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Scope and Application
“content”: “
CAN CGSB 155.22-2014, developed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), establishes the material performance requirements, test methods, and certification criteria for protective clothing intended to shield the wearer from chemical and biological agents. This standard forms the material-level foundation for the garment system requirements defined in CAN CGSB 155.20-2014. It is widely adopted by first responders, military personnel, and industrial workers who may encounter hazardous substances. The standard ensures that materials used in protective suits, hoods, gloves, and boots provide adequate barrier performance while maintaining sufficient physical integrity for the intended operational scenarios.
“, “Scope and Application
“, “CAN CGSB 155.22-2014 specifies material performance criteria and associated test methods for woven, non‑woven, coated, laminated, and composite fabrics used in protective clothing against chemical and biological hazards. It applies to materials intended for single‑use or limited‑use garments, but not to materials designed for extended wear where breakthrough time exceeds 8 hours. The standard covers evaluation of permeation resistance against liquid, gas, and vapour chemicals; penetration resistance against biological and particulate threats; physical durability properties such as tensile, tear, and puncture strength; and seam and closure integrity. It also includes preliminary screening tests for degradation after chemical exposure. The scope explicitly excludes materials for firefighting, thermal protection, or mechanical protection, which fall under other CGSB standards.
“, “Materials certified under CGSB 155.22 are intended to be used in garments that also comply with the ensemble-level requirements of CAN CGSB 155.20‑2014. The standard is mandatory for all federal procurement of chemical‑biological protective clothing in Canada and is widely referenced in other jurisdictional and commercial specifications.
“, “Technical Requirements
“, “3.1 Chemical Permeation Resistance
“, “Permeation resistance is the core technical metric of the standard. Materials must be tested against a battery of challenge chemicals defined in Annex A, including mustards (HD, VX), nerve agents (GB, GD), and industrial chemicals (e.g., ammonia, chlorine). Testing follows ASTM F739 with modifications: a minimum normalized breakthrough time of 480 minutes (8 hours) is required for all substances, with a cumulative permeation limit of 0.1 µg/cm² over 8 hours for any single agent. A classification system (Class 1, 2, 3) based on breakthrough time and cumulative permeation may be assigned, with Class 3 representing the highest barrier (breakthrough > 720 min).
“, “Tip: When selecting material for a specific mission, always consult the challenge chemical list in Annex A. Materials may perform well against military agents but fail against certain industrial chemicals. Confirm the material’s classification for each target substance.3.2 Biological Penetration Resistance
“, “Materials must demonstrate resistance to penetration by biologically contaminated liquids and aerosols. Testing is performed using a modified version of ISO 22610 (dry bacterial penetration) for particulates and a pressurized cell method for liquid‑borne microorganisms (e.g., bacteriophage ΦX174 as a surrogate virus). The standard requires that no penetration occurs at a pressure differential of 20 kPa or when exposed to a stirred liquid suspension for 30 minutes. For materials that claim bio‑barrier properties, a minimum Bacterial Barrier Efficiency of 99.99 % is required.
“, “3.3 Physical Properties
“, “The standard prescribes minimum values for key physical properties to ensure garment usability and durability:
“, “| Property | Standard | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Grab Tensile Strength | ASTM D5034 | ≥ 200 N (warp and fill) |
| Trapezoid Tear Strength | ASTM D5587 | ≥ 35 N (warp and fill) |
| Puncture Resistance | ASTM F1342 | ≥ 20 N (probe 4.75 mm) |
| Abrasion Resistance (Martindale) | ASTM D4966 | ≥ 100 cycles (no breakthrough) |
| Flex Durability | ISO 7854 | ≥ 100 000 flexes (no delamination) |
| Seam Strength (if applicable) | ASTM D1683 | ≥ 75 % of material tensile |
All tests are performed on conditioned samples at 23 °C and 50 % relative humidity. Materials must also pass an accelerated aging procedure (14 days at 70 °C) and demonstrate that after aging they retain at least 80 % of the original physical values.
“, “3.4 Degradation Resistance
“, “Because protective clothing materials can be degraded (swelling, shrinking, dissolution) by chemical contact, the standard includes a degradation screening test. A sample of material is exposed to the challenge chemical for 60 minutes at room temperature and then evaluated for visual changes, weight change (± 5 % limit), and change in tensile strength (maximum loss 20 %). Degradation testing is used as a preliminary screen; materials that fail the degradation screen cannot be considered further without additional demonstration of acceptable mechanical performance after chemical exposure.
“, “Warning: Even if a material meets permeation requirements, significant degradation can weaken the garment and cause catastrophic failure during use. Always review degradation test results before field deployment.Implementation and Certification
“, “Manufacturers seeking certification of their materials under CAN CGSB 155.22‑2014 must submit samples to an accredited third‑party laboratory recognized by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). The testing laboratory must conduct all required tests on a minimum of five specimens from three distinct production lots. After successful testing, the material is issued a certificate of conformity and the manufacturer is authorized to mark the material (and garments made from it) with the CGSB approval mark. The certification is valid for three years, after which a complete recertification cycle is required, including retesting of all performance parameters.
“, “Quality Assurance and Labelling
“, “The standard requires that each garment be permanently labelled with:
“, “- Material standard reference (CAN CGSB 155.22‑2014)
- Certification number and lot number
- List of chemicals the material has been tested against (by CAS number)
- Class designation (if applicable)
- Size and date of manufacture
- Integrated decontamination instructions (if reusable)
Suppliers must also provide a technical data sheet containing the complete set of test results for the specific material lot.
“, “Success: Material certified to CGSB 155.22‑2014 is pre‑qualified for integration into full ensembles that meet CAN CGSB 155.20‑2014. This streamlines procurement and ensures interoperability across different manufacturers.