U.S. – CPSC Approves ASTM F1821-16 for Toddler Beds in Direct Final Rule

Vol. 954 | 27 Mar 2017

As part of the rule-making 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 F1821-16 to be incorporated in the federal regulation: 16 CFR 1217 – Safety Standard for Toddler Beds. The new standard will be effective June 6, 2017.

The ASTM F1821-16 standard defines a “toddler bed” as “any bed sized to accommodate a full-size crib mattress having minimum dimensions of 51⁵/₈ in. (1310 mm) in length and 27¹/₄ in. (690 mm) in width and is intended to provide free access and egress to a child not less than 15 months of age and who weighs no more than 50 pounds (27.7 kg).”

Significant changes to 16 CFR 1217 due to the adoption of the revised ASTM standard are as follows:

• Revision to the corner posts requirement to allow for the corner post extensions of 57 inches or greater in height that are not considered entanglement hazards in children's clothing, jewelry, etc.
• Revision to the entrapment hazard evaluation to also include the side rails and the guard rails, not just the end rails.

The CPSC comment period regarding the new standard closed on March 24, 2017.

The Final Rule can be reviewed at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-02-22/pdf/2017-03332.pdf

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