Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Committee.

Preliminary discussions on the formulation of a specification for compression hosiery took place in 1970, but work did not continue because of the lack of suitable test methods for determining the compression exerted by hosiery. However, since then, a suitable test has been developed, and following requests from the hosiery trade and the medical profession, this specification has now been produced.

When drawing up this specification the committee hoped to include a requirement for a certain proportion of compression to be retained after a stated amount of wear, to be simulated in a laboratory wash/wear test. Such a test could not be developed for inclusion in this edition of this British Standard and a requirement against washing only is included. However it is hoped to include a performance requirement against a laboratory wash/wear trial as soon as possible. Any information on this topic would be welcomed by the committee.

The standard is based upon the use of the HATRA hose pressure tester Mark II which incorporates an adjustable flat-bed former. The choice was based upon a series of laboratory tests including a comparison with other available methods and an extended interlaboratory trial of seven testers. The advantages of this method were considered to be that calibration is straightforward, that the dimensions at which tests may be conducted may, within limits, be varied and that the test is rapid and convenient for manufacturers.

There was sufficiently good agreement during comparative testing that users of the test can expect to obtain comparable and meaningful information from its use.

There are many problems inherent in describing the properties of elastic garments so that there exists a possibility that variations in construction and composition will lead to problems of measurement. If these emerge then they will be reviewed at the appropriate time. The interpretation of the clinical significance of measurements made on a rigid tester will always require care since the radius of curvature of the surfaces to which compression is applied and the moulding of the soft tissues of the limbs are likely to modify the behaviour of the garments in wear.

The standard is expected to provide a basis for further clinical and physiological evaluation of compression hosiery so that in the future the clinical efficacy of garments may be related more reliably to the compression which they exert in wear. The publication of the standard is not intended to imply that only garments with these particular qualities are those which are effective in any clinical disorder. It is expected that as a result of publication of this standard the clinical relevance of the features which have been identified will be defined more clearly.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

	Revised text
AMD 7728	Clause 5. Marking
June 1993	In item (a) delete 'manufacturer' and substitute 'manufacturer

BS 6612:1985

Specification for graduated compression hosiery

Published:

28 Jun 1985

Withdrawn:

29 Nov 2018