Moisture Management Control for Mold Prevention

TCP Global Quality Assurance team

October 2016

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Agenda
1 Introduction – Mold

2 Findings

3 Moisture Management SOP

4 Moisture Checking Tools and Methods

5 TCP Moisture Standards Requirement

6 Other Controlled Process

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 1 Introduction of Mold
• Mold are organisms which are neither
plant nor animal. Mold is a fungus

• Mold plays a major role in causing

decomposition of organic material

• There are thousands of varieties of Mold,

and are present everywhere

• Mold can be developed in humid summer

weather, damp clothes, warm, poorly
lighting and/or where air is not well-
ventilated

• Clean clothing is less mildew than soiled

clothing

• The key control point to get rid of mold

and bad odor are moisture control, proper
washing method, right place for storage
and cleanliness

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 2 Finding Mold Growth Chain

FCL FCL

APL APL

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 2 Finding of Mold on Products

Food For Mold

Dust, Fabric content, washing & / OR finishes,
food/smoking/alcohol smell absorbed into garments

Environment condition for Mold growth

Relative humidity higher than 65% (water drops from the air) damp
areas, storage, production, finishing and packing

Garment Condition for Mold growth

Moisture reading higher than standards

Control Mold Growth

Clean & Dry Factory, Right Relative Humidity, Right garment moisture

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 2 Antimicrobial Test
The following test will be performed to determine the presence of mold or not:-

Antimicrobial Test
AATCC 147 (qualitative)
Test requirement : Positive
Testing fee: HK$800 per sample
TAT : 7-9 working days

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 2 Importance of Mold Prevention

• The purpose is to ensure all suppliers assures all

garments packed for shipment do not exceed moisture
or humidity levels which could cause Mold in transit

• Failure to comply with some or all of the outlined

SOPs may create damp and moist, garments being
packed in such damp condition is highly susceptible to
create Mold, of which the supplier will be held
accountable

• Mould, not only can be developed but grow and

contaminate to other areas; which enlarge the
affected areas and increase the risk exposure

• Quality issues lead to claims, unsatisfied customers

and brand damage, sales loss leads to business
damage

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Ironing
• Power of the ironing sucking system is in
acceptable condition if tissue paper stuck on
the surface or hands feeling air circulation when
testing it

• Factory & TCP QA conduct inline/final

inspection to check the garment after pressed
whether is over steamed or not

• Supervisor should check the steam usage in

daily operation. Recommend factory in-charge
to create a log book for recording.

• When using portable steam iron for inline/ final

pressing. Factory must clean and release all the
water after used, to minimize mildew & bad
odor develop especially at water pipe. See pic.

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Ironing

• Ironing pad /table cover sheeting use for

vacuum table must be replaced and
cleaned regularly, replace when dirt is
forming
The ironing pad will get dirt easily due to
over-stream or iron water leakage

Prefer Ironing pad with hole for air

circulation, factory has to use the ironing
pad for vacuum table. Not recommend as
below photo.
* Blanket type is not recommended

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Ironing

• TCP QAs conduct inline/final

inspection, to check the
cleanliness of the pressing table,
avoid obvious water mark/rusty
stain on the pressing table

• Factory in house QC in-charge has

to report to factory management
for rectification immediately

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – After Ironing
• Best practice is to cool down
the garment for 12 hours – 24
hours before packing into the
polybag

• Hanging the garments to

allow drying

• Do not over stack garments

(limit and control the stacking
height)

• Use standing fans to cool

down the garment after
pressed

• Be sure all materials have no

signs of obvious mildew

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – in Washing

Factory to control the boiler in a regular basis by an certified boiler engineer

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – After Washing
Check moisture of washed garment (from Washing factory) to ensure acceptable standard

1. Washed garments received from

washing factories need to be
selected for QA random check. 2. If the Result is “Failed”. Factory QA chop “Rejected “ on
the bill/DLV note, then the goods need to be returned to
washing fty for re-drying

3. If the Result is “Pass”. QA chop “Passed “ on the bill/DLV

note then the goods will be sent to finishing section

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Dehumidifying
Finished Garments should be moved to dehumidified room to control moisture.

1. Arrange garment properly to dehumidify from 2hr to 4hr

with clear record depending on fabric type.

2. Check the moisture on garments to meet Pre-set standard,

Factory QA confirms with chop “Passed” on control sheet then
pass to packing section.

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Dehumidified Room
Dehumidified room to dehumidify garments before packing. Garments will be checked the
moisture before sending to packing

Dehumidifier

Sheet record data, Room temperature & Humidity

Dehumidifier shelves
 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Storage, Finishing & Packing

• Water cooling system

installed in
finishing/packing
department is at risk of
generating moisture in air
that can be absorbed by
garment.

• Standing / wall fan,

ventilation fan to improve
indoor air ventilation, and
to cool down pressed
garment quickly

• Carton boxes should be

stored and kept on top of
pallet

• Keep materials off the

ground (including raw
material and finished
products)

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Finishing & Packing
Garments were sent to packing section
(the moisture in packing section need to be controlled well)

2. Q.C in packing section randomly

check the garments to make sure
the moisture meets pre-set
1. Goods pass to packing section standard before packing

3. Packing

4. Factory Q.A team

check the moisture
during pre-final
inspection and mark to
reports

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Final Inspection
Check Moisture at Final Inspection

1. TCP QA need randomly check the 2. Take the pictures and add to inspection
moisture during final inspection. report

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 3 Mold Prevention SOP – Footwear
• Anti-mold agent added to latex or raw material for lamination process during production, the
brand/supplier to be made available upon TCP request

