Sourcing escape breathing devices from China

Duty on emergency escape breathing devices

Heading 9020 covers other breathing appliances and gas masks, excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters. This guide focuses on emergency escape breathing devices with an independent breathing supply. For the wider apparatus family, see self-contained breathing apparatus.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, both supplied commodity lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied records show no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached import controls. The configurations in the table share the same other-breathing-appliances line; they are not separate tariff subdivisions.

Confirm the commodity code using the breathing mechanism, complete product description and whether the shipment contains complete devices or separate components. Ask your customs broker to confirm the proposed classification before shipment.

Specify the escape supply and intended setting

Specify compressed air or chemical oxygen, hood or facepiece, activation method, carrying case, storage conditions and servicing arrangements. Ask for duration test reports showing the exact model, operating conditions and breathing demand. Match the proposed duration to the buyer's escape plan, and agree the remaining storage life required at delivery.

For industrial devices sold in Great Britain, confirm with the relevant product safety authority whether the respiratory protective equipment is category III and which type-examination and production-control requirements apply. Great Britain continues to recognise CE marking for personal protective equipment; confirm the applicable CE or UKCA route, body-number marking, declaration of conformity and English-instruction requirements with that authority. Match the certification to the complete device, including its breathing supply and hood or facepiece.

For UK shipboard orders, check valid UK marine conformity assessment certification and the Red Ensign mark. Confirm the intended vessel and installation with the buyer before selecting a model. Use testing and certification to define the evidence needed for the intended application.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 hood-type emergency escape breathing devices under 9020 00 90 99, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £10,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £10,900, so it is £2,180. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Documents: check that the model, breathing supply and hood or facepiece match the type-examination certificate, production-control evidence and declaration of conformity.

Supply and activation: check cylinder condition and indicated charge where applicable, hoses, valves and activation seals. Have a competent specialist test agreed samples using the manufacturer's procedure.

Hood and carrying case: check neck seals, visor clarity, hose connections, straps and case opening against the approved sample. Inspect for crushing, corrosion and moisture damage.

Marking and storage life: check model identification, conformity marking, English instructions and expiry or servicing information against the approved artwork. Keep inspection results with the shipment records.

What goes wrong

An escape device is selected as if it were working breathing apparatus. HSE describes escape sets as intended for emergency escape rather than working applications. Filtering hoods are another source of confusion: only breathing apparatus is suitable for oxygen-deficient atmospheres. See the separate filtering fire escape hood guide when the proposed product filters surrounding air.

Check for certificates covering a different hood or supply assembly, duration claims without matching test conditions, damaged activation seals and stock nearing its storage expiry. Agree sample testing before shipment and repeat the arrival checks through your quality inspection plan.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.