BS5609 Compliance Explained

What is BS5609 Compliance?

BS5609 is the British Standard for printed pressure-sensitive labels for marine use. This standard sets out various criteria including adhesive performance, print permeance, and abrasion resistance, specifying the minimum standard for labels to be used in marine environments.  

How are Labels Tested Against BS5609 Compliance?

The test for BS5609 compliance involves the label materials being placed in testing plates in salt water at mid-tide for 3 months. This sets out to ensure the label materials and print stay in place and stabilised whilst being exposed to salt spray, sunlight, and seawater at varying temperatures.

Why Test to BS5609 Standards?

Various applications necessitate label materials to be BS5609 compliant, we have listed a range of these below:

• When you require extremely durable label materials
• Compliance is required for self-adhesive drum labels to meet:
  • Merchant Shipping Regulations
  • International Maritime Dangerous Goods
  • Global Harmonised System of Classification Standards
• Chemical drum and or hazard labels – ensuring labels communicate the information relating to the contents of the drum, including any risk to health or the environment associated with spillage.

Our BS5609 Approved Materials

Our hot melt adhesives are perfect for the chemical industry and are available in coat weights from 18 grams up to 50 grams. This extremely high tack adhesive is designed to provide excellent adhesion across a wide variety of substrates which combined with our durable face papers provides incredible resilience. The combination of our face materials and adhesives which pass BS5609 section two include:

• Transfer PP95S Matt White /SP8000/ HG6
• Transfer PP75S Matt White/SP8000/HG6
• 60 Gloss White PPTCE/SP8000/HG6
• Durajet™ PP V3/SP8000(HCW)/HG6 (suitable for pigment Inkjet printing)

Contact us

If you would like to learn more or request samples of our BS5609 materials, enquire online or call our team on 01505 707700.