What is ASTM F963?
Concern over the safety of children's toys is addressed by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International, a standards organization. The standards they create guide design, trade and manufacturing on an international level. Toy safety is one of the sets of standards produced by ASTM. What is this safety standard and what does it cover?
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ASTM F963
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ASTM F963 is a manufacturing standard. Its full designation is ASTM F963 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. A recent legislative agreement mandates that all toys that are sold in the U.S. have to meet the standards set forth in ASTM F963. This new law becomes part of Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The standard ASTM F963 is in a further study phase by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in order to examine its effectiveness. The CPSC will issue a final statement on the toy safety guidelines once the use of the standard, and now law, is studied.
History of F963
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F963 began as a standard that was implemented during the 1980's. It's first issue superseded the National Bureau of Standards (the previous ASTM body) document numbered PS 72-76 posted in 1976. The committee responsible for creating the F963 standard is the ASTM F15.22 on Toy Safety. F963 continues to be regularly reviewed by F15.22 and revised to keep toy safety updated. As the standard is revised the previous standard is retired. The most recent revision is dated 2008. It's revision is numbered ASTM F963-08. This is the standard that is mandated by law at present.
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Recent Revisions to F963
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The recent revision to F963 addresses the following---magnets, acoustics, impaction hazards, flammability and yo-yo tether toys. Toys with magnets must now have a means of preventing detachment of the magnet when being played with. Yo-yo tether toy manufacturers creating products for the three year and older consumer will need to address the potential of strangulation according to the revised standard. The testing of lead requirements have remained the same as stated in the F963-07 (2007) standard.
What F963 Covers
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In general, the standard covers a number of subjects related to hazards unknown or not easily identified by the consumer. These hazards are addressed because they can happen during the normal course of using the toy or product. The standard does warn that it is not able to know all possible scenarios or hazards only plausible and common ones. F963 is directed at safety and not the quality or performance of a product. The standard further points out that the function of the product itself may be hazardous and that is not addressed by the standard. The example they use is a sewing kit for children that includes needles.
ASTM F963
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The standards set forth in ASTM F963 are meant for children younger than 14 years of age. It does set age ranges and limits for different hazards. These are based on general mental capability and physical responses a child (and age group) may have to any identified hazards. F963 may reference documents from other standards ASTM has developed. These may include electrical standards and container (packaging) standards as well as standards developed by ISO (International Standards Organization).
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