EN 14682:2014

• Abstract:

  This European Standard specifies requirements for cords and drawstrings on children's clothing, including disguise costumes and ski apparel, up to the age of 14 years.; Within the scope of this European Standard, it is not possible to cover all potential hazards that may create an unsafe garment.; Conversely, identifiable specific hazards in certain styles/design of garment might not present a risk for certain age groups.; It is recommended that an individual risk assessment be carried out on any garment in order to ensure that it does not present a hazard to the wearer; This European Standard does not apply to the following (see Annex C for rationale):; a) child use and care articles, for example bibs, nappies and soother holders;; b) shoes, boots and similar footwear;; c) gloves, hats, bonnets and scarves;; d) neckties designed to be worn with a shirt or blouse;; e) belts, with the exception of tied belts which are within scope;; f) braces;; g) religious clothing;; h) celebratory clothing such as that worn at civil or religious ceremonies, national or regional festivals provided this is worn for limited periods and under supervision;; i) specialist sportswear and activity wear generally worn for limited periods and under supervision, for example rugby shorts, wet suits, and dancewear, except where those garments are commonly worn as day wear or night wear;; j) theatrical costumes used for theatrical performances;; k) aprons intended to be worn over day wear, for limited periods and under supervision, to protect clothing from soiling during activities such as painting, cooking, or during meal times;; l) bags and purses.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 16-Dec-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Jun-2015
• ICS: 61.020 - Clothes
• ICS: 97.190 - Equipment for children
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 248 - Textiles and textile products
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 248/WG 20 - Safety of children's clothing
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 17-Dec-2014
• Due Date: 18-Dec-2014
• Completion Date: 17-Dec-2014
• Directive: Harmonized Standard2001/95/EC - General product safety
  OJ Ref: C, C 335 OJ Date: 09-Oct-2015
• Mandate: M/309 - Mandate to CEN in the area of standardization related to the safety of consumers: drawstrings or cords on children's clothing
• Ref Project: SIST EN 14682:2015 - Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications

• Replaces: EN 14682:2007 - Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications
• Effective Date: 24-Dec-2014
• Referred By: EN 71-1:2026 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 25-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: CEN/TR 16792:2014 - Safety of children's clothing - Recommendations for the design and manufacture of children's clothing - Mechanical safety
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Revised: prEN 14682 - Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 14682:2014 - Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications (CEN) defines safety requirements for cords, drawstrings and related attachments on garments intended for children up to 14 years. The standard aims to minimize entrapment, strangulation and drag-injuries associated with cords on items such as everyday wear, disguise costumes and ski apparel. It also recommends an individual garment risk assessment because not all hazards are covered by a single standard.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & age groups: Applies to children from birth up to 14 years, split into young child (0–6 years 11 months, up to 134 cm) and older child/young person (7–13 years 11 months; boys >134–182 cm, girls >134–176 cm).
• Definitions: Clear definitions for drawstring, functional cord, decorative cord, elastic cord, tied belt/sash, shoulder strap, halter neck, toggle, loop, zip puller, etc.
• Zoned requirements: Specific requirements by garment zone (illustrated in the standard):
  • Zone A - head/neck/upper chest: strict control to prevent hood or neck entrapment.
  • Zone B - chest/waist: differentiated rules for close‑fitting vs. flowing garments to reduce drag-in risks.
  • Zone C - lower edge (below crotch) and Zone D - back area: tailored restrictions to address hazards from ski lifts, bus doors and bicycles.
  • Sleeves and other parts: Requirements cover strings present elsewhere on garments.
• Measurement & test methods: Annex D provides normative measurement methods (e.g., garment laid flat, relaxed state, cord lengths).
• Supporting guidance: Annexes include anthropometric data (B), rationale for exclusions and length limits (C), risk assessment guidance (E) and examples of cords/drawstrings (F).

Practical applications & who uses EN 14682:2014

• Garment designers & manufacturers: to design safer children’s clothing and select acceptable cord details and closures.
• Product safety engineers & compliance teams: to perform risk assessments, validate patterns and manufacturing specs against the standard.
• Testing laboratories & certification bodies: to measure cord lengths, zones and evaluate compliance.
• Retailers & importers: to specify sourcing requirements and reduce market recall risk.
• Regulators & consumer safety organizations: for policy, incident investigation and guidance (standard developed under EC Mandate M/309).

Related standards

• EN 14682 is maintained by CEN/TC 248 (Textiles and textile products). Manufacturers should consult other CEN standards and national legislation on children’s product safety and textile testing to ensure full regulatory compliance.

Keywords: EN 14682:2014, children's clothing safety, cords and drawstrings, CEN standard, risk assessment, drawstring hazards, decorative cords.

