U.S. – CPSC Adopts ASTM F2907-19 for Sling Carriers in Direct Final Rule

Vol. 1150 | 28 Apr 2020

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 F2907-19 to be incorporated in the federal regulation 16 CFR 1228 Safety Standard for Sling Carriers.

A sling carrier, as defined in the standard, is a “product of fabric or sewn fabric construction, which is designed to contain up to two (2) children in an upright or reclined position while being supported by the caregiver's torso.”

Since the promulgation of the rule, this is the first revision to the ASTM F2907 standard. Significant revisions to the ASTM F2907 standard are as follows:

• Revisions to the scope, requirements, test procedures and instructions to address carriers designed for more than one occupant.
• Sling carriers with higher recommended weight allowances than 35 pounds accommodated to ensure load tests and occupant-retention tests are performed at 35 pounds or manufacturer’s maximum recommended occupant weight.
• Clarifications to the slippage test to more accurately measure slippage and clarifications to the dynamic load test to remove any ambiguity in number of test cycles based on number of carrying positions.

These revisions to the standard have been reviewed by the CPSC and deemed to clarify and improve effectiveness of the standard. The standard however does not address or incorporate the stricter label attachment requirements in the CFR and hence these requirements remain in the 16 CFR 1228.

The ASTM F2907-19 standard becomes the mandatory Safety Standard for Sling Carriers effective July 6, 2020, unless the CPSC receives any adverse comments by May 20, 2020. Sling carriers manufactured on and after this date shall meet requirements of this rule and additionally require certification per 16 CFR 1110 based on testing at a CPSC approved third party accreditation body (third party lab) for 16 CFR 1228 per the revised ASTM F2907-19 standard.

The Final Rule can be viewed at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-04-20/pdf/2020-07522.pdf

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