EN 71-1:2005/prA5

Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties

Amendments concerning definition, requirements, warning and rationale for small balls

Sicherheit von Spielzeug - Teil 1: Mechanische und physikalische Eigenschaften

Sécurité des jouets - Partie 1: Propriétés mécaniques et physiques

Varnost igrač - 1. del: Mehanske in fizikalne lastnosti - Dopolnilo A5

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• ICS: 97.200.50 - Toys
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 52 - Safety of toys
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 52/WG 3 - Safety of toys - Mechanical, physical and general properties
• Current Stage: 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 17-Mar-2008
• Due Date: 30-Mar-2008
• Completion Date: 17-Mar-2008
• Directive: 88/378/EEC - Safety of toys
• Ref Project: SIST EN 71-1:2006/kprA5:2008 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties - Amendment A5

Relations

• Merged Into: EN 71-1:2005+A6:2008 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008
• Amends: EN 71-1:2005 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Overview

EN 71-1:2005/prA5 is an important amendment to the European Standard EN 71-1:2005, issued by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). This standard specifically addresses the safety of toys focusing on mechanical and physical properties. The amendment primarily revises the definitions, safety requirements, and warning guidelines concerning small balls, a critical consideration due to choking and asphyxiation hazards associated with these toy components.

The updated standard clarifies and strengthens safety protocols for toys containing small balls, ensuring better protection for children, especially regarding risks posed by balls that are spherical, ovoid, ellipsoidal, or multisided but generally ball-shaped. The revisions reflect enhanced testing methods and more precise criteria on labeling warnings aimed at preventing accidents.

Key Points

• Definition of Ball:
  The amendment refines the definition to include spheres, ovoids, ellipsoids, and multisided objects formed as generally ball-shaped. This broadens the scope of objects covered under the small ball safety measures.

• Small Ball Identification:
  A small ball is identified through specific testing, particularly using the Template E test (detailed in section 8.32). Any ball passing entirely through Template E is classified as a small ball. This applies as well to balls suspended by strings or elastic cords if certain dimensional limits are met.

• Testing Requirements:
  Toys with small balls or those containing removable small balls must satisfy rigorous physical testing to ensure the ball does not detach under torque, tension, drop, impact, or compression. Large and bulky toys are subject to a "tip over" test instead of the drop test.

• Warning Labels:
  Toys that either are small balls or contain detachable small balls must carry clear warnings alerting caregivers to potential choking hazards as per Section 7.2. This promotes safer consumer awareness and preventive action.

• Exemptions:
  The requirements do not apply to soft-filled toys or pompoms, acknowledging their reduced risk profile.

• Safety Rationale:
  The amendment highlights that small balls pose a unique choking hazard distinct from other small parts. These objects can become trapped behind the ridge of the hard palate, which makes removal difficult due to muscular constriction of the throat. Ventilation holes are not effective to mitigate this hazard.

Applications

• Toy Manufacturing:
  Manufacturers must apply these tightened definitions and tests during product design and quality control phases to ensure compliance with EU safety regulations.

• Regulatory Compliance:
  The amendment is crucial for meeting European Commission and European Free Trade Association mandates ensuring toys marketed in the EU are safe from mechanical hazards related to small balls.

• Retail and Import:
  Importers and retailers benefit from understanding these enhanced safety criteria to avoid distribution of non-compliant toys, thereby reducing liability and recall risks.

• Safety Testing Labs:
  Laboratories conducting toy safety tests should integrate updated procedures including Template E testing and mechanical stress tests outlined here.

Related Standards

• EN 71-2: Safety of toys - Flammability
• EN 71-3: Safety of toys - Migration of certain elements
• EN 71-9 to EN 71-13: Safety of toys - Various chemical and material requirements
• EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC: Governs essential safety requirements for toys marketed in Europe
• ISO 8124 Series: International Toy Safety Standards with complementary mechanical test methods

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By adhering to EN 71-1:2005/prA5, toy producers and stakeholders ensure enhanced protection against mechanical and physical hazards from small ball components, supporting the creation of safer play environments for children worldwide. This standard is a fundamental reference for anyone involved in toy safety assessment, product design, and regulatory compliance across the European market.

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EUROPEAN STANDARD
DRAFT
EN 71-1:2005
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA5
September 2006
ICS
English Version
Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
Sécurité des jouets - Partie 1: Propriétés mécaniques et Sicherheit von Spielzeug - Teil 1: Mechanische und
physiques physikalische Eigenschaften
This draft amendment is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC 52.
This draft amendment A5, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 71-1:2005. If this draft becomes an amendment, CEN
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for inclusion of this amendment
into the relevant national standard without any alteration.
This draft amendment was established by CEN 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 Management Centre has the same status
as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.
: This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
Warning
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 71-1:2005/prA5:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Foreword
This document (EN 71-1:2005/prA5:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 52 “Safety of
toys”, the secretariat of which is held by DS.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CEN by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).

Amend definition 3.4 to read:
3.4
ball
spherical, ovoid, or ellipsoidal object, usually but not always, designed or intended to be thrown, hit, kicked,
rolled, dropped or bounced
The term ball also includes any multisided object formed by connecting planes into a generally spherical,
ovoid or ellipsoidal shape.
Amend 4.22 to read:
4.22 Small balls (see 5.10 and A.48)
This requirement does not apply to soft-filled toys or pompoms.
Any ball that entirely passes through template E when tested according to 8.32.1 (small balls and suction
cups) is considered to be a small ball.
Any ball attached to a string, elastic cord or similar or attached to a toy by a string, elastic cord or similar, such
that the ball is suspended freely, is considered to be a small ball if it passes through the base of template E
such that the distance A is larger than 30 mm when tested and measured in accordance with 8.32.2 (small
balls attached to a string or to a toy by a string).
Toys that are small balls or contain removable small balls or small balls that become detached when tested
according to 8.3 (torque test), 8.4.2.1 (tension test, general), 8.5 (drop test), 8.7 (impact test) and 8.8
(compression test) shall carry a warning (see 7.2). For large and bulky toys the drop test above is substituted
by 8.6 (tip over test).
Amend 5.10 to read:
5.10 Small balls (see also 4.22 and A.48)
This requirement does not apply to soft-filled toys.
Any ball that entirely passes through template E when tested according to 8.32.1 (small balls and suction
cups) is considered to be a small ball.
Any ball attached to a string, elastic cord or similar or attached to a toy by a string, e
...