ASTM F1912-19

Standard Specification for Safety of Bean Bag Chairs and Bean Bag Covers

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the minimum performance requirements and associated durability test for bean bag chairs (with and without zippers) for the intension of reducing possible choking and suffocation hazards associated with their use. The two types of bean bag chairs covered here are those designed to be refilled, and those designed with permanent closures and not intended to be refilled.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification is intended to reduce choking and suffocation hazard(s) associated with bean bag chairs and bean bag covers.  
1.2 This specification covers bean bag chairs and bean bag covers with and without zippers.  
1.3 This specification covers two types of bean bag chairs:  
1.3.1 Those designed to be refilled, and  
1.3.2 Those designed with permanent closures and not intended to be refilled.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2019
• ICS: 97.140 - Furniture
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.39 - Bean Bag Chairs

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
Designation:F1912 −19
Standard Specification for
1
Safety of Bean Bag Chairs and Bean Bag Covers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1912; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This safety specification addresses choking and suffocation hazards that may exist with children’s
use of bean bag chairs and bean bag covers.
From January 1973 to August 1995, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission received
reports of five deaths and 26 non-fatal incidents associated with bean bag chairs. Victims range in age
from 14 months to 14 years. Deaths and injuries related to:
(1) Suffocation—inside the bag,
(2) Suffocation—from pellets clogging nose/throat,
(3) Choking—pellets in mouth,
(4) Inhaling pellets, and
(5) Earache—pellets in ear.
1. Scope Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1 This specification is intended to reduce choking and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
suffocation hazard(s) associated with bean bag chairs and bean
bag covers.
2. Terminology
1.2 This specification covers bean bag chairs and bean bag
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
covers with and without zippers.
2.1.1 bean bag chair, n—an article of furniture composed of
1.3 This specification covers two types of bean bag chairs:
a fabric, vinyl, leather, or other cover, no internal support
1.3.1 Those designed to be refilled, and
mechanism, and a filling of polymeric or natural material
1.3.2 Those designed with permanent closures and not
beads.
intended to be refilled.
2.1.2 bean bag cover, n—a bag or cover capable of being
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
filled with polymeric or natural material beads, or a liner that
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
contains polymeric or natural material beads.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
2.1.3 direct path, n—an opening in a bean bag chair that
and are not considered standard.
1
allows a straight, 6 in. long, ⁄8-in. diameter, cylindrical rod to
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
penetrate from outside the bag to the beads or to a liner inside
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the bag that holds the beads if such a liner is used.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2.1.4 non-refillable bean bag chair, n—a bean bag chair not
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
intended to be refilled with polymeric or natural material
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
beads, or a liner that contains polymeric or natural material
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
beads.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 2.1.5 permanently disabled, adj—refers to a method(s) that
will render the zipper inoperative in such a way that a
consumer will need to destroy a zipper component in order to
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on
gain access into the bean bag through the zipper opening.
ConsumerProductsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeF15.39onBean
Bag Chairs.
2.1.6 refillable bean bag chair, n—a bean bag chair intended
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2019. Published October 2019. Originally
to be refilled with polymeric or natural material beads, or a
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as F1912 – 17. DOI:
10.1520/F1912-19. liner that contains polymeric or natural material beads.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F1912−19
3. Performance Requirements
3.1 Bean bag chairs and bean bag covers shall be supplied
with label(s) permanently attached and as specified in Section
4.
3.2 The durability test as specified in Section 5 shall not
result in the failure of the bean bag’s closures’ components or
projections, or failure of its seams that allow beads or filler
Lettering
Signal word: ALL CAPS
material to escape, or allow access to the beads or liner holding
Black lettering on orange background
the beads, if such a liner is used, by probe A defined in Fig. 1
Sans serif-type font, 18 point
driven by 5 lbf (22 N) or less.
Safety alert symbol:
Black triangle with an orange exclamation mark
3.3 Bean Bag Chairs, with Zippers but Not Intended To Be
Message text:
Refilled:
Black lettering on a white backg
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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.
Designation: F1912 − 17 F1912 − 19
Standard Specification for
1
Safety of Bean Bag Chairs and Bean Bag Covers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1912; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This safety specification addresses choking and suffocation hazards that may exist with children
children’s use of bean bag chairs and bean bag chairs.covers.
From January 1973 to August 1995, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission received
reports of five deaths and 26 non-fatal incidents associated with bean bag chairs. Victims range in age
from 14 months to 14 years. Deaths and injuries related to:
(1) Suffocation—inside the bag,
(2) Suffocation—from pellets clogging nose/throat,
(3) Choking—pellets in mouth,
(4) Inhaling pellets, and
(5) Earache—pellets in ear.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification is intended to reduce choking and suffocation hazard(s) associated with bean bag chairs.chairs and bean
bag covers.
1.2 This specification covers bean bag chairs and bean bag covers with and without zippers.
1.3 This specification covers two types of bean bag chairs:
1.3.1 Those designed to be refilled, and
1.3.2 Those designed with permanent closures and not intended to be refilled.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Terminology
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 bean bag chair, n—an article of furniture composed of a fabric, vinyl, leather, or other cover, no internal support
mechanism, and a filling of polymeric or natural material beads. Any seams which are not sewn shut are closed with a zipper.
2.1.2 bean bag cover, n—a bag or cover capable of being filled with polymeric or natural material beads, or a liner that contains
polymeric or natural material beads.
1
2.1.3 direct path, n—an opening in a bean bag chair that allows a straight, 6 in. long, ⁄8-in. diameter, cylindrical rod to penetrate
from outside the bag to the beads or to a liner inside the bag that holds the beads if such a liner is used.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.39 on Bean Bag Chairs.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2017Oct. 1, 2019. Published February 2017October 2019. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 20092017 as
F1912 – 98 (2009).F1912 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/F1912-17.10.1520/F1912-19.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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F1912 − 19
2.1.4 non-refillable bean bag chair, n—a bean bag chair not intended to be refilled with polymeric or natural material beads,
or a liner that contains polymeric or natural material beads.
2.1.5 permanently disabled, adj—refers to a method(s) that will render the zipper inoperative in such a way that a consumer will
need to destroy a zipper component in order to gain access into the bean bag through the zipper opening.
2.1.6 refillable bean bag chair, n—a bean bag chair intended to be refilled with polymeric material,or natural material beads,
or a liner that contains either of the mentioned filler materials.polymeric or natural material beads.
3. Performance Requirements
3.1 Bean bag chairs and bean bag covers shall be supplied with label(s) permanently attached and as specified in Section 4. The
label(s) shall warn the users of potential harm of an open bag and of the ingredients.
3.2 The durability test as specifi
...