Authored by Hollie Rasmussen, Microbac Laboratories, Inc., Hauser Division

On February 10, 2009, the regulations for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) went into effect.  The CPSIA addresses many safety concerns related to children’s toys, including lead content, lead in paint/coatings, phthalate levels, labeling requirements, mandatory third party testing, and mechanical hazards.  Section 106 of the CPSIA addresses a toy manufacturing standard, known as ASTM F963, which is published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International.  Section 106 of the CPSIA changes ASTM F963 from a voluntary testing standard to a mandatory testing requirement for toys sold or imported into the United States that are intended for children 12 years of age and younger.

ASTM F963, titled, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, incorporates relevant safety measures already required under federal law and includes additional guidelines for possible hazards that may not be obvious to the public with normal use and abuse of the toy.  An overview of the hazards that are addressed within the standard is included below in Table 1.  The sections of ASTM F963 that apply to each individual toy are based on the design of the toy.

Section 106 of the CPSIA is written to allow ASTM to propose revisions to its standard as new toy hazards are discovered.  Once a revision is proposed by ASTM, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has 90 days to object to the revision.  If no objection is made, the proposed revision replaces the current standard 180 days after the proposal.

On February 17, 2009, ASTM proposed a new revision (ASTM F963-08) to the current toy safety standard.  On May 13, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission accepted the new revision, with the exception of section 4.27, which addresses regulations on toy chests.  In the new revision, ASTM had removed the section on toy chests and included the information in a separate standard, ASTM F834 the Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Chests.  The Commission decided against the removal of this information because, by creating a new standard, the toy chest testing would no longer be covered under the CPSIA and thus no longer was mandatory.  On August 17, 2009, the new revision, with the exception of section 4.27, will replace the current version (ASTM F963-07e1) of the toy safety standard.  The flammability testing, which Congress specifically excluded from the CPSIA, is contained in section 4.2 and Annex 4 of the new revision and will remain excluded from the mandatory testing.

Several changes have been made to the new version of the toy safety standard to make the requirements more stringent, most notably is the section that addresses hazardous magnets.  The size restriction on hazardous magnets has been increased to include any magnets that can fit into the small parts cylinder.  The age range for magnetic toys has also been increased to 14 years of age.  Toys intended for children under the age of 14 are prohibited from having hazardous magnetic components unless they are hobby, craft or science kit type items that are intended for children over 8 years of age and include a warning label.   Specific use and abuse testing has been added to the standard for toy components that include hazardous magnets to ensure that the magnets will not dislodge from the component.  This testing includes cyclic fatigue, impact, torque and tension testing, followed by an additional round of cyclic fatigue testing.  The new version of the standard also requires locking devices to automatically engage and to require at least 10 pounds of force or a double release mechanism to unlock.

The revised standard includes additional detail in several sections, resulting in clarification.  The list of examples under folding mechanisms was expanded, as well as the list of impaction hazards, which now includes toys shaped like nails, screws or bolts.  The exemptions to requirements for yo-yo balls were elaborated to exclude tethered balls used for sports training like soccer balls on elastic bands or baseballs on a string.  The measurement of impulsive sounds section was modified to include the same sound pressure weighting scale that is used in the ISO 8124 International Toy Standard.  Finally, a new section was added that addresses the interior dimensions of handles and steering wheels to prevent jaw entrapment.

On February 10, 2010, third party mandatory testing will be required for all aspects of the CPSIA, including ASTM F963.

Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is an independent, third party testing laboratory with over 40 years experience in the analysis of a broad range of products.  We offer a comprehensive assortment of testing services for the consumer products industry.  For more information about our testing and research capabilities, please contact Microbac Laboratories, Inc.

Table 1. ASTM F963 Contents

Title & Section
Scope  - 1
Referenced Documents - 2
Terminology - 3
Safety Requirements - 4
Material Quality - 4.1
Flammability - 4.2
Toxicology - 4.3
Electrical/Thermal Energy - 4.4
Sound Producing Toys - 4.5
Small Objects - 4.6
Accessible Edges - 4.7
Projections - 4.8
Accessible Points - 4.9
Wires or Rods - 4.10
Nails and Fasteners - 4.11
Packaging Film - 4.12
Folding Mechanisms and Hinges - 4.13
Cords and Elastics in Toys - 4.14
Stability and Over-Load Requirements - 4.15
Confined Spaces - 4.16
Wheels, Tires, and Axles - 4.17
Holes, Clearance, and Accessibility of Mechanisms - 4.18
Simulated Protective Devices - 4.19
Pacifiers - 4.20
Projectile Toys - 4.21
Teethers and Teething Toys - 4.22
Rattles - 4.23
Squeeze Toys - 4.24
Battery-Operated Toys - 4.25
Toys Intended to be Attached to a Crib or Playpen - 4.26
Stuffed and Beanbag-Type Toys - 4.27
Stroller and Carriage Toys - 4.28
Art Materials - 4.29
Toy Gun Marking - 4.30
Balloons - 4.31
Certain Toys with Spherical Ends - 4.32
Marbles - 4.33
Balls - 4.34
Pompoms - 4.35
Hemispheric-Shaped Objects - 4.36
Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toys - 4.37
Magnets - 4.38
Jaw Entrapment in Handles and Steering Wheels - 4.39
Safety Labeling Requirements - 5
Instructional Literature - 6
Producer's Markings - 7
Test Methods - 8
General - 8.1
Testing for Hazardous Substance Content - 8.2
Method to Dissolve Soluble Matter - 8.3
Tests for Cleanliness and Preservative Effectiveness - 8.4
Normal Use Testing - 8.5
Abuse Testing - 8.6
Impact Tests - 8.7
Torque Tests for Removal of Components - 8.8
Tension Test for Removal of Components - 8.9
Compression Test - 8.10
Tests for Tire Removal and Snap-in Wheel and Axle Assembly Removal - 8.11
Flexure Test - 8.12
Test for Mouth-Actuated Toys - 8.13
Projectiles - 8.14
Test for Stability of Ride-On Toys - 8.15
Stalled Motor Test for Battery-Operated Toys - 8.17
Tests for Battery-Powered Ride-On Toys - 8.18
Tests for Toys which Produce Noise - 8.19
Dynamic Strength Test for Wheeled Ride-On Toys - 8.20
Packaging Film Thickness - 8.21
Test for Loops and Cords - 8.22
Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toy Test Methods - 8.23
Magnet Test Methods - 8.24
Test Methods for Locking Mechanisms or Other Means - 8.25
Identification - 9
Age Grading Guidelines - Annex A1
Packaging and Shipping - Annex A2
Design Guidelines for Toys Attached to Cribs or Playpens - Annex A3
Flammability Testing Procedure for Solids and Soft Toys - Annex A4
Flammability Testing Procedure for Fabrics - Annex A5
Rationale for 2007 Revisions - Annex A6
Rationale for 2008 Revisions - Annex A7

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