ICS 97.140 
Y 80 
GB 
NATIONAL STANDARD OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 
GB XXXXX-xxxx 
                                                                                                
 
 
 
Upholstered furniture: limits on the levels of volatile organic compounds 
and decomposable aromatic amines in sofas 
 
 
 
(To be approved) 
 
(Draft completed on: March 2012) 
         
Issued on xxxx-xx-xx                                                             Implemented on xxxx-xx-xx
 
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine  
of the People’s Republic of China; St andardization Administration of China  GB XXXXX-xxxx 
  
Table of contents 
 
Introduction.…………………………………………………………………………..II 
1 Scope…………………………………………………………………………...1 2 Normative references……………….………………………………………….1 3 Terms and definitions………………………………………………………….1 4 Requirements………………………………………………………………...…2 5 Test methods.…………………………………………………………………..2 6 Test rules……………………………………………………………………….3 Appendix A (for information purposes) Types and names  
of prohibited decomposable aromatic amine dyes                                                     4 
Appendix B (normative appendix) De termination of volatile hazardous 
compounds                                                                                                                 5 GB XXXXX-xxxx 
 
Introduction 
 
Chapter 4 of this Standard is mandator y. The other chapters are recommendations. 
This Standard was drafted in acco rdance with Standard GB/T 1.1-2009. 
Please note that parts of this  document may involve patents. The issuing authority for this 
document does not bear responsibil ity for identifying those patents. 
This Standard was proposed by the China National Light Industry Council. This Standard was supervised by the National Standardization Technical Committee for 
Furniture (SAC/TC 480). 
Drafting of this standard: Shanghai Qu ality Supervision, Inspection Technology 
Research Institute, National Furniture and Indoor Environmental Quality Supervision and Inspection Centre, Chengdu Product Quality S upervision and Inspection Institute and 
Zhejiang Furniture & Hardware Institute, In stitute of Metrology a nd Quality Inspection, 
Shenzhen, Guangdong Orient Resin Co., Ltd., Chengdu All Friends Fu rniture Co., Ltd., 
Shunde Zhida Furniture Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 
The following contributed to the drafting of  this standard: Gu Home Co., Ltd., Zuoyou 
Furniture (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Chengdu Pear l Furniture (Group) Co., Ltd., Beijing Yufa 
Jimei Furniture Co., Bolloni Household Goods (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Langni 
Furniture Sofa Manufacturing Co., Man Wah Furniture Manufacturing (Shenzhen) Co., 
Ltd. Goodbaby Child Products Co., Ltd. Chengdu Southern Furniture. 
Principal drafters: Luo Xin, Zhang Xiao  Jie, Kong Qingyuan, Xu Jun, Xu Zhou, Liu 
Yaoguo, Li Long Ping, Liang Mi Jia, Zhang Shuyan, Li Huagen, Gu Jiangsheng, Huang Huakun, Wang Jianbing, Zhang Youquan, Zhao  Jianguo, Cai Ming, Xie Mingwei, Chen 
Pengyu, Zou Yu, Yang Yong.   GB XXXXX-xxxx 
Upholstered furniture: limits on the levels of volatile organic 
compounds and decomposable aromatic amines in sofas 
 
1. Scope 
This Standard specifies the terms and defin itions of volatile organic compounds used in 
indoor sofas and limits on the levels of deco mposable aromatic amines, requirements, 
test methods and test rules. 
This standard is applicable to all types of indoor sofa. 
 
2. Normative references 
The following documents are essential for the us e of this document. For dated references, 
only that edition is applicable to this docum ent. In the event of undated references, the 
latest edition (including any amendments) is applicable. 
GB/T 18401, National General Safety T echnical Code for Textile Products 
GB/T 19942, Determination of Leather and Fur - Chemical tests - Prohibited Azo 
Colourants 
GB/T 31106, Determination of Vola tile Organic Compounds/Furniture 
GB/T 31107 Furniture climate chamber VOC detection/General te chnical conditions 
 
