GB 3608-2025 Classification of work at heights English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered.
ICS 13.100
CCS C 75
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB 3608-2025
Replaces GB/T 3608-2008
Classification of work at heights
高处作业分级
(English Translation)
Issue date: 2025-10-05 Implementation date: 2026-05-01
Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification of work at heights
5 Determination of highness of work at heights
Annex A (Informative) Examples of highness calculation for work at heights
Bibliography
Classification of work at heights
1 Scope
This document defines terms relating to work at heights, specifies the classification of work at heights, and describes the method for determining the highness of work at heights.
This document is applicable to various types of work at heights.
2 Normative references
The following documents contain requirements which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 28591-2012 Wind scale
GB/T 50034-2024 standard for lighting design of buildings
GBZ 2.2-2007 Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace - Part 2: Physical agents
GBZ/T 229.3-2010 Classification of occupational hazards at workplaces - Part 3: Occupational exposure to heat stress
3 Terms and definitions
The following terms and definitions are applicable to this document.
3.1
work at heights
work conducted at a height of 2 m or more above the datum plane for highness of falling (3.2), where there exists a potential for falling
3.2
datum plane for highness of falling
horizontal plane at the lowest point within the possible falling bounds (3.3)
3.3
possible falling bounds
vertical cylindrical space centered on the work position, with a radius equal to the radius of possible falling bounds (3.4)
3.4
radius of possible falling bounds
R
horizontal distance specified relative to the work position for determining the possible falling bounds (3.3)
Note: Radius of possible falling bounds expressed in meters, its magnitude dependent on the basic highness (3.5) related to factors such as terrain, topography, or building distribution at the worksite.
3.5
basic highness
hb
height difference between the lowest point within a vertical cylindrical space, centered on the work position with a radius of 6 m, and the work position
Note: Unit of basic highness is meter, basic highness related to terrain, topography, or building distribution at the worksite.
3.6
highness of work at heights
hw
maximum vertical distance from any work position within the work area to the corresponding datum plane for highness of falling (3.2)
Note: Unit of highness of work at heights is meter.
4 Classification of work at heights
4.1 Highness of work at heights divided into four ranges: 2 m to 5 m, above 5 m to 15 m, above 15 m to 30 m, and above 30 m. Work at heights classified according to provisions of 4.3.
4.2 Ten types of objective risk factors that may cause falls:
a) Force 5 or higher wind as specified in GB/T 28591-2012, 3.2;
b) Grade II or higher high temperature work as specified in GBZ/T 229.3-2010, 4.3;
c) Ambient average temperature during work period equal to or below 5°C;
d) Work involving contact with cold water at temperature equal to or below 12°C;
e) Presence of slippery substances such as ice, snow, frost, water, or oil at worksite;
f) Illuminance below 10% of the standard value for general lighting in that work area or below 15 lx as specified in GB/T 50034-2024, 5.5.4;
g) Distance between work activity range and live parts of hazardous voltage less than specified in Table 1;
h) Swinging, or footing not being a plane or having only a very small plane, preventing worker from maintaining normal posture;
Note: Very small plane refers to rectangular plane with any side less than 500 mm, circular plane with diameter less than 500 mm, or other shapes with similar dimensions.
i) Grade III or higher physical labor intensity as specified in GBZ 2.2-2007, 14.2;
j) Ambient oxygen content below 19.5% or presence of toxic gases in work environment.
4.3 Work at heights absent of any objective risk factors listed in 4.2 classified according to Class A method specified in Table 2; work at heights with one or more objective risk factors listed in 4.2 classified according to Class B method specified in Table 2.
5 Determination of highness of work at heights
5.1 Radius of possible falling bounds derived from basic highness and shall conform to provisions of Table 3.
5.2 Determination of highness of work at heights conducted according to the following steps.
a) Determine basic highness hb according to 3.5.
b) Determine radius of possible falling bounds R according to 5.1.
c) Determine highness of work at heights hw according to 3.6.
Note: Examples of highness calculation for work at heights see Annex A.
Standard
GB 3608-2025 Classification of work at heights (English Version)
GB 3608-2025 Classification of work at heights English, Anglais, Englisch, Inglés, えいご
This is a draft translation for reference among interesting stakeholders. The finalized translation (passing through draft translation, self-check, revision and verification) will be delivered upon being ordered.
