What is the Abrasion Resistance - What is abrasion resistance??

A property of materials that describes the resistance of a material to damage caused by friction when that material rubs against another material The friction generated when two surfaces rub together can cause abrasion which can take the form of scratches scuffs cuts or a simple gradual wearing away of the surface of either or both of the materials involved In labelling the materials used to make labels will be chosen for or treated to improve their abrasion resistance including the face material any coatings that are applied and the ink or toner used to print the labels Materials with high abrasion resistance are less likely to be damaged by the manufacturing and printing processes or during their intended application labels made with these materials will be durable and well suited to long term applications even if their application involves contact with other surfaces or regular handling This means that the information printed on these labels remains with the labelled item and more importantly the information remains legible throughout the application

Glossary

BS5609 Labels - What are BS5609 Labels?

Definition of BS5609 LABEL:

BS5609 labels are labels that have been tested against, and have successfully met, the requirements of the BS5609 standard. The BS5609 standard defines the minimum level of durability required for printed self adhesive labels to be used in marine environments.

There are two types of BS5609 labels; Part 2 and Part 3.

BS5609 Part 2 labels have passed Section 2 of the BS5609 standard, which means that all of the materials used to make those labels are durable enough for use in marine environments. This includes the face material, adhesive, and any additional coatings.

BS5609 Part 3 labels have passed both Section 2 and 3 of the BS5609 standard, which means that both the labels and the print added to those labels are durable enough for use in marine environments. BS5609 labels can only be categorised as Part 3 compliant when they are printed using the same combination of label materials, ink or toner, and printer that were used during the testing process.

The BS5609 standard was initially developed to make sure that the contents of chemical drums could always be identified even if the drums fell overboard and spent time submerged in sea water. This standard is now recognised around the world as a mark of a label's durability. BS5609 labels are used in a wide range of label applications, especially when a label needs to remain firmly in place and legible for a long period of time and/or needs to survive exposure to challenging conditions such as water, UV light, abrasion, and extreme or fluctuating temperatures.

At Label Planet, four of our label ranges are BS5609 certified. Our BS5609 labels are Part 2 compliant only. We do not offer a printing service, which means that customers who need their labels and the print that they add to stay put in marine conditions will need to source a printer and toner or ink that are both compliant with Part 3 of the BS5609 standard.

Our BS5609 labels include MWP (matt white polyester for laser printers), MWPE (matt white polyethylene for laser and inkjet printers), MWPO (matt white polyolefin for laser printers), and MWPP (matt white polypropylene for inkjet printers).

Here is the Harvard-style citation to use if you would like to reference this definition of the term BS5609 label:
Label Planet (2025) What is BS5609 label definition | Labelplanet. Available at: https://www.labelplanet.co.uk/glossary/bs5609-labels/ (Accessed: January 1, 2025).

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