U.S. – CPSC Adopts ASTM F404-20 for High Chairs in Direct Final Rule

Vol. 1237 | 21 Apr 2021

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, by Direct Final Rule, the new ASTM F404-20 to be incorporated in the federal regulation 16 CFR 1231 – Safety Standard for High Chairs.

A highchair as defined in the standard is, “a free-standing chair for a child up to 3 years of age which has a seating surface more than 15 in. (38.1 cm) above the floor and elevates the child normally for the purposes of feeding or eating”.

The category of highchairs also includes products that may be sold with or without a tray, may be height adjustable to higher or lower use positions and may also include a recline position for infants unable to sit up unassisted.

The ASTM F404-20 is the second revision to the standard since the CPSC adopted ASTM F404-18 in 2018. The revisions in the ASTM F404-20 standard specifically address high chairs and high chair accessories intended for children who weigh 20lbs or less or are unable to sit up right unassisted.

The significant revisions in the ASTM F404-20 version of the standard are as follows:

• New stability requirements added to address forward, rearward and sideways stability of products intended for children unable to sit upright unassisted or weighing 20lbs or less.
• Static load test split into two parts to address upright high chairs and high chairs intended for children unable to sit upright unassisted, adjusting the test weights by the same ratio.
• Dynamic high chair tests and step/footrest tests exempted for products intended for children unable to sit upright unassisted.
• Tray static load test intended to assess possible collapse of the tray under a child’s weight split in two parts to adjust for lower weight.

The revised ASTM F404-20 standard becomes the mandatory safety standard for high chairs effective July 3, 2021, unless the CPSC receives any significant adverse comments by May 3, 2021. High chairs manufactured on and after this date shall meet requirements of this rule and additionally will also require certification per 16 CFR 1110 based on testing at a CPSC approved third party accreditation body (third party lab) per ASTM F404-20 standard.

The Final Rule can be reviewed at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-04-02/pdf/2021-06419.pdf

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