U.S. – CPSC Approves ASTM F1235-18 for Hook-on Chairs in Direct Final Rule

Vol. 1040 | 28 Sep 2018

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) has approved the new ASTM F1235-18 to be incorporated in the federal regulation: 16 CFR 1233 – Safety Standard for Portable Hook-on Chairs.

Since promulgation of the federal rule for portable hook-on chairs, the ASTM F1235-18 is the first revision to the standard.

A “portable hook-on chair” as defined by the ASTM F1235 standard is:

• Usually a legless seat constructed to locate the occupant at a table in such a position and elevation so that the surface of the table can be used as the feeding surface for the occupant.
• Supported solely by the table on which it is mounted. These chairs are intended for use by children between the ages of six months and three years and who weigh no more than 37 lb (16.8 kg) (95th percentile male at three years).

Most of the changes from the ASTM F1235-15 to the ASTM F1235-18 version of the standard have been primarily editorial in nature with one significant revision affecting safety:

• By requiring that all passive crotch restraints be installed on the product, at the time of shipment, in a manner that they cannot be removed without the use of tools. This change is intended to address fabric passive crotch restraints that are shipped without being permanently attached to the hook-on chair.

The revised ASTM F1235-18 standard becomes the mandatory Safety Standard for portable hook-on chairs effective January 15, 2019, unless the CPSC receives any adverse comments by October 24, 2018.

The Final Rule can be reviewed at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-09-24/pdf/2018-20673.pdf

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