China Mandatory Standard GB 2626-2019 Respiratory Protection—Non-Powered Air-Purifying Particle Respirator Effective Date Postponed to July 1 2021

China standard GB 2626-2019 Respiratory protection—Non-powered air-purifying particle respirator original effective date was July 1st 2020. Standardization Administration of China (SAC) just announced that the effective date of GB 2626-2019 would be postponed to July 1st 2021. Reason is that nation is facing coronavirus pandemic, in order to ensure protective respirator production to be stable during the transition to the new version of the standard, the effective date of the new standard version is extended for another year. Before July 1st 2021, manufacturers are free to produce respirators based on GB 2626-2006 or GB 2626-2019, though officials encourage manufacturers try to adjust the production process following GB 2626-2019 as soon as possible. 
Source: http://ncse.sac.gov.cn/sbgs/sytz/202006/P020200611415082082853.pdf

GB 2626-2019 Annex E has a summary of comparison between GB 2626-2019 and GB 2626-2006. Below are the highlights of the major differences.

Major differences include but not limited to:
• Some test parameters and procedures are more specific, such as particle filtration efficiency tests, head strap tensile strength test, etc.
• Inhalation pressure resistance and exhalation pressure resistance are with standardized limits regardless to the type of masks in 2006 version. The new version would have different requirements depending on the type of masks and filtration efficiency, because the higher the filtration efficiency, the more effort required to breathe through the mask (the differential pressure on inhalation and exhalation are larger) and with larger differential pressure tolerance.

Download Bulletin PDF file to view tables with mask types and requirements.

• Visibility requirements are re-defined by type of masks.

• Flammability is standard requirement for all types of masks in 2006 version, while 2019 version allows warning for masks not meeting flammability requirements. For examples. Masks not meeting flammability requirements shall have warning that masks not fitted for operations with proximity of open flames and sparks, like soldering and welding.
• 2019 version has more required use instruction information 

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