ASTM F963-08
(Specification)Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety
SCOPE
1.1 This specification relates to possible hazards that may not be recognized readily by the public and that may be encountered in the normal use for which a toy is intended or after reasonably foreseeable abuse. It does not purport to cover every conceivable hazard of a particular toy. This specification does not cover product performance or quality, except as related to safety. Except for the labeling requirements pointing out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is intended, this specification has no requirements for those aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard as part of the function of the toy. Such an example is a sharp point necessary for the function of a needle. The needle is an inherent hazard that is well understood by the purchaser of a toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as part of the normal educational process.
1.2 On the other hand, while a riding toy has inherent hazards associated with its use (for example, falling off onto the sidewalk), the possible hazards associated with its construction (sharp edges, exposed mechanisms, etc.) will be minimized by the application of this specification.
1.3 This specification covers requirements and contains test methods for toys intended for use by children under 14 years of age. Different age limits for various requirements will be found in this specification. These limits reflect the nature of the hazards and expected mental or physical ability, or both, of a child to cope with the hazards.
1.4 Articles not covered by this specification are as follows:
Bicycles
Tricycles
Sling shots and sharp-pointed darts
Playground equipment
Non-powder guns
Kites
Hobby and craft items in which the finished item is not
primarily of play value
Model kits in which the finished item is not primarily of
play value
Crayons, paints, chalks, and other similar art materials in
which the material itself or the finished item is not
primarily of play value, except that all art materials,
whether or not a component of a toy, must comply with
LHAMA, in accordance with 4.29.1-4.29.3.
Toy Chests
Sporting goods, camping goods, athletic equipment, mu-
sical instruments, and furniture; however, toys that are
their counterparts are covered. (It is recognized that
there is often a fine line between, for example, a musical
instrument or a sporting item and its toy counterpart.
The intention of the producer or distributor, as well as
normal use and reasonably foreseeable abuse, deter-
mines whether the item is a toy counterpart.)
Powered models of aircraft, rockets, boats, and land
vehicles; however, toys that are their counterparts are
covered.
1.5 General guidelines for age labeling toys and toy packaging are contained in Annex A1.
1.6 Information regarding packaging and shipping is contained in Annex A2.
1.7 This consumer safety specification includes the following sections:
TitleSection Scope1 Referenced Documents2 Terminology3 Safety Requirements4 Material Quality4.1 Flammability4.2 Toxicology4.3 Electrical/Thermal Energy4.4 Sound Producing Toys4.5 Small Objects4.6 Accessible Edges4.7 Projections4.8 Accessible Points4.9 Wires or Rods4.10 Nails and Fasteners4.11 Packaging Film4.12 Folding Mechanisms and Hinges4.13 Cords and Elastics in Toys4.14 Stability and Over-Load Requirements4.15 Confined Spaces4.16 Wheels, Tires, and Axles4.17 Holes, Clearance, and Accessibility of Mechanisms4.18 Simulated Protective Devices4.19 Pacifiers4.20 Projectile Toys4.21 Teethers and Teething Toys4.22 Rattles4.23 Squeeze Toys4.24 Battery-Operated Toys4.25 Toys Intended to be Attached to a Crib or Playpen4.26 Stuffed and Beanbag-Type Toys4.27 Stroller and Carriage Toys4.28 Art Materials4.29 Toy Gun Marking4.30 Balloons4.31 Certain Toys with Spherical Ends4.32 Marbles4.33 Balls4.34 Pompoms4.35 Hemispheric-Shaped Objects4.36 Yo Yo Elas...
General Information
Relations
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: F963 – 08
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
1
Toy Safety
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF963;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this consumer safety specification is to establish nationally recognized safety
requirements for toys. Although this specification will not eliminate the need for the exercise of
parental responsibility in selecting toys appropriate to the age of a child, or parental supervision in
situations in which children of various ages may have access to the same toys, its application will
minimize accidents in the normal, intended use and reasonably foreseeable abuse of the toys covered
by this specification. This specification was developed originally as a Voluntary Product Standard
under the auspices of the National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce, and published in
1976 (PS 72–76). The present revision is intended to update the safety requirements to include the
following by reference: published federal mandatory requirements, relevant voluntary standards,
certain new requirements for addressing potential hazards, and several technical revisions based on
producer experience with the original standard.
