The new standard will fully replace:

• GB 18586—2001, Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials—Limit of Harmful Substances of Polyvinyl Chloride Floor Coverings;
• GB 18587—2001, the previous harmful substance emission standard for carpets, carpet underlays and carpet adhesives.

GB 18586—2026 is currently listed as a forthcoming standard rather than a standard already in force. When reviewing a PVC flooring test report, buyers should therefore check whether it refers to the 2001 or 2026 edition and consider the relevant production, import, delivery and project acceptance dates.

What Harmful Substance Requirements Have Been Added for PVC Flooring?

Compared with the previous edition, GB 18586—2026 substantially expands the controlled substance categories for polyvinyl chloride flooring.

In addition to vinyl chloride monomer, the updated requirements address the TVOC emission rate, heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde emissions, formamide and certain brominated flame-retardant substances.

The principal limits for PVC flooring include:

The PBB and PBDE requirements apply only to PVC flooring containing added flame retardants.

According to the State Administration for Market Regulation, the revised standard expands the list of controlled harmful substances and strengthens source-level product safety requirements.

For project buyers, the practical implication is clear: a historical report covering only a limited number of items may not provide sufficient evidence for compliance with the 2026 edition.

How Should Project Buyers Verify a PVC Flooring Test Report?

A buyer should not stop at asking whether a supplier has a report. The more important question is whether that report matches the product being quoted, ordered and delivered.

At least five areas should be checked.

1. Standard number and edition

   A reference to “GB 18586” alone is not sufficiently precise. The report should clearly identify whether the test was conducted according to GB 18586—2001 or GB 18586—2026.

2. Product identity

   Check the product name, model, thickness, construction, material and format. A test report for homogeneous vinyl flooring should not automatically be used to support a heterogeneous sports flooring product or an unrelated PVC tile.

3. Test scope

   The existence of a report does not mean that every required item has been tested. Review the individual test items, methods, limits and results.

4. Relationship between the sample and production product

   Third-party reports normally apply only to the submitted samples. Buyers should confirm that the formulation, construction and production conditions of the supplied product remain consistent with the tested sample.

5. Project timeline

   For projects extending beyond October 1, 2027, the procurement team should evaluate how the new standard may affect production, importation, delivery and final acceptance documentation.

FARFLY continues to maintain and update its product testing reports and technical documents. Nevertheless, we do not consider the number of reports to be the only measure of compliance capability. Effective compliance support requires a clear connection between the report, the exact flooring product, the project specification and the delivery schedule.

What Value Can the Updated Standard Bring to Project Procurement?

Stricter harmful substance requirements may require additional formulation reviews, sample testing and document updates. Preparing early, however, can reduce much larger project costs later.

For project owners, contractors, distributors and design teams, structured compliance preparation can help:

• Reduce the cost of repeated testing caused by incomplete test coverage;
• Avoid approval delays caused by reports that do not match the supplied product;
• Identify risks involving old inventory, historical reports and new acceptance requirements;
• Improve the completeness of technical submittals for healthcare, sports and high-specification projects;
• Reduce the risk of discovering a compliance gap only after the flooring arrives on site;
• Provide a clearer evidence chain for tenders, customs clearance, material approval and final project acceptance.

This is why FARFLY focuses on Compliance. Delivery. Project Success.

Compliance documentation should not create more paperwork for the customer. It should reduce uncertainty, control avoidable costs and make project delivery easier to manage.

How Is FARFLY Preparing for GB 18586—2026?

Before the new standard takes effect, FARFLY will continue to monitor its implementation requirements and evaluate the relevant PVC flooring product ranges.

Our preparation includes:

• Reviewing relevant product formulations and constructions;
• Planning product-specific testing;
• Updating technical data, test reports and sales documentation;
• Checking the relationship between reports, product series, models and specifications;
• Providing documentation according to the project location and acceptance requirements;
• Helping customers identify risks related to standard editions and project timelines.

FARFLY does not assume that one general report can support every PVC flooring product. For hospital flooring, medical flooring, sports flooring, ESD flooring and cleanroom flooring projects, our compliance support begins with the specific product and application requirements.

We do more than supply flooring. We serve as a professional partner, helping project teams navigate every stage—from product selection and compliance certification to installation and delivery—so they can complete their projects with greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About GB 18586—2026

Is GB 18586—2026 already in force?

No. It was issued on March 31, 2026 and will take effect on October 1, 2027. Its current official status is “forthcoming.”

Will reports issued under GB 18586—2001 become invalid immediately?

No. The publication of the new standard does not immediately invalidate every existing report. The production or import date, contractual specification, delivery schedule and project acceptance requirements must be reviewed. Projects extending beyond the implementation date should prepare for the 2026 edition in advance.

Does GB 18586—2026 apply to all hospital flooring and sports flooring?

No. Applicability depends primarily on whether the product is polyvinyl chloride flooring and whether the project or market requires the standard. The application label alone does not determine compliance scope.

Can one PVC flooring test report cover every product model?

It should not be assumed. A test report normally applies to the sample described in the document. Changes in formulation, construction, thickness, flame-retardant system or manufacturing process may affect whether the report remains applicable.

Is GB 18586—2026 mandatory for overseas projects?

Not necessarily. It is a Chinese mandatory national standard. Overseas projects must also follow the regulations, technical specifications and applicable EN, ISO, ASTM or local standards required by the destination market.

To review a specific PVC flooring product, test report or project specification, please contact the FARFLY project team.

FARFLY — Ground for Confidence.