Explanation
The OEKO-TEX®Standard 100 is an independent testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate and end products at all stages of production. Examples for items eligible for certification: Raw and dyed/finished yarns, raw and dyed/finished fabrics and knits, ready-made articles (all types of clothing, domestic and household textiles, bed linen, terry cloth items, textile toys and more).
Criteria
Testing for harmful substances includes:
illegal substances
legally regulated substances
known harmful (but not legally regulated) chemicals
as well as parameters for health care
In their entirety the requirements clearly exceed existing national legislation.
Laboratory tests and product classes
OEKO-TEX®testing for harmful substances always focus on the actual use of the textile. The more intensive the skin contact of a product, the stricter the human ecological requirements to be met.
Accordingly there are four product classes:
Product class I:
Textile items for babies and toddlers up to 3 years (clothing, toys, bed linen, terry cloth items etc.)
Product class II:
Textiles used close to the skin (underwear, bed linen, T-shirts etc.)
Product class III:
Textiles used away from the skin (jackets, coats etc.)
Product class IV:
Furnishing materials (curtains, table cloths, upholstery materials etc.)
Certification
The requirement for certification of textile products according to OEKO-TEX®Standard 100 is that all components of an item have to comply with the required criteria without exception –that means in addition to the outer material also sewing threads, linings, prints etc. as well as non-textile accessories such as buttons, zip fasteners, rivets etc.
Limit values and fastness
· (1) Exceptions for products which must be treated wet during the further processing: 4.0 - 10.5; for foams: 4.0 - 9.0; for leather products in product class IV (coated or laminated): 3.5 - 9.0
· (2) n.d. corresponds according to „Japanese Law 112“ test method with an absorbance unit less than 0.05 resp. <16 mg/kg
· (3) No requirement for accessories made from glass
· (4) For leather articles 10.0 mg/kg
· (5) Quantification limits: for Cr(VI) 0.5 mg/kg, for arylamines 20 mg/kg, for dyestuffs 50 mg/kg
· (6) No requirement for accessories made from inorganic materials
· (7) Including the requirement by EC-Regulation 1907/2006
· (8) For metallic accessories and metallized surfaces: 0.5 mg/kg
· (9) For metallic accessories and metallized surfaces: 1.0 mg/kg
· (10) Applicable to all non textile accessories and components as well as for spun dyed fibres and articles containing pigments
· (11) For natural fibres only
· (12) The individual substances are listed in Appendix 5
· (13) For coated articles, plastisol prints, flexible foams, and accessories made from plastics
· (14) For all materials containing polyurethane
· (15) For all synthetic fibres, yarns, or threads and for plastic materials
· (16) With exception of treatments accepted by Oeko-Tex® (see actual list on http://www.oeko-tex.com)
· (17) For fibre, yarns and coated articles, where solvents are used during production.
· (18) Exception for products which must be treated hot (in wet or dry stage) during further processing: 3.0 %
· (19) Exception for spun dyed fibres used for PPE: 3.0 %
· (20) For all materials with a water and oil repellent finish or coating
· (21) No requirements for ’wash-out’ – articles
· (22) For pigment, vat or sulphurous colorants a minimum grade of colour fastness to rubbing of 3 (dry) is acceptable
· (23) For textile carpets, mattresses as well as foams and large coated articles not being used for clothing
· (24) No odour from mould, high boiling fraction of petrol, fish, aromatic hydrocarbons or perfume
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