U.S. CPSC Proposes 16 CFR 1233 Safety Standard for Portable Hook-On Chairs

Vol. 838 | 08 Jul 2015

As part of the rulemaking process required by Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing a new federal regulation 16 CFR 1233 Safety Standard for Portable Hook-On Chairs.

The rule proposes to adopt the existing ASTM standard, F1235 - 15 Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Portable Hook-On Chairs, approved on May 1, 2015, without any changes. As described within the scope of the ASTM F1235 - 15 standard, a “Portable Hook-On Chair” is:

• A chair intended for the purpose of seating and holding a child who can remain in a sitting position due to his or her own coordination.
• 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 common incidents associated with portable hook-on chairs, based on the incident reports collected by the CPSC, are falls due to components of the chair detaching, the child’s activities or restraint or containment issues.

The ASTM F1235 - 15 standard addresses general requirements such as sharp points, sharp edges, locking and latching mechanisms, scissoring, shearing and pinching, marking and labeling, instructional literature, etc., as well as specific performance requirements for hook-on chairs, including:

• Chair Drop Test
• Static Load Test
• Seat and Seat Back Disengagement Test
• Chair Bounce Test
• Chair Pull/Push Test
• Restraint System Functionality
• Openings and Crotch Restraint System Evaluations

The CPSC has proposed that the rule become effective 6 months after the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted until September 15, 2015.

The Proposed Rule can be viewed at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-07-02/pdf/2015-16330.pdf

 

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