SGS Helps Retailers Deliver ‘KidProof’ Domestic Furniture
Voluntary standard ASTM F2057 becomes almost mandatory after US CPSC states non-compliant products are ‘defective’. SGS looks at how manufacturers can access the US furniture market.
- (1888PressRelease) June 05, 2020 - In the wake of high-profile payouts by furniture retailers, SGS is reminding manufacturers what requirements clothing storage units need to conform to for access onto US markets.
As the world’s leading provider of testing, inspection, verification and certification services, SGS offers a comprehensive range of services to help manufacturers deliver safe and compliant products to markets all over the world.
The need for ‘kid-proof’ furniture was demonstrated once again in January 2020, when a large furniture retailer in the US agreed to pay USD 46 million to the parents of a child who died when a chest of drawers fell on him. This product had previously been recalled over similar incidents.
Statistics collated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) show that between 2000 and 2018, 459 children died as a result of tip-over injuries. Most of these children (80%) were aged five or under.
The CPSC had previously launched the “Anchor It” campaign in 2015. This is a national public education campaign to prevent furniture and TV tip-overs from killing and seriously injuring children. It provides simple, cheap and effective advice to help create safer homes. Its website includes advice for both parents and caregivers, and retailers and manufacturers.
Manufacturers are advised to ensure their products conform to two standards:
• ASTM F2057 for clothing storage furniture
• ASTM F3096 for anchoring or tip-over restraint systems
The CPSC went further in February 2019 when its Deputy Executive Director, DeWane Ray, published a letter urging furniture manufacturers to adhere to ASTM F2057, Safety Specification for Clothing Storage Unit. In essence, the letter turned this voluntary standard into a mandatory standard because it clearly stated that clothing storage units that failed to comply with the standard would be considered “defective”. There have already been instances where furniture has been recalled when it fails to comply with the standard, even when serious accidents had not occurred.
ASTM F2057 is already being included in legislation in parts of the US. ‘Harpers’ Law’ in New York State, passed in May 2019, requires retailers to only sell clothing storage units that conform to ASTM F2057. If an item does not comply, it must be sold with a permanent warning label and tipping restraint.
A new version of ASTM F2057 was released in 2019. It covers chests, chests of drawers, drawer chests, armoires, chifferobes, bureaus, door chests and dressers that are 27 inches (686 mm) in height or above. This standard is now being used by industry for non-scope furniture products, such as dining/living room storage, bookcases, and utility storage.
SGS Furniture Services
SGS helps you deliver well-designed, functional, durable and safe products to customers. They have the furniture industry, regulatory and technical expertise to check a product is compliant with relevant national and international standards, and/or a company’s own specifications. They offer a wide range of testing solutions, including mechanical (including ASTM F2057), chemical, flammability, finishing, performance and textile. Learn more about SGS’s Furniture Services: [www.sgs.com/furniture]
For more information, please contact:
Matthew McGarrity
Senior Technical Manager
Tel: +1 (973) 461 1230
Email: crs.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
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