GB/T 42385-2023 (English Version)

Standard No.: GB/T 42385-2023
Language: Chinese, Available in English version
Release Date: 2023
Published By: General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People‘s Republic of China
Latest: GB/T 42385-2023

Scope: This document specifies the fire safety requirements for candle burning and describes the test methods for checking whether candles meet the safety requirements. This document is applicable to the analysis, prevention and quantitative assessment of product fire risks during the design, production, inspection and use of candle products.

Introduction

In-depth interpretation of GB/T 42385-2023 Candle Fire Safety Standard

1. Background and significance of standard formulation

Candles, as an important lighting tool in human civilization, have existed for more than 2,000 years. With the increasing demand for safety from consumers, GB/T 42385-2023 Candle Fire Safety Standard came into being. This standard aims to reduce the risk of fire caused by candle burning and protect personal and property safety.

2. Comparison of standard frameworks

Standard dimensions	GB/T 42385-2023	EN 15493:2019	ASTM F2417
Scope of application	All candle products and accessories	Mainly used in the European market	Focused on the US market
Core requirements	Combustion stability, flame height control, self-extinguishing requirements	Fire performance test, container safety standards	Label identification and fire risk assessment
Test methods	Burning cycle, flame height measurement, self-extinguishing verification	Container fire test, accessories safety assessment	Fire risk simulation and quantitative analysis

3. Interpretation of the main contents of the standard

3.1 Stability requirements

According to the requirements of the standard, candles should not fall over when rotating on a slope. Self-standing candles and non-self-standing candles with accessories must pass stability tests to ensure that they will not cause fire risks due to tilting under normal use conditions.

3.2 Flame height control

The flame height of a tea candle should not exceed 30mm, that of an indoor candle should not exceed 50mm, and that of an outdoor candle should not exceed 75mm. This requirement is measured through a combustion test and recorded 5 minutes after ignition and before extinguishing.

3.3 Self-extinguishing requirements

The self-extinguishing requirement applies to candles that claim to have this function. According to the standard, the candle should automatically extinguish when the remaining height reaches a specific value and prevent ignition of the surface below during the entire burning process.

4. Implementation recommendations

4.1 Considerations in the design phase

Ensure that the candle product meets the stability requirements, especially performs well in the ramp test.
Optimize the combustion design and control the flame height within the range specified in the standard.
For self-extinguishing products, ensure that the automatic extinguishing mechanism is reliable to avoid accidental re-ignition.

4.2 Production and Testing

Manufacturers should strictly follow the standard requirements for quality control, including:

Use test equipment that meets the requirements (such as butane lighters) to conduct fire resistance tests.
Record the test data of all combustion cycles to ensure that the requirements for residual smoke time, secondary flame time and container burning time are met.

4.3 User Safety Tips

Mark the following safety tips on the product packaging and instructions:

Keep away from flammable materials and keep out of reach of children.
Adult supervision is required during use, and stay alert during the burning process.
Extinguish the candle strictly in accordance with the instructions to prevent secondary flames.

5. Analysis of Technological Evolution

GB/T 42385-2023 integrates international advanced experience and combines it with the actual situation of the Chinese market. Compared with EN 15493:2019 and ASTM F2417, this standard achieves breakthroughs in the following aspects:

Introduces a product classification method that is more suitable for the Chinese market.
Optimizes the condition setting of the combustion test to be closer to the actual usage scenario.
Increases technical requirements for new candle products, such as the safety standards for tea candles and floating candles.

6. Conclusion

The implementation of GB/T 42385-2023 will effectively improve the safety level of candle products in the Chinese market and reduce fire risks. Manufacturers, testing agencies and consumers must strictly abide by the standard requirements and jointly ensure public safety.

GB/T 42385-2023 Referenced Document

GB/T 42386 candle term

GB/T 42385-2023 history

2023 GB/T 42385-2023 Fire Safety Code for Candles