U.S. – CPSC Proposes 16 CFR 1231 Safety Standard for High Chairs

Vol. 871 | 12 Nov 2015

As part of the rulemaking process required by Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing a new federal regulation: 16 CFR 1231 Safety Standard for High Chairs. The rule proposes to adopt the existing ASTM standard F404 – 15 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Children’s Chairs and Stools, with a few modifications to the rearward stability test and the requirements for warnings.

A “high chair” as defined by the ASTM standard, is “a free standing chair for a child up to 3 years of age which has a seating surface more than 15 in. above the floor and elevates the child normally for the purposes of feeding or eating.”

The proposed 16 CFR 1231 modifies certain key requirements of the ASTM standard as follows:

• The rearward stability is proposed to be evaluated using a ‘stability index (SI)’ that will take into account different factors accounting for rearward tip-overs, and use a minimum SI score criteria.
• The warnings on the product and in the instructional literature are recommended to be revised in content, form and location to enhance their effectiveness in preventing injuries occurring from falls and promoting safe use of high chairs and the provided restraints.

Some significant features addressed by the ASTM F404 -15 standard include:

• Tray or Front Torso Support Performance
• Completely Bounded Openings
• Restraint System Effectiveness and Integrity
• Protrusions

The CPSC has proposed that the rule become effective 6 months after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted until January 25, 2016.

The Final Rule can be viewed at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-11-09/pdf/2015-28300.pdf

 

For questions, please contact Laxmi Ravikumar (laxmi.ravikumar@intertek.com, +1-630-209-9265).