GB 18587-2001 Grade A: What China's Carpet Emission Standard Covers

Pei Xiaochuan✓

Chairman, UNIJOY · 15 years in carpet tile·14 August 2026·4 min read

Technically reviewed by Pei Xiaochuan, Chairman

TL;DR

GB 18587-2001 is a mandatory Chinese national standard for limits, test methods and inspection rules covering harmful-substance emissions from carpets, carpet cushions and adhesives. A Grade A reference is not, by itself, proof that a particular UNIJOY product has a current result, certificate or project approval. Match the exact product, sample, report and standard status before relying on it.

AI-generated conceptual editorial scene of a professional reviewing carpet emission evidence. — AI-generated / Conceptual image. Visual context only; not a Chinese standard, certificate, test result or UNIJOY product claim.

What GB 18587-2001 actually covers

This guide is for procurement, compliance, specifiers and project technicians who need an auditable evidence trail. It explains what the standard can answer and what still needs a separate document.

Start with the official record, not a supplier slogan. SAMR records GB 18587-2001 as a mandatory standard issued on 10 December 2001 and effective from 1 January 2002. The same record now identifies GB 18586-2026 as the replacement, so the applicable edition and transition position must be checked for the procurement date.

A field-by-field evidence check

Conceptual evidence flow; not a certificate or test report.

Field to check	Direct answer	Evidence boundary
Document scope	Carpets, carpet cushions and adhesives; emission limits, methods and inspection rules.	It does not identify a UNIJOY model or establish every product property.
Grade A	A category used by the original standard text for an environmental-friendly product; confirm the exact clause and edition.	The word A alone is not a certificate, batch result or current product declaration.
Product identity	Exact series, style/code, construction, colourway and sample reference.	A collection name, catalogue photograph or generic backing name is not enough.
Test evidence	Report number, laboratory, method, specimen, date and result linked to the product.	A standard citation without a matched report does not prove a result.
Current status	Official standard record and any applicable replacement or transition notice.	Do not assume an old report answers a current legal or project requirement.

AI-generated conceptual image of a procurement review with an unbranded carpet tile sample and standards documents. — AI-generated / Conceptual image. Visual context only; not a Chinese standard, certificate, test result or UNIJOY product claim.

Marketing language and evidence boundaries

Use the official technical-document route to request the current file set, then contact the UNIJOY technical team with the exact catalogue code and project question. Keep the request focused on evidence rather than a broad environmental promise.

Marketing wording	Ask for	Do not infer
“Grade A carpet”	The original GB 18587 text or a traceable certificate stating the category, scope and product identity.	It does not automatically prove fire, wear, acoustic, dimensional or project performance.
“Low emission” or “healthy”	The named standard, test method, specimen, result, laboratory and report date.	It does not establish every VOC, TVOC or indoor-air requirement outside that evidence.
“Complies with GB 18587”	A current report or certificate that names the exact product and applicable edition.	It does not prove the statement applies to every colour, backing, batch or installation.
“Certified”	The issuing body, certificate number, scope, validity and verification route.	A supplier declaration is not the same as independent certification.

Compare this boundary with the Green Label Plus certificate guide, the carpet tile EPD guide and the QBT 2755 guide. Their scopes are different.

AI-generated conceptual image of an unbranded carpet sample on a preparation bench with neutral laboratory context. — AI-generated / Conceptual image. It does not depict a UNIJOY laboratory, test, certificate or product result.

A supplier request you can file

Exact product series, style/code, colourway and sample reference
GB 18587-2001 or replacement edition named in the document
Test method, laboratory, report number, specimen and test date
Grade/category wording quoted with its clause and certificate scope
Certificate validity, issuer and verification route, if a certificate is claimed
Separate evidence requests for fire, wear, acoustics, dimensions and project suitability

Open technical documents · Contact UNIJOY

Frequently asked questions

Does GB 18587-2001 prove that a UNIJOY product is low-VOC?

No. It defines a document scope and test framework. A buyer still needs a current report or certificate matched to the exact product, sample, method and scope; this guide does not claim a UNIJOY result.

Is Grade A the same as a certificate?

No. Grade A wording must be read in the relevant standard text or certificate with its clause, product identity and scope. The label alone is not independent evidence.

What should a buyer request from a supplier?

Request the exact product code and sample reference, applicable standard edition, test method, laboratory, report number, test date, result, certificate scope and validity where a certificate is claimed.

Does this standard prove fire, wear or acoustic performance?

No. An emission document does not automatically prove fire, wear, dimensional stability, acoustics or project suitability. Those claims require their own applicable evidence.

Sources & further reading

Figures attributed to other manufacturers are their own published values, quoted for context. Different laboratories, sample build-ups and substrates are not directly comparable.