1. Scope 1.3 This specification covers requirements and contains test
2 methodsfortoysintendedforusebychildrenunder14yearsof
1.1 This specification relates to possible hazards that may
age.Differentagelimitsforvariousrequirementswillbefound
not be recognized readily by the public and that may be
in this specification. These limits reflect the nature of the
encountered in the normal use for which a toy is intended or
hazards and expected mental or physical ability, or both, of a
afterreasonablyforeseeableabuse.Itdoesnotpurporttocover
child to cope with the hazards.
every conceivable hazard of a particular toy.This specification
1.4 Articles not covered by this specification are as follows:
does not cover product performance or quality, except as
Bicycles
related to safety. Except for the labeling requirements pointing
Tricycles
out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is
Sling shots and sharp-pointed darts
intended, this specification has no requirements for those
Playground equipment
aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard
Non-powder guns
as part of the function of the toy. Such an example is a sharp
Kites
point necessary for the function of a needle. The needle is an
Hobby and craft items in which the finished item is not
inherent hazard that is well understood by the purchaser of a
primarily of play value
toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as
Model kits in which the finished item is not primarily of
part of the normal educational process.
play value
1.2 On the other hand, while a riding toy has inherent
Crayons, paints, chalks, and other similar art materials in
hazards associated with its use (for example, falling off onto
which the material itself or the finished item is not
the sidewalk), the possible hazards associated with its con-
primarily of play value, except that all art materials,
struction (sharp edges, exposed mechanisms, etc.) will be
whether or not a component of a toy, must comply with
minimized by the application of this specification.
LHAMA, in accordance with 4.29.1-4.29.3.
Toy Chests
1
This consumer safety specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Commit-
Sporting goods, camping goods, athletic equipment, mu-
tee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
sical instruments, and furniture; however, toys that are
F15.22 on Toy Safety.
their counterparts are covered. (It is recognized that
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2008. Published February 2009. Originally
´1
there is often a fine line between, for example, a musical
approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F963–07 . DOI:
10.1520/F0963-08.
instrument or a sporting item and its toy counterpart.
2
Toy IndustryAssociation, Inc. (TIA) sometimes provides its interpretations of
The intention of the producer or distributor, as well as
this specification through its counsel as a service to its members and others. The
normal use and reasonably foreseeable abuse, deter-
TIA’sinterpretationsarenotreviewedorapprovedbyASTMandshouldbeviewed
as TIA’s alone. mines whether the item is a toy counterpart.)
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F963 – 08
Powered models of aircraft, rockets, boats, and land
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
´1
Designation:F963–07 Designation: F 963 – 08
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
1
Toy Safety
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F963; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
´ NOTE—Paragraphs 4.39.1 and 5.17 were editorially corrected in June 2007.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this consumer safety specification is to establish nationally recognized safety
requirements for toys. Although this specification will not eliminate the need for the exercise of
parental responsibility in selecting toys appropriate to the age of a child, or parental supervision in
situations in which children of various ages may have access to the same toys, its application will
minimize accidents in the normal, intended use and reasonably foreseeable abuse of the toys covered
by this specification. This specification was developed originally as a Voluntary Product Standard
under the auspices of the National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce, and published in
1976 (PS 72–76). The present revision is intended to update the safety requirements to include the
following by reference: published federal mandatory requirements, relevant voluntary standards,
certain new requirements for addressing potential hazards, and several technical revisions based on
producer experience with the original standard.
1. Scope
2
1.1 Thisspecification relatestopossiblehazardsthatmaynotberecognizedreadilybythepublicandthatmaybeencountered
in the normal use for which a toy is intended or after reasonably foreseeable abuse. It does not purport to cover every conceivable
hazard of a particular toy.This specification does not cover product performance or quality, except as related to safety. Except for
the labeling requirements pointing out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is intended, this specification has
no requirements for those aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard as part of the function of the toy. Such
an example is a sharp point necessary for the function of a needle.The needle is an inherent hazard that is well understood by the
purchaser of a toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as part of the normal educational process.
1.2 Ontheotherhand,whilearidingtoyhasinherenthazardsassociatedwithitsuse(forexample,fallingoffontothesidewalk),
thepossiblehazardsassociatedwithitsconstruction(sharpedges,exposedmechanisms,etc.)willbeminimizedbytheapplication
of this specification.
1.3 Thisspecificationcoversrequirementsandcontainstestmethodsfortoysintendedforusebychildrenunder14yearsofage.
Different age limits for various requirements will be found in this specification. These limits reflect the nature of the hazards and
expected mental or physical ability, or both, of a child to cope with the hazards.
1.4 Articles not covered by this specification are as follows:
Bicycles
Tricycles
Sling shots and sharp-pointed darts
Playground equipment
Non-powder guns
Kites
Hobby and craft items in which the finished item is not
primarily of play value
Model kits in which the finished item is not primarily of
1
This consumer safety specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.22
on Toy Safety.
Current edition approved March 15, 2007. Published May 2007. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as F963–03.
´1
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2008. Published February 2009. Originally approved in 1986. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F963–07 .
2
Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) sometimes provides its interpretations of this specification through its counsel as a service to its members and others. The TIA’s
interpretations are not reviewed or approved by ASTM and should be viewed as TIA’s alone.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F963–08
play value
Crayons, paints, chalks, and other similar art materials in
which the material itself or the finished item is not
primarily of play value, except that all art materials,
whether or not a component of a toy, must comply towith
LHAMA, in accordance with 4.30.1-4.30.34.
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.