• At the completion of production all shoes, egg crates, shoe boxes, wrappings, stuffing
materials must go through a hot air drying tunnel / UV light tunnel set at a minimum of 60-
70°c for three minutes (except flip flop, EVA injection, PVC injection)

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 4 Mold Prevention SOP – Moisture Management Tool
• Factory to install a Temperature Humidity
Measuring device to record Relative Humidity
(%), temperature & Date

• A climate report should be created

throughout entire year. Record in-house
temperature & relative humidity, including
sunny day or rainy day

• Factory to install industrial humidifier if the

humidity exceeds the acceptable standards

Acceptable Factory Relative Humidity (RH):

• On Factory Floor is 58- 65%
• In Control Room is 58%

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 4 Moisture Meter- component

Moisture meter
Item no. 205 Item no. 210
To use for carton check To use for stacked products
(inserted)

Item no. 213

To use on surface of Item no. 299
products Calibration electrode

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 4 Moisture Meter Preparation & Calibration
Check Moisture meter before inspection

• Press RED button & check if battery

power in good condition (Pin must
Acceptable
stay within the red scale range)

• Monthly/Regular Calibration
• Insert the calibrate electrode
(Item no. 299)
• Press WHITE button to check
reading at 70 SKT (+/- 1) is
acceptable

Acceptable

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 4 Moisture Meter- Checking Methods
Wet
• Test with wet fabric to check if Cloth
it works

• Check the moisture on Finished

surface of finished products garment
• Use item 213

TCP standard base on

Centesimal scale 0 to 100

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 4 Moisture Meter- Checking Methods
How to measure Carton Box moisture Top Picture A
• Use item #205 Sealed
• Do not open the packed/sealed carton box Carton
• Insert pin slightly onto box surface approx. 1mm
deep Side
• Press white button to check/record the readings
• Check box surface on top, side (either side) and
bottom (see picture A), all reading must pass TCP
standard
• After check, use sealed tape to stick on tested
area
How to measure bulk garment moisture Bottom
• Use item #210
• Place/Insert between garment horizontally and
carefully Picture B
• Place pin at top and bottom of pile of garment
respectively and take reading (see picture B)
• Slightly press the garment before closing the box.
• Close the box, Press white button, check/ record Top of pile
the reading. All reading must pass TCP standard
• If garment lined (like coat Jacket), Must check
separately the shell and lining

Bottom of pile
 4 Mold Prevention SOP – Proper documentation
• Factory to keep full document and record of humidity control check on daily basic
• keep humidity under 60 degree
• At all stages of raw material storage, WIP, finished production

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 5 TCP Moisture Standard Requirement
TCP Moisture Standard Acceptable Factory Relative Humidity
Requirement (RH):
In Factory Floor is 58- 65%
(Centesimal scale 0 to 100)
In Control Room is 58%
Fabric
How to Calculate the Moisture Content (Index in
Content Reading above this will be rejected
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Centesimal Scale 0-100) of blended Fabric
Wool
Cotton 56 e.g. 60% Cotton/ 40% Viscose,
Viscose/ Rayon 45 Cotton part: 56 x 0.6= 33.6
Linen/Flax 77 Viscose part: 45 x 0.4= 18
Acetate 60 **Standard requirement for this fabric will be 33.6 + 18 = 51.6
Nylon 67 Any decimal needs to be rounded down, standard = 51
Acrylic 40
• Any Moisture index indicator above 51 is Fail
Polyester 39 • Any Moisture index indicator below 51 is Pass
Silk 45
PU 30 **The moisture index must be lower than the requirement**
Leather 50
EVA/PEVA 30
Paper/Straw 40-50
Packed Carton • All moisture readings exceeding the acceptable level
45-50
box should be re-dried till standard is met

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 6 Controlled Process for mold prevention
Ventilation and Humidity Control
• Countries where climate is considered a risk factor has tropical climate and/or a wet season
where the monthly average of :
• Temperature is 28℃ and above
• Relative Humidity is over 60%
• Rainy and monsoon season can occur between March through September based on the
regions
• Ensure adequate ventilation is maintained
• Use air conditioners and de-humidifiers to maintain humidity levels below 70%
• Maintain dry conditions in production, packaging and storage areas
• Moisture check at all inspections during rainy seasons
• Typhoon seasons and potential flooding hazardous must be watched out, garments finished and
shipped during these periods must have moisture checked on all affected shipments
• Watched for molded spots within facilities and look for leakage, avoid material storage in those
areas

Cleanliness and Worker hygiene

• Keep all production areas clean at all time
• Eating, drinking and smoking should be prohibited in the factory and inspection areas
• Remove unnecessary moisture sources e.g. store workers’ wet items in confined area

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 6 Controlled Process for mold prevention
Proper Storage and documentation
• All raw materials, semi-and finished products must be stored off the ground, using pallet
• All raw materials, semi-and finished products must be stored in an environment that is below the
humidity level
• Factory must have all internal checking data recorded and available for TCP QA inspections

Washed garments
• Factory to control washed garments and steam control during pressing operations
• Pay attention to garment with Enzyme and Bleach Washed. Sniff the garment if any odor, reject
the shipment accordingly

Before shipping
• Packed Carton Moisture reading to be carried out before loading cartons for shipping out
• Long stacked cartons (3 days or more) should also be checked until loaded for shipping out
• Container‘s checked for water/leakage
• Sealed truck is recommended for our finished product delivered to forwarder warehouse

Packaging (footwear specific)

• At the completion of production all shoes, egg crates, shoe boxes, wrappings, stuffing materials
must go through a hot air drying tunnel / UV light tunnel set at a minimum of 60-70°c for three
minutes (except flip flop, EVA injection, PVC injection)
• Anti-mold chip is required to include for packaging of footwear

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