In December 2021, the new GB standard, GB 39552.1-2020, for Sunglasses and Sunglare filters has been implemented as a mandatory requirement in China.
Standard, GB 39552.1-2020, and its testing method, GB/T 39552.2-2020, were published in November and December 2020 respectively. On December 1, 2021, GB 39552.1-2020 came into force as a mandatory requirement for sunglasses in China. It supersedes the previous standard, QB 2457-1999, which is now cancelled.
The objective of the new standard is to specify classifications and requirements for sunglasses, sunglare filters, clip-on sunglasses and replacement filters that are nominally afocal (plano power), and provide protection against solar radiation for general use including road use and driving. This standard is not applicable to eyewear for protection against radiation from artificial light sources, e.g. used in solaria, for occupational eye protection or for direct observation of the sun.
The standard aligns its requirements closely to those of ISO 12312-1: 2013, below is brief comparison table.
Test Items (Physical/Performance) | GB 39552.1-2020 | ISO 12312-1: 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and material | O | O |
Transmittance
| O | O |
| Wide angle scattering | O | O |
| Additional transmittance requirements for specific filter types | O (photochromic filters, polarizing filters) | O (photochromic filters, polarizing filters and gradient filters) |
| Claimed transmittance | O | O |
Optical power
| O | O |
| Local variations in refractive power | / | O |
| Increased endurance of sunglasses | O | O (optional specification) |
| Frame (bridge) deformation and retention of filters | O | O |
| Resistance to solar radiation | O | O |
| Resistance to ignition | O | O |
| Resistance to perspiration | O | O (optional specification) |
| Adhesive strength of cover layer | O | / |
| Coverage area/filter dimension | O | o |
Impact resistance of filters
| o (optional specification) | o (optional specification) |
| Abrasion resistance | o (optional specification) | o (optional specification) |
| Minimum robustness of filters | / | O |
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