ICS 13.100
CCS C 75
National Standard of the People's Republic of China
GB 3608-2025
Replaces GB/T 3608-2008
Classification of work at heights
高处作业分级
(English Translation)
Issue date: 2025-10-05 Implementation date: 2026-05-01
Issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation
the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China
Contents
Foreword
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification of work at heights
5 Determination of highness of work at heights
Annex A (Informative) Examples of highness calculation for work at heights
Bibliography
Classification of work at heights
1 Scope
This document defines terms relating to work at heights, specifies the classification of work at heights, and describes the method for determining the highness of work at heights.
This document is applicable to various types of work at heights.
2 Normative references
The following documents contain requirements which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
GB/T 28591-2012 Wind scale
GB/T 50034-2024 standard for lighting design of buildings
GBZ 2.2-2007 Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace - Part 2: Physical agents
GBZ/T 229.3-2010 Classification of occupational hazards at workplaces - Part 3: Occupational exposure to heat stress
3 Terms and definitions
The following terms and definitions are applicable to this document.
3.1
work at heights
work conducted at a height of 2 m or more above the datum plane for highness of falling (3.2), where there exists a potential for falling
3.2
datum plane for highness of falling
horizontal plane at the lowest point within the possible falling bounds (3.3)
3.3
possible falling bounds
vertical cylindrical space centered on the work position, with a radius equal to the radius of possible falling bounds (3.4)
3.4
radius of possible falling bounds
R
horizontal distance specified relative to the work position for determining the possible falling bounds (3.3)
Note: Radius of possible falling bounds expressed in meters, its magnitude dependent on the basic highness (3.5) related to factors such as terrain, topography, or building distribution at the worksite.
3.5
basic highness
hb
height difference between the lowest point within a vertical cylindrical space, centered on the work position with a radius of 6 m, and the work position
Note: Unit of basic highness is meter, basic highness related to terrain, topography, or building distribution at the worksite.
3.6
highness of work at heights
hw
maximum vertical distance from any work position within the work area to the corresponding datum plane for highness of falling (3.2)
Note: Unit of highness of work at heights is meter.
4 Classification of work at heights
4.1 Highness of work at heights divided into four ranges: 2 m to 5 m, above 5 m to 15 m, above 15 m to 30 m, and above 30 m. Work at heights classified according to provisions of 4.3.
4.2 Ten types of objective risk factors that may cause falls:
a) Force 5 or higher wind as specified in GB/T 28591-2012, 3.2;
b) Grade II or higher high temperature work as specified in GBZ/T 229.3-2010, 4.3;
c) Ambient average temperature during work period equal to or below 5°C;
d) Work involving contact with cold water at temperature equal to or below 12°C;
e) Presence of slippery substances such as ice, snow, frost, water, or oil at worksite;
f) Illuminance below 10% of the standard value for general lighting in that work area or below 15 lx as specified in GB/T 50034-2024, 5.5.4;
g) Distance between work activity range and live parts of hazardous voltage less than specified in Table 1;
h) Swinging, or footing not being a plane or having only a very small plane, preventing worker from maintaining normal posture;
Note: Very small plane refers to rectangular plane with any side less than 500 mm, circular plane with diameter less than 500 mm, or other shapes with similar dimensions.
i) Grade III or higher physical labor intensity as specified in GBZ 2.2-2007, 14.2;
j) Ambient oxygen content below 19.5% or presence of toxic gases in work environment.
4.3 Work at heights absent of any objective risk factors listed in 4.2 classified according to Class A method specified in Table 2; work at heights with one or more objective risk factors listed in 4.2 classified according to Class B method specified in Table 2.
5 Determination of highness of work at heights
5.1 Radius of possible falling bounds derived from basic highness and shall conform to provisions of Table 3.
5.2 Determination of highness of work at heights conducted according to the following steps.
a) Determine basic highness hb according to 3.5.
b) Determine radius of possible falling bounds R according to 5.1.
c) Determine highness of work at heights hw according to 3.6.
Note: Examples of highness calculation for work at heights see Annex A.
