STURDY ACT - Final Rule Published in Federal Register on Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units

Vol. 1350 | 09 May 2023

On May 4, 2023, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a direct rule (16 CFR 1261) which adopts the applicable performance requirements of ASTM standard ASTM F2057–23 as a consumer product safety standard required by the STURDY Act. This rule will supersede CPSC's current CSU rule, which was scheduled to take effect on May 24, 2023 but will now not be implemented.

Clothing Storage Units (CSUs) manufacturers are required to follow this direct rule, with a planned effective date of September 1, 2023, unless the Commission receives a significant adverse comment by June 5, 2023.

A clothing storage unit is defined as any free-standing furniture item manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States that is intended for the storage of clothing and is typical of bedroom furniture. All clothing storage units manufactured after September 1, 2023, will be subject to the requirements of this part.

The ASTM F2057-23 standard applies to freestanding storage units, including but not limited to chests, chests of drawers, drawer chests, armoires, chifferobes, bureaus, door chests, and dressers, that meet the following criteria:

• Height ≥ 27 inches;
• Weight ≥ 30 lbs;
• Enclosed storage volume ≥ 3.2 cubic feet

Units must meet ALL three of the above criteria to fall within the scope of the rule. The following are not included: shelving units, such as bookcases or entertainment furniture, office furniture, dining room furniture, jewelry armoires, underbed drawer storage units, occasional/accent furniture not intended for bedroom use, laundry storage/sorting units, or built-in units intended to be permanently attached to the building.

Below is a brief summary of the ASTM F2057-23 testing requirements. Please refer to the ASTM standard for details.

ASTM F2057-23	REQUIREMENTS
PERFORMANCE	Clothing storage units must pass below three stability tests. For more details about each of these tests can be obtained from the ASTM F2057-23 standard. Simulated Clothing Load All extendible elements and spaces behind doors are loaded with 8.5 pounds per cubic foot. All doors and loaded drawers are opened. The loaded unit must remain upright for 30 seconds. (There is a separate test for units with drawer interlocks that prevent 50 percent or more of the extendible elements from opening.) Simulated Horizontal Dynamic Force With all doors open and all elements extended, a 10-pound horizontal force is applied to the highest handhold, not to exceed 56 inches. The unit must not tip while the force is applied to the top edge of a drawer or to the center of the pull area of the extendible element and held for 10 seconds. Simulated Carpet Test with Child Weight A test block of 0.43 inches is placed under the rear legs or base of the unit to simulate the impact of units placed on carpet. All doors are open and all elements extended. A test weight of 60 pounds is applied gradually over the top of the door or extendible element most likely to cause tip-over and remains in place for 30 seconds without causing the unit to tip over.
WARNING LABEL	Each clothing storage unit shall be permanently marked in at least one place with the warnings in a conspicuous location when in use. The warnings shall be applied on one surface, not wrapped or folded around or over corners. Below is an example of the warning label. Please refer to the ASTM standard for specific format and content details.

CSU furniture products must also include an anti-tip device that meets the requirements of ASTM F3096. Although the rule is applicable to CSU products manufactured after the effective date of September 1, 2023, any CSU product involved in a tip-over incident is subject to recall, regardless of whether it was manufactured before the effective date of this rule.

If you have any questions, please contact Pankaj Sarda (pankajkumar.sarda@intertek.com) or Rob Burton (rob.burton@intertek.com).