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Quality Branding RAL

Candles
Quality Assurance
RAL-GZ 041
Candles
Quality Association
70597 Stuttgart

This document gives In-depth detail of the quality norms applied by our European candle manufacturer who strictly adhere to leading industry standards as a select 'member' of the "European Quality Candle Association" located in Stuttgart Germany.

Bolsius Netherlands is our manufacturer and Bolsius + Gouda are their brands. If the candles you buy don't have a "RAL Quality Branding" then perhaps you're not doing yourself justice !

The RAL-GZ 041 quality and test specifications are based on the accepted standards for quality marks by the "RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e.V." (RAL German Institute for Quality Assurance and Marking) in a test project, assisted by the Federal Minister of Economics in cooperation with the relevant engineering and industry authorities.

2-3.8 Smoking/ Afterglow

Burning with no soot release at all is not possible especially in the lightning phase and directly after the flame has extinguished for chemical/physical reasons. However, soot release is to be minimized, notably by optimally complementing the candle material and wick. This results in low soot release whilst burning.

2.-3-8-2. Based on the CEN/BT/TF 164*
(Projectname)

The soot index 1 must not be exceeded per hour burning duration. (Visible smoking is expected from an hourly soot index of approx. 1,2) The Tea Light has to fulfill both criteria.

From section Appendix 1

Requirements for the Selection of Raw Materials and Additives

The members of the Quality Association for Candles demand that neither the raw materials nor the additives for RAL graded candles should include any impurities. These materials should not have properties which in the normal intended use of candles have a harmful effect on the users' health.

I. Paraffin Wax must meet the following requirements:
Paraffin waxes must be of "hydrogenation quality". This term represents a product purity which, irrespective of the refining methods used, is characterized by the following criteria of purity.

Colour Index
Test Criteria	Method	Set Value
Saybolt colour index	DIN 51411 ASTM D 156	30 - 24

No impairment of colour. Colour impairment is indicative of the presence of unsaturated compounds as well as the beginning of oxidation processes.

Aromatic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Test Criteria	Method	Set Value
PAH Parafin Micro Waxes	UV absorption Pharm. Eur. 4th Edition Method 2.2.25 FDA 172.886	Absorption limits of the methods

Aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons may be detrimental to health.

Sulphur Content
Test Criteria	Method	Set Value
Sulphur Content	DIN 51400 Part 11 ASTM D 2622	max. 20 mg/kg

Exceeding this threshold is an indication of insufficient purification procedures and may, in the burning process, lead to undesirable SO2.

Solvent Reminder
Test Criteria	Method	Set Value
Benzol	EWF standard method to prove benzol and toluol in paraffin through HeadSpace GC, leaned on DIN 38407 Part 9	Max. 0,5 ppm
Toluol		Max. 2,0 ppm

Organic Palm Oil or Stearin products (plant fats etc.) also need to adhere to strict controls or otherwise they too will be inferior, unclean and not safe to breath. This is often not mentioned by suppliers pushing the merits of so called 'organic' candles. Once a candle burns the 'organic' aspects are all but irrelevant.

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Why Choose European Quality