CAN/CGSB 4.2 Textile Test Methods

The General Standards Board of Canada (CGSB) is a government agency that provides comprehensive, client-centered standards development and conformity assessment services to support the economic, regulatory, procurement, health, safety and environmental interests of stakeholders (government, industry and consumers). The CAN/CGSB 4.2 standard developed by this organization mainly includes textile testing methods. The main standards developed in this context are:

• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27.6 Textile test methods - Flame resistance - Methenamine tablet test for textile floor coverings. This method, Describes a test method for determining the flammability of finished textile flooring materials when exposed to an ignition source (methenamine tablet) under certain conditions. This test method is applicable to all types of textile floor coverings, regardless of fiber type or construction method. This method describes testing of a single sample and is used in conjunction with a statistically valid sampling plan. Testing and evaluating a product according to this method may require the use of potentially hazardous materials or equipment. This standard does not purport to address all safety aspects associated with its use. Anyone using this method is responsible for consulting the relevant organizations prior to use and establishing appropriate health and safety practices in conjunction with applicable legal requirements.
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 63.1-M91/BS 6806: Part 1 Textile test methods - Formaldehyde in textiles - Part 1: Method for determination of total formaldehyde. This standard describes a test method for determining the total amount of formaldehyde found in chemically finished textiles. This test method is applied to any textile product containing a formaldehyde-based precursor.
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 4.2-M87 Textile test methods - Textile fabrics - Measuring piece lengths. This standard defines two test methods for determining the length (whatever that length) of swatches after relaxation obtained by placing the swatches without tension in a normal atmosphere. These test methods are applicable to fabrics of any construction or width, with or without edging, excluding boots and shoelaces.
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27.5 Textile test methods - Flame resistance - 45 degree angle test - Flame strike in one second. This standard describes the flame propagation properties of a textile or product when a sample is supported at a 45 degree angle and a flame is applied to its top surface for 1 second. Testing and evaluating a product according to this method may require the use of potentially hazardous materials or equipment. This standard does not purport to address all safety aspects associated with its use. Anyone using this method is responsible for consulting the relevant organizations prior to use and establishing appropriate health and safety practices in conjunction with applicable legal requirements.
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 58 Textile test methods - Dimensional change in domestic laundering of textiles. This standard is intended to determine the size of textile fabrics or garments likely to occur in household washing procedures. The fabric sample or garment is subjected to an appropriate combination of specified washing, drying and restoration procedures. Most relaxation shrinkage occurs with the first wash, two additional washes are usually sufficient to effect full relaxation shrinkage. Washing procedures are (any other combination of temperature, mechanical action, bleach and detergent may be used):
  • Procedure I Low temperature (40 degrees), low mechanical action, synthetic detergent
  • Procedure II Medium temperature (50 degrees), low mechanical action, synthetic detergent
  • Procedure III Ambient temperature (50 degrees), moderate mechanical action, synthetic detergent
  • Procedure IV High temperature (70 degrees), moderate mechanical action, synthetic detergent
  • Procedure V Cold temperature (20 degrees), low mechanical action, detergent (cold water or liquid detergent is recommended)
  • Procedure VI Cooling temperature (30 degrees), low mechanical action, detergent (cold water or liquid detergent is recommended)
  • Procedure VII Medium-high temperature (60 degrees), moderate mechanical action, synthetic detergent

Drying procedures are:

• A Drop dry
• B Flatbed press
• C Flat dry
• D Line dry
• E Drying
• F Drying in a heatless tumble dryer

Restoration processes are:

• 1 Tension presser foot
• 2 Knitting gauge
• 3 Hand iron

Before applying this test method, the appropriate combination of procedures for the specific item to be tested must be selected in order to achieve the correct test. A complete test consists of washing, drying, and, if necessary, a restoration procedure. For example, Test IIB1 means that the textile material is washed at 50 degrees with low mechanical impact and synthetic detergent, dried with a flatbed press, and restored with a tension presser foot.

The seven washing tests described vary in the severity of operating conditions and mainly correspond to procedures commonly used in home laundry. The six drying procedures described provide suitable methods for drying different materials.

• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 14 Textile test methods - Quantitative analysis of fiber blends. The procedures described in this standard are used to analyze blends of many commonly available textile fibers. When choosing these procedures, a number of possible methods were considered. Interlaboratory analyzes of fiber blends of known composition were made and only satisfactory methods were accepted. If the types of fibers found in the blends are not known, they should be identified before quantitative analysis can be performed. The accuracy of the results obtained by these methods is reduced if there are non-removable fiberless materials.

The manual separation method is technically equivalent to the ISO 5088 Textiles - Ternary fiber blends - Quantitative analysis - Part 3 Analysis method standard with manual separation. Chemical test methods are similar in ISO 1833 Textile - Binary fiber blends - Quantitative chemical analysis standard.

• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27.7 Textile test methods - Combustion resistance of mattresses - Cigarette test. This method evaluates the combustion resistance of mattresses when in contact with a lit cigarette. This method covers only the resistance of mattresses to ignition by a lit cigarette and does not relate to their resistance to any other ignition source or fire situation. Testing and evaluating a product against this standard may require the use of potentially hazardous materials or equipment. This standard does not purport to address all safety aspects associated with its use. Anyone using this method is responsible for consulting the relevant organizations prior to use and establishing appropriate health and safety practices in conjunction with applicable legal requirements.
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 12.1 Textile test methods - Tear strength - Single tear method. This method determines the tear strength of woven fabrics with a single tear procedure. Testing and evaluating a product according to this method may require the use of potentially hazardous materials or equipment. This standard does not purport to address all safety aspects associated with its use. Anyone using this method is responsible for consulting the relevant organizations prior to use and establishing appropriate health and safety practices in conjunction with applicable legal requirements.

A few more standards (but not limited to) published under the heading "Textile testing methods" under the CAN/CGSB 4.2 standard are:

• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 30.3 Procedure for removing non-permanent flame retardant treatments from textiles
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 12.2 Tear strength - Trapezoid method
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 51.1 Pilling resistance, rotary box method
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 30-M90 Change in dry cleaning
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 67-M90 Size change and appearance of coated, bonded, laminated and fuzzy fabrics after washing
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 41-M91 Standard light sources for color matching of textiles
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27.2 Flame resistance - Surface burning test
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 38-M89 Resistance to insect pests
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 64-M91 Chromatic transmission scale
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 70.1 Methods for testing textiles - Thermal conductivity of insulating textiles
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 22-M90 Color fastness to rubbing
• CAN/CGSB 4.2 No. 27 Flame resistance - Vertical combustion test

Our organization also provides textile testing services within the scope of CAN/CGSB 4.2 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors.