Glass wool - insulation Hs Code

Glass wool - insulation harmonized system code

Product Overview Glass Wool - Insulation, classified under HS Code 701980, is a fibrous material manufactured from molten glass that is spun into fine fibers to form a lightweight, porous insulation medium. It is characterized by its high thermal resistance (R-value typically ranging from 2.5 to 3.7 per inch), low density (approximately 10-50 kg/m³), and excellent sound absorption properties. The product undergoes controlled processes including fiberizing, binding with thermosetting resins, and curing to achieve dimensional stability and fire resistance. Under HS Code 701980, Glass Wool insulation is subdivided into various forms such as rolls, batts, slabs, and loose-fill, each engineered for specific installation methods. Its primary applications span industrial refrigeration, HVAC systems, food processing plants, and cold storage facilities, where thermal insulation and energy efficiency are critical. The material’s resistance to moisture, non-corrosive nature, and compliance with fire safety standards position it as a preferred solution within competitive insulation markets, ensuring durability and regulatory adherence in international trade environments. HS Code Classification & Trade Specifications The HS Code 701980 falls within Chapter 70 (Glass and glassware), specifically under Heading 7019, which covers "Glass fibres (including glass wool) and articles thereof, except textile yarns and woven fabrics." The six-digit subheading 701980 designates glass wool products primarily utilized for insulation purposes, distinguishing them from other glass fiber products based on composition, fiber diameter (commonly 3-10 microns), and processing methods. Classification under this code is justified by the product’s physical form and intended industrial use. Trade considerations include packaging in moisture-resistant polyethylene bags or rigid cardboard cartons to prevent contamination and maintain fiber integrity during transit. Preservation often requires anti-static and anti-fungal treatments to comply with international quality standards such as ISO 9001 and ASTM C665. Shipping protocols mandate careful handling to avoid fiber degradation, with documentation aligning to WTO trade facilitation agreements and customs valuation rules to ensure smooth cross-border clearance and classification accuracy.

Glass wool - insulation Chapter Note

1.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Goods of heading 32.07 (for example, vitrifiable enamels and glazes, glass frit, other glass in the form of powder, granules or flakes); (b) Articles of Chapter 71 (for example, imitation jewellery); (c) Optical fibre cables of heading 85.44, electrical insulators (heading 85.46) or fittings of insulating material of heading 85.47; (d) Front windscreens (windshields), rear windows and other windows, framed, for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88; (e) Front windscreens (windshields), rear windows and other windows, whether or not framed, incorporating heating devices or other electrical or electronic devices, for vehicles of Chapters 86 to 88; (f) Optical fibres, optically worked optical elements, hypodermic syringes, artificial eyes, thermometers, barometers, hydrometers or other articles of Chapter 90; (g) Luminaires and lighting fittings, illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates or the like, having a permanently fixed light source, or parts thereof of heading 94.05; (h) Toys, games, sports requisites, Christmas tree ornaments or other articles of Chapter 95 (excluding glass eyes without mechanisms for dolls or for other articles of Chapter 95); or (ij) Buttons, fitted vacuum flasks, scent or similar sprays or other articles of Chapter 96. 2.- For the purposes of headings 70.03, 70.04 and 70.05 : (a) glass is not regarded as “worked” by reason of any process it has undergone before annealing; (b) cutting to shape does not affect the classification of glass in sheets; (c) the expression “absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer” means a microscopically thin coating of metal or of a chemical compound (for example, metal oxide) which absorbs, for example, infrared light or improves the reflecting qualities of the glass while still allowing it to retain a degree of transparency or translucency; or which prevents light from being reflected on the surface of the glass. 3.- The products referred to in heading 70.06 remain classified in that heading whether or not they have the character of articles. 4.- For the purposes of heading 70.19, the expression “glass wool” means : (a) Mineral wools with a silica (SiO2) content not less than 60 % by weight; (b) Mineral wools with a silica (SiO2) content less than 60 % but with an alkaline oxide (K2O or Na2O) content exceeding 5 % by weight or a boric oxide (B2O3) content exceeding 2 % by weight. Mineral wools which do not comply with the above specifications fall in heading 68.06. 5.- Throughout the Nomenclature, the expression “glass” includes fused quartz and other fused silica.