3. Terms and definitions 
The terms and definitions listed below a nd those used in GB/T 31106-2014 and GB/T 
31107 apply to this standard. 
3.1 Volume of climate test chamber The total volume of air in a vacant test chamber that can  be replaced by fresh air. 
Represented by v. 
Note: Chamber lighting equipment, sensors a nd other occupied spaces are not included. 
3.2 Loading ratio Ratio of the total area of the sample expos ed to the volume of the climate chamber. 
Note: The total area of the sample exposed is the total surface area of the material 
exposed to the air. When the lower surface of  the product is in cl ose contact with the 
ground, the total surface area of the produc t does not include the lower surface. 3.3 Formaldehyde emission 
The amount of formaldehyde emitted by a sofa in  a test chamber that meets the loading 
ratio requirement for a speci fied period of time and under the climatic conditions 
specified in this standard. 
3.4 Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) Volatile organic compounds with a retentio n time between n-hexane and n-hexadecane 
VOC when sampled using Tenax TA or Te nax GC and analysed using a non-polar 
column (polarity index of <10). 
3.5 TVOC emission The amount of TVOC released in  a test chamber by a sofa fo r a specified period of time 
and under the climatic conditions specified in this standard. 
3.6 Air exchange rate The ratio of the amount of clean air enteri ng the chamber per unit of time to the volume 
of the climate chamber. 
3.7 Air velocity Chamber airflow rate while the chamber is in no-load operation. 
 
4. Requirements 
The limit values of volatile organic compounds and decomposable aromatic amines used 
in sofas must comply with the requirements set out in Table 1. 
Table 1: Limits on the levels of volatile organic compounds and decomposable aromatic 
amines used in sofas 
No. Category Item Limit value 
Formaldehyde 
emission ≤0.50 mg/m3 1 Volatile 
organic 
compounds in 
sofas TVOC ≤0.60 mg/m3 
2 Harmful 
substances in 
sofa fabrics Decomposable 
aromatic amine 
dyesa  
Prohibitedb 
a See Appendix A for the types and names of prohibited decomposable 
aromatic amine dyes. 
b Detection limit for decomposable aromatic amine textile dyes in 
accordance with GB 18401, detection limit for decomposable aromatic amine dyes in accordance with GB/T 19942. 
 5. Test methods 
5.1 Volatile organic substance 
Determination of the volatile organic compounds  is to be conducted in accordance with 
the rules set out in Appendix B. 
5.2 Decomposable aromatic amine in fabrics 5.2.1 Sampling The sample can be taken from the seat, armrest or back of the chair if the same fabric is 
used in those locations. If more  than one fabric is used, a separate sample must be taken 
from each location. 
5.2.2 Determination of decomposable aromatic amine dyes in textile fabrics  To be done in accordance with GB 18401. 5.2.3 Determination of decomposable aromatic  amine dyes in fabrics such as leather 
and fur 
To be done in accordance with GB/T 19942.  
6. Test rules 
6.1 Test sequence 
Volatile organic compounds should be tested first, followed by decomposable aromatic 
amine dyes. 
6.2 Batching, sampling principles and sample size 6.2.1 Batching A batch is made up of products of the same ki nd and that are supplied to the users at the 
same time or products processed from the sa me batch of raw materials (mainly fabrics 
and filling material). 
6.2.2 Sampling principles If samples are taken from a manufacturer, they  must be taken from finished products in 
the warehouse from the same batch on a random  basis. The test sample and the backup 
sample must be taken at the same time. If sa mples are taken from a distributor, they must 
be taken from products that on the shop floor or in the storage from the same batch on a 
random basis. Backup samples do not have to  be taken, if there are not enough products 
left after the test samples are taken.  
6.2.3 Sample size Two samples must be taken, including one test sample and one backup sample. 6.3 Determination of test results A product is only compliant if it passes all the tests. It is determined as non-compliant, if 
it fails any one of the tests.  
6.4 Retesting Volatile organic material should not be retested. If there is any doubt as to the test results for decomposable aromatic amine dyes, they 
should be retested. Retest the original sample  or the backup sample, review the results in 
accordance with 6.3, and state "Retesting passed" or "Retesting failed" in the test report. GB XXXXX-xxxx 
 
