accordance with the rules given in GB/T 1.1-2009.
This standard replaces GB/T 22704-2008 Code of practice for the design and manufacture of children’s clothing to promote mechanical safety. Compared with GB/T 22704-2008, the main technical changes are as follows:
—The scope of the standard has been modified and supplemented (see Clause 1; Clause 1 of 2008 Edition);
—The normative references have been modified and supplemented (see Clause 2; Clause 2 of 2008 Edition);
—The terms of “filling material”, “foreign object”, “risk assessment”, “mechanical hazard”, and “touch and close fastener” have been modified and supplemented, the terms and definitions of “baby and infant”, “child and young person”, “pom-pom”, “tassel”, “tab”, “applique”, “label”, “magnet” and “magnetic component” have been introduced (see Clause 3; Clause 3 of the 2008 Edition);
—The data on mechanical hazards and associated risks have been modified and supplemented (see Clause 4; Annex of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements of risk assessment have been introduced (see Clause 5);
—The general for garment design, materials and construction have been modified and supplemented (see 6.1; 5.1 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for design have been modified and supplemented (see 6.2; Clause 4 of Edition 2008);
—The requirements for fabrics have been modified and supplemented (see 6.3; 5.2 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for filling materials have been modified and supplemented (see 6.4; 5.3 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for sewing threads have been modified and supplemented (see 6.5; 5.4 of 2008 Edition);
—An overview of attachments has been introduced (see 6.6.1);
—The requirements for buttons have been modified and supplemented (see 6.6.2; 5.5.1 of 2008 Edition);
—Methods for selection of snaps and similar components have been introduced (see 6.6.3);
—The requirements for fabric embellishments, including bows, ties and labels, have been modified (see 6.6.4; 6.2 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for rubber or soft plastic embellishments have been introduced (see 6.6.5);
—Requirements for pom-poms and tassels have been introduced (see 6.6.6);
—Requirements for sequins, beads and similar components have been introduced (see 6.6.7);
—Requirements for diamantés and heat fused components have been introduced (see 6.6.8);
—Requirements for motifs, drawings and labels have been introduced (see 6.6.9);
—Requirements for magnets have been introduced (see 6.6.10);
—The requirements for elastics have been modified and supplemented (see 6.7; 5.7 and 6.7 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for touch and close fasteners have been introduced (see 6.8);
—The requirements for slide fasteners have been modified and supplemented (see 6.9; 5.6 and 6.8 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for drawstrings, cords, ribbons and bows have been modified (see 6.10; 6.2 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for embroideries and appliques have been introduced (see 6.11);
—The requirements for footed garments have been supplemented (see 6.12; 6.4 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for hoods have been modified and supplemented (see 6.13; 6.5 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for elastics in production process have been modified (see 7.2; 7.2 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for sharp objects have been modified (see 7.3; 7.3 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for needles and pins have been introduced (see 7.3.2);
—The requirements for sewing needle control procedures have been modified and supplemented (see 7.3.3; 7.4.1 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for knitting machine needles, linking points and tag gun needles have been modified and supplemented (see 7.3.4; 7.4.3 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for scissors, pliers and other sharp tools have been introduced (see 7.3.5);
—The requirements for metal contamination have been modified and supplemented (see 7.4; 7.5 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for machine applied fasteners have been modified and supplemented (see 7.6; 7.7 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for stone washing process has been introduced (see 7.7);
—The requirements for filling material have been modified (see 7.8; 7.8 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for glued components and heat fused components have been introduced (see 7.9);
—The requirements for attachments have been modified and supplemented (see 8.2; 8.2 of 2008 Edition);
—The requirements for foreign objects have been supplemented (see 8.4; 8.4 of 2008 Edition);
—The handling of rejected garments have been modified and supplemented (see 8.5; 8.5 of 2008 Edition);
—Requirements for documentation and traceability in production have been introduced (see 8.6);
—Requirements for packaging have been introduced (see Clause 9);
—Requirements for labeling and display have been introduced (see Clause 10);
—Annex A “Method for determination of removal force of attached components” has been modified and supplemented (see Annex A; Annex B of 2008 Edition);
—Annex B “Method for determination of small components” has been introduced (see Annex B);
—The requirements in “Method for determination of button strength” of Annex C have been modified (see Annex C; Annex C of 2008 Edition).