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Sicherheit von Kinderbekleidung - Kordeln und Zugbänder an Kinderbekleidung - AnforderungenSécurité des vêtements d’enfants - Cordons et cordons coulissants - SpécificationsSafety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications97.190Otroška opremaEquipment for children61.0202EODþLODClothesICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 14682:2014SIST EN 14682:2015en,fr,de01-marec-2015SIST EN 14682:2015SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 14682:20081DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 14682
December 2014 ICS 61.020; 97.190 Supersedes EN 14682:2007English Version
Safety of children's clothing - Cords and drawstrings on children's clothing - Specifications
Sécurité des vêtements d'enfants - Cordons et cordons coulissants - Spécifications
Sicherheit von Kinderbekleidung - Kordeln und Zugbänder an Kinderbekleidung - Anforderungen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 November 2014.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 14682:2014 ESIST EN 14682:2015

Background . 16 Annex B (informative)
Anthropometric data . 17 Annex C (informative)
Rationale . 19 C.1 Rationale for “out of scope” . 19 C.2 Requirements and acceptable lengths of drawstrings and cords . 20 C.3 Rationale for different requirements for decorative cords and functional cords . 20 Annex D (normative)
Measurements . 22 D.1 Cord length with one free end . 22 D.2 Cords with no free ends . 22 D.3 Garment open to its largest and laid flat . 23 D.4 Garment in its relaxed natural state. 24 D.5 Length of sash or tied belt . 24 Annex E (informative)
Risk assessment . 26 Annex F (informative)
Examples of cords and drawstrings . 27 Bibliography . 38
3.4 has been revised. Examination of garments shows that those clothes that are worn from waist down can be defined as those that fit closely to the body to be functional. Strings at the waist on these garments when closed to the body will be low hazard, and some requirements have been relaxed. Other garments can be more flowing, for example unbuttoned coats. In these garments, requirements have been strengthened. d) 3.7 sleeves: The original text assumed strings protruded from lower hems only, and that sleeves were long or short. This did not reflect fashion. Clauses have been revised to consider strings other than at hems, and all lengths of sleeve e) Annex B: new paragraph to clarify that anthropometric data listed is that used to define children’s sizes in EN 14682:2014, where the tallest children in Europe were considered. f) Annex C: enhanced to provide rationale for exclusions from scope, and rationale for requirements for lengths of drawstrings and cords. Explanation that manufacturers need to be more aware of how product is likely to be used, and not what it is called as a garment type. g) Annex D, new improved methods for measurement of — sash or tied belt, — garment open to its largest and laid flat, — garment in its relaxed natural state. h) Annex F, improved figures provided to illustrate requirements. i) To assist the reader, throughout this European Standard, the terms defined in Clause 2 'Terms and definitions' are in italics. This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association. According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. SIST EN 14682:2015

The slider might incorporate a locking device. Alternative slider types are available with a flip-over puller or double pullers, to facilitate operation from both front and back sides. 2.18 adjusting tab strip of textile or non-textile material not less than 2 cm in width intended to adjust the size of opening on a garment or for decoration , for example at the ankle or sleeve cuff SIST EN 14682:2015

Key A head, neck and upper chest area B chest and waist area C below hip area D back area Figure 1 — Body zones 2.26 short sleeve sleeve designed to end at or above the elbow 2.27 long sleeve sleeve designed to end below the elbow SIST EN 14682:2015

Where this mechanism is used, the loop will be of variable length. The general requirement for flat loop length 3.1.4 is not applicable, as the loop is flat to the body when worn. Decorative cords attached to a shoulder strap shall not have free ends longer than 7,5 cm and fixed loops shall be no more than 7,5 cm in circumference (for example, see Figure F.6). 3.2.6 Halter neck-style garments shall be constructed with no free ends in the neck and throat (for example, see Figure F.7). The use of a clip or fastening of two cords is acceptable, provided these do not result in free ends of cords when garment is worn. Where a mechanism, for example ring and slider, is used to adjust the length of the halter neck, the strap including the loop shall lie flat to the body when worn. NOTE Where this mechanism is used, the loop will be of variable length. The general requirement for flat loop length 3.1.4 is not applicable, as the loop is flat to the body when worn. 3.3 Head, neck and upper chest area on garments for older children and young persons (Figure 1, zone A) 3.3.1 Drawstrings shall not have free ends. Drawstrings with no free ends shall have no protruding loop when the garment is open to its largest and laid flat. When the garment opening is at its smallest, i.e. the size it is intended to fit, the maximum protruding loop circumference shall be 15 cm (for example, see Figure F.8). Where toggles are used for adjustment of drawstrings with no free ends, the toggle shall be fixed to the garment (see Figure F.1). 3.3.2 Functional cords shall be not more than 7,5 cm in length. Functional cords shall not be made from elastic cords. NOTE The hazard from elastic cords is that they may "snap" back to face or neck resulting in injury. Elasticated shoulder straps and halter necks fit close to the body and do not pose the same risk. 3.3.3 Decorative cords shall not be more than 7,5 cm in length including any attachment or three dimensional embellishment. Decorative cords shall not be made from elastic cords. NOTE The hazard from elastic cords is that they may "snap" back to face or neck resulting in injury, especially if they have a toggle. 3.3.4
Adjusting tabs are permissible provided that the length is no more than 7,5 cm, and shall have no button, toggle, buckle on the free end which may present an entrapment hazard. 3.3.5 Shoulder straps are permissible provided any free ends are no longer than 14 cm from the point at which they are to be tied and fixed loops are no more than 7,5 cm in circumference (for example, see Figure F.6). SIST EN 14682:2015
...