Appendix A 
(For information purposes) 
Types and names of prohibited decomposable aromatic amine dyes 
A.1 The decomposable aromatic amine dye s shown in Table A.1 are prohibited. 
Table A.1 Prohibited decomposable aromatic amine dyes 
No. Name CAS No. 
  1 4-Aminobiphenyl  92-67-1 
  2 Benzidine 92-87-5 
  3 4-Chloro-o-toluidine  95-69-2 
  4 2-Naphthylamine  91-59-8 
  5 o-Aminoazotoluene  97-56-3 
  6 2-Amino-4-nitrotoluene 99-55-8 
  7 p-Chloroaniline 106-47-8 
  8 2,  4-Diaminoanisole 615-05-4 
  9 4,  4'-Diaminodiphenylmethane 101-77-9 
10 3,  3'Dichlorobenzidine 91-94-1 
11 3'  3-Dimethoxybenzidine 119-90-4 
12 3,  3'-Dimethylbenzidine 119-93-7 
13 3'  3-Dimethyl-4,  4'-
diaminobiphenylmethane 838-88-0 
14 2-Methoxy-5-methylaniline 120-71-8 
15 4,  4'-Methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline) 101-14-4 
16 4,  4'-Oxydianiline 101-80-4 
17 4,  4'-Thiodianiline 139-65-1 
18 o-Toluidine 95-53-4 
19 2,  4-Toluylendiamine 95-80-7 20 2,  4,  5-Trimethylaniline 137-17-7 
21 o-Anisidine 90-04-0 
22 2,  4-Xylidine 95-68-1 
23 2,  6-Xylidine 87-62-7 
24 4-Aminoazobenzene 60-09-3 
 GB XXXXX-xxxx 
 
Appendix B 
(Normative appendix) 
Determination of volatile organic compounds 
B.1 Instruments and equipment B.1.1 Climate chamber  
 Must comply with the provisions of GB/T 31107. 
B.1.2 Sampling instruments and equipment 
 Must comply with the provisions of GB/T 31106. 
 
B.2 Test procedure 
B.2.1 Pretreatment 
 Before performing the test, measure and r ecord the total area of the sample, and 
pretreat the sample. The pretreatment me thods and requirements are as follows: 
Pretreatment time: 120 ± 2 hours.  
Environmental conditions during pretreatment:  
- Temperature: 23 ± 2 ℃; 
- Relative humidity: 45 ± 10%; 
- Distance between samples: not less than 300 mm; - Concentration of formaldehyde and T VOC between products must not exceed 
the following levels: formaldehyde: ≤0.050mg/m
3; TVOC: ≤0.60mg/m3. 
B.2.2 Pre-test preparation 
 During the test, the loadi ng ratio must be 0.4 ± 0.04 m2/m3. 
The inner wall of the climate chamber must  be cleaned using an alkaline cleaning 
solution, and then dried. 
Operate climate chambers with a zero loa d, to ensure that the chamber meets the 
required test temperature, relative humidity, air velocity and background 
concentrations of harmful compounds. 
The level of harmful compounds in the inwa rd flow air must not be higher than 
the background concentration of those compounds in the climate chamber. 
B.2.3 Requirements for the test environment  The following environmental indicators must remain constant in the climate 
chamber during the test: 
- Temperature: 23C ± 2C; 
- Relative humidity: 45 ± 5%; - Air exchange rate: 1 ± 0.05 h; - Level of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene,  xylene and TVOC in the inward flow 
air must meet the following standard: formaldehyde ≤0.006mg/m
3, single VOC 
≤0.005mg/m3, TVOC ≤0.05mg/m3. 
B.2.4 Test procedure requirements 
 The test must be performed in accordance with the following: 
 - Place the test sample in the centre of the chamber and close the door. This 
moment in time is defined as time "± 0"; - Keep the climate chamber running, so that  the chamber air circulates all over the 
surface of the sample; - After 20 hours, collect double air samp les from the chamber air outlet. 
Note 1: If, prior to the test sample be ing placed in the chamber, the background 
concentration in the chambe r is higher than the requi red level, the ventilation 
process must be repeated until the concentr ation range falls to within the target 
range.  
Note 2: The chamber must maintain normal ai r pressure when the samples are taken. The 
air that passes through the collection device must be at  least 20% less than the 
total volume of air flowing into the chamber during the test.   
B.2.5 Sample collection and determination 
B.2.5.1 Formaldehyde sample collection and determination 
 To be conducted in accordance with Standard GB/T 31106. The level of 
formaldehyde is determined using the phenol reagent spectrophotometry method 
stated in the standard.  
B.2.5.2 TVOC sample collection and determination 
To be conducted in accordance with GB/T 31106.