Republished by Newlife - Flexstone; the original author retains all copyrights. The original link can be found at the end under "Sources".
According to Rednet on October 19, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of China have recently revised and released the national standard "Wallpaper" (GB/T 34844-2026). This new standard will officially come into effect on April 1, 2027. Aimed at wallpaper decorative materials widely used in residential, hotel, and office settings, the new standard optimizes technical indicators in terms of product classification, physical performance, and cleaning durability. This provides a more scientific basis for wallpaper manufacturing, inspection and testing, and consumer purchasing.
Clearer Product Classification for Easier Consumer Identification The new standard establishes a product classification system based on three dimensions: material, width, and function. By material, wallpapers are classified into pure paper wallpaper, pure non-woven paper wallpaper, paper-based wallpaper, non-woven paper-based wallpaper, and cloth-based wallpaper. By width, they are divided into seamless wallpaper and spliced wallpaper. By function, they are categorized into standard wallpaper and mold-proof wallpaper. This classification comprehensively covers mainstream wallpaper categories in the market, providing support for production control and inspection supervision while also helping consumers quickly identify different product characteristics during purchasing.
Stricter Physical Performance to Reduce Installation Failures Addressing common issues during wallpaper installation such as curling edges, shrinking seams, deformation, and tearing, the new standard has made stricter adjustments to multiple physical performance indicators. Regarding section length, for 15-meter specification products, the number of sections per roll has been adjusted from no more than two sections to no more than one section. The minimum section length for all products has been increased from 3 meters to 5.5 meters, reducing splicing seams and material waste. At the same time, the transverse dimensional stability indicators for pure non-woven and cloth-based wallpapers have been tightened, adjusted from no more than 1.5% to 0.8%, improving dimensional stability after installation. The new standard also increases the wet tensile strength of pure non-woven paper wallpaper, non-woven paper-based wallpaper, and cloth-based wallpaper to prevent tearing and damage during the wetting process of installation.
New Wipeability and Washability Indicators Focusing on Daily Durability Combining the needs of installation cleaning and daily maintenance, the new standard adds two key indicators: adhesive wipeability and washability. The adhesive wipeability simulates the scenario of installation glue staining the wallpaper surface, requiring that after a specified number of wipes, the wallpaper surface must not show any damage marks from uncured adhesive, solving the problem of residual glue pollution during installation. The washability indicator is used to evaluate the product's daily stain resistance, ease of cleaning, and service life. Good washability helps maintain a clean and beautiful wall surface, enhancing the product's practicality and durability.
Key Points for Consumers Purchasing Wall Coverings For families currently renovating or planning to refurbish their walls, purchasing wallpaper can be comprehensively evaluated from three aspects:
Check Environmental Protection: The environmental safety of wallpaper mainly relies on the mandatory national standard "Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials - Limit of Harmful Substances in Wallpapers" (GB 18585-2023). This standard sets limit requirements for harmful substances such as formaldehyde emission, TVOC emission, heavy metals, and phthalates. When purchasing, consumers can request merchants to provide inspection reports with CMA/CNAS qualifications.
Check Durability: Pay attention to whether the product specifies its material, width, and functional category. Prioritize products with better indicators in wet tensile strength, washability, and dimensional stability, especially for high-frequency use spaces such as kitchens, areas around bathrooms, and children's rooms.
Check Installability: Carefully check information such as section length and splicing methods to reduce the appearance of obvious seams after installation. During installation, it is also important to emphasize the environmental protection and compatibility of auxiliary materials such as primers and adhesives to avoid affecting the overall effect due to auxiliary material issues.
The new standard will be implemented on April 1, 2027. During the transition period, consumers can pay attention to the product's execution standard, inspection reports, and merchant instructions when purchasing, making choices based on their own living environment and budget.
Sources
- Rednet (2026-10-18) - Original link: New National Standard for Wallpaper Released: What to Look for in Wall Coverings Regarding Environmental Protection, Durability, and Installability_Market Regulation News_Market Regulation Channel - https://scjg.rednet.cn/content/646054/53/16384302.html