This standard was proposed by China National Textile and Apparel Council.
This standard is under the jurisdiction of National Technical Committee on Garments of Standardization Administration of China (SAC/TC 219).
The previous edition of this standard is as follows:
—GB/T 22704-2008.
Introduction
The need for exploration and challenge, and the unawareness of cause and effect drive children to use items in new and different ways, they are therefore substantially less cautious than adults in relation to hazards.
This standard is intended for use at all stages of the clothing supply chain, including use by designers, specifiers and manufacturers of children’s clothing to improve the mechanical safety in the design and manufacture of children's clothing. It is also intended to be used by importers, distributors and retailers to assist them in the selection of clothing that does not present a mechanical hazard.
Code of practice for the design and manufacture of children's clothing to promote mechanical safety
1 Scope
This standard specifies terms and definitions, mechanical hazards and risks, risk assessment, garment design, materials and construction, manufacture, inspection and testing of materials and garment, packaging, tagging and display for the design and manufacture of clothing for children up to 14 years of age.
This standard is applicable to the design and manufacture of clothing for children up to 14 years of age, and should be adopted from the design stage.
This standard does not apply to:
—child care articles, such as bibs, nappies and soother holders;
—footwear, such as boots and shoes;
—toys and other items sold with the clothing.
—clothing with features designed to cater for children with special needs.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB 6529 Textiles—Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
GB/T 8629-2017 Textiles—Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing
GB/T 8685 Textiles—Care labeling code using symbols
GB/T 15557 Standard terminology relating to apparel
GB/T 18746 Zipper terminology
GB/T 22705 Safety specifications for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing
GB/T 28490 Button classification and terminology
QB/T 2171 Metal zipper
QB/T 2172 Injection molded zipper
QB/T 2173 Nylon zipper
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in GB/T 15557, GB/T 18746, GB/T 22705 and GB/T 28490, as well as the following, apply.
3.1
baby and infant
children aged 36 months and below
Note: These generally refer to children 100 cm tall or less.
3.2
child and young person
children between the ages of 36 months (exclusive) and 14 years (inclusive)
Note: These generally refer to children between the heights of 100 cm and 155 cm for girls and between the heights of 100 cm and 160 cm for boys.
3.3
filling material
material which is encased in fabric to form part of the structure of a garment
Note: Filling materials include waddings, foams and feathers.
3.4
wear trial
trial of a garment involving wear by intended users in order to obtain information on the wear performance and characteristics of the garment
3.5
foreign object
object not intended to be a part of a garment
Note: For example, broken needles, stones, etc.
3.6
pom-pom
ball created either from cut lengths of thread or yarn fastened at the center, or from a piece of fabric filled with wadding
Note: Pom-poms can be secured directly to a garment or attached by means of a cord.
3.7
tassel
bundle of lengths of yarn or other materials fastened at one end and free at the other end
Note: Tassels can be secured directly to a garment or attached by means of a cord.
3.8
tab
piece of textile or other material, of flat or looped construction, attached to the outside of a garment either for identification or for decorative purposes
Note: These are distinct from adjusting tabs, which are defined in GB/T 22705.
3.9
touch and close fastener
fastener consisting of two hooked and looped fabric tapes which fasten or bind by pressing the pile sides of the two tapes together and which can be unfastened by peeling apart the two tapes
Note: It is also known as “hook and loop fastener”.
3.10
applique
ornamental needlework in which pieces or patch of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a surface to form a picture or pattern
Note: Materials of different types and/or colors are usually used for this purpose.
3.11
motif
decorative element usually made of fabric, sewn or stuck onto a garment, or directly crocheted with yarns
Note: Printing design that directly applies coating to fabric is not included.
3.12
label
marking made of fabric, plastic or other similar materials, attached to a garment to provide instructions for use, product information or brand identification
3.13
repeated aftercare
a series of aftercare treatments conforming to the care label, reflecting the usage and service life of the garment
3.14
hazard
potential source of harm to the wearer of a garment
3.15
risk
combination of the probability of occurrence of a hazard and the severity of the harm which that hazard could be expected to cause
3.16
risk assessment
thorough evaluation of the risks that a garment could present to the wearer as a result of the design, materials, components and construction of the garment
3.17
mechanical hazard
potential factor consisting of non-physical- and -chemical properties of a garment, which can cause such harms as misstep, slip, fall, choke, vomit, tangle, laceration, restricted blood circulation, suffocation and strangulation to the wearer
3.18
ischemic injury
injury to a part of the body resulting from a restriction of blood circulation
3.19
sharp object
object with one or more edges or points which are exposed, or which could become exposed, and which are likely to cause a cutting or piercing injury to the wearer of a garment
Note: Sharp objects usually include sharp tips and sharp edges.
3.20
magnet
piece of iron, steel or alloy having the properties of attracting or repelling iron
3.21
magnetic material
material capable of being attracted by, or acquiring the properties of, a magnet
4 Mechanical hazards and associated risks
4.1 Ischemic injury
Ischemic injuries can be caused by restricted blood circulation due to loose or untrimmed threads on the foot or hand area of garments becoming wrapped around fingers or toes, or by entrapment of fingers or toes in open fabrics (e.g. crochet) or in fabrics with long float stitches. Some large and hard holes in elements such as buttons, snap fasteners, eyelets and zippers may entrap the tongue or fingers. This causes a tourniquet effect, thus restricting the blood circulation. This is a particular concern in babywear design for babies and infants aged up to 12 months as the source of distress cannot be communicated by the baby and might go undetected for some time. In addition, areas of skin or parts of the genitalia can protrude through a mesh fabric used as a lining for swimming trunks. This poses a risk of entrapment in the mesh leading to ischemic injury. Elasticated cuffs can also cause a reduction in blood flow to the hands or feet if the elastic is too tight or too strong; this is a particular concern in babywear design for babies and infants aged up to 12 months.
4.2 Entrapment in a slide fastener
All boys’ trousers that have a slide fastener present a risk of entrapment of the penis in the fastener. Although reducing the use of slide fasteners can eliminate such risk, this is not a long-term and practical resolution. Manufacturers should make more technological innovations to improve the mechanical safety of children's clothing.
4.3 Injuries from sharp objects
Injuries to children can be caused by clothing which contains sharp objects. The severity of the injury can range from a scratch or irritation to a more serious piercing injury and cut injury. Injuries can be caused by components with accessible sharp points, which are sometimes found on buttons, slide fasteners and decorative features, or by accessible sharp edges which are produced through the deterioration of components during the wear and aftercare lifecycle of the garment. Pins, staples and other sharp objects used in the manufacture and packaging of clothing can also cause serious injury if they are left in the garment.
4.4 Choking and aspiration
Buttons, toggles, motifs and many other garment attachments (including rubber and soft plastics items, such as badges) can be a potential hazard, particularly to babies and infants, if the item becomes detached from the garment. As young children are known to place such items in their mouth, and might also insert them into their nose or ears, any foreign object found in a child’s garment can present a risk of either choking or aspiration. Stones left as a residue from a stone-washing process can present the same risks. Aspiration (where items are inhaled via the mouth or nose) is possible if detached parts are sufficiently small to pass into the trachea and lungs, for example beads, diamantés and sequins. Often these items might not be detected, as their chemical nature means they are unlikely to be identified by X-ray. The foreign body can cause toxic shock or lead to an infection, the source of which might not be readily identified. This can result in rapid and unexplained weight loss requiring hospitalization. This is rarely happened.
4.5 Swallowing
In most cases a detached item that has been swallowed will pass into the stomach and should eventually pass through the body with food without causing harm. Notable exceptions are sharp objects, button batteries and magnets.
Foreword i
Introduction v
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Mechanical hazards and associated risks
5 Risk assessment
6 Garment design, materials and construction
7 Manufacture
8 Inspection and testing of materials and clothing
9 Packaging
10 Tagging and display
Annex A (Normative) Method for determination of removal force of attached components
Annex B (Normative) Method for determination of small components
Annex C (Normative) Method for determination of button strength
Annex D (Normative) Method for determination of secure performance of snap fastener
Bibliography
