New Children’s Seating Standard Introduced in Europe
A look at CEN’s new European standard for children’s seating – EN 17191:2021
- (1888PressRelease) September 09, 2021 - Manufacturers of children’s seating are reminded that in July 2021 the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published a new standard – EN 17191:2021.
The standard applies to both domestic and non-domestic seating used by children who can walk and sit by themselves. It aims to improve safety and considers the hazards listed in the Decision of the European Commission 2013/121/EU and the Commission Implementing Decision M/527 of 22.7.2014. Stakeholders should be aware it does not apply to seating used in educational institutions, which are covered by EN 1729 parts 1 and 2.
EN 17191:2021 defines three sizes of seat:
• Size 1 – seating intended for young children, up to three years of age (approximately)
• Size 2 – four to seven years (approximately)
• Size 3 – up to 14 years
Size is determined by measuring the height of the seat from the ground or footrest. Stakeholders should be aware these age ranges are guides and there is no obligation to mark or limit the use of seating to these age limits.
The standard includes general safety requirements relating to, inter alia, edges, gaps, locking mechanisms, enclosures, packaging, and the use of magnets. Additionally, there are specific safety conditions relating to Size 1 seats, including requirements relating to strangulation, chocking and suffocation.
To see a detailed overview of these provisions, read SGS’s original SafeGuard 115/21, which also includes details of how strength, durability and stability are to be assessed.
The standard also includes a requirement relating to product information, which states it must highlight clearly essential warnings and safety information.
EN 17191:2021 is a voluntary standard that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the General Product Safety Directive. National standards organizations bound to CEN/CENELEC are required to give it the status of a national standard, and withdraw conflicting standards, by January 2022. Stakeholders should follow national legislation in the UK and in EU Member States with their own legislation.
SGS Childcare Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Childcare Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products]
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full New European Standard on Seating for Children Published SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2021/08/safeguards-11521-new-european-standard-on-seating-for-children-published]
Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Catherine Follin-Arbelet
Juvenile Products International Expert
Tel: +33 6 28 50 25 88
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 93,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
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