China's New Mandatory Standard GB 24536-2025: What Chemical Suit Buyers Must Know

[WELL Lab]

By WELL Protection Technical Team

China has made chemical protective clothing management mandatory. On September 1, 2026, GB 24536-2025 — "Protective clothing: Selection, use and maintenance of chemical protective clothing" — came into force, replacing the recommended standard GB/T 24536-2009. For any company operating chemical operations in China, this is now a legal requirement, not a guideline.

1. What Changed: From Recommended to Mandatory

The most significant change is the standard's status. The old GB/T 24536-2009 was voluntary. The new GB 24536-2025 is a compulsory national standard (GB), issued by the Ministry of Emergency Management. Non-compliance now carries regulatory and liability consequences.

2. What the Standard Covers

The standard governs the full life cycle of chemical suits: selection, use, maintenance, and — new in this edition — retirement and replacement. Key elements:

• Selection must follow a documented 5-step process: hazard assessment → chemical state (gas, liquid, solid, particles) → protection level → workplace environment (static, heat, physical hazards) → worker physiology.
• Selection records must be documented for audit (clause 4.1.6).
• Training, pre-use inspection and compatibility with other PPE (respirators, gloves, boots) are required.
• Contaminated suits must be decontaminated or sealed-stored; reusable suits can only be reused after a scientifically verified decontamination process.
• New retirement rules: suits must be retired and replaced once defined criteria are met, with management records kept.

3. Suit Types Referenced (matching EN-based classes)

• Type 1 (gas-tight) — highest risk, unknown gases
• Type 3 / 3-ET — pressurized liquid jet
• Type 4 — liquid splash
• Type 5 — solid particles
• Type 6 — limited splash

4. What This Means for Buyers and Importers

• If you operate chemical plants, paint shops or waste treatment in China, your chemical suits must now meet the selection and management requirements of GB 24536-2025.
• Imported suits (even CE-marked) used in China should be verified against the Chinese requirements and the paired product standard GB 24539-2025.
• Ask your supplier for a documented selection recommendation, product standards confirmation and retirement guidance.

5. WELL Protection's Position

WELL Protection manufactures chemical suits covering Type 3 (pressurized jet), Type 4 (splash), Type 5 (dust) and Type 6 (limited splash) — PBC series, fully taped seams for chemical applications — and provides selection support aligned with GB 24536-2025, including type matching and retirement management advice. Our factory in Xiantao, Hubei and sales office in Shanghai support both domestic compliance and export. Contact: zhimin.wang@well-protection.com / WhatsApp: +86 13917494594.

Related Reading

• How to Choose a Coverall Supplier in China (add link)
• About WELL Protection ([WELL Lab] WELL Protection Launches Global Sales: Vertical-Integrated PPE Manufacturer from Xiantao, China-企业官网)

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• PBC Chemical Suit Series （PBC-3500 增强型连体防化服-企业官网）