CEN/TC 52/WG 3 - Safety of toys - Mechanical, physical and general properties

The purpose of this technical report is to assist users of EN 71-1 with the categorisation of projectile
toys under clause 4.17 of that standard. This report looks at various types of toys, commonly available
in the market and indicates under which part of 4.17 they should be assessed.
Various types of projectile launching products will not be considered toys (for example, a catapult used
for angling), further guidance on the categorisation of toy products can be found in EU commission
Explanatory guidance document.

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical
properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or
intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new
toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as
intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months, children under 18
months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. According to Directive 2009/48/EC
“intended for use by” means that a parent or supervisor shall reasonably be able to assume by virtue of
the functions, dimensions and characteristics of a toy that it is intended for use by children of the stated
age group. Therefore, for the purpose of this European Standard, e.g. soft-filled toys with simple features
intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
NOTE Information relating to the age grading of toys and, in particular, which toys are intended for children
under 36 months and which toys are not, can be found in !Deleted text" CEN/CENELEC Guide 11 and the
European Commission’s Guidance Documents.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but
does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not apply to the following toys:
— playground equipment intended for public use;
— automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use;
— toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines (see A.2);
— toy steam engines
— toy slings and toy catapults, supplied without projectiles;
— flying toys incorporating rotor blade(s) which are capable of spinning approximately horizontally,
each blade being greater than 175 mm in length, measured from the centre of rotation to the blade
tip, and with an overall mass of the flying toy greater than 50 g.
Toy slings and toy catapults supplied with projectiles are covered by this standard.

Revision of EN 71-1:2011 to take into account the new Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC

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

See EN 71-1:2014

Acoustics. Revision of EN 71-1 to take into account the new Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC with regard to acoustics

Amendment concerning legibility of warnings and correction of Gauss-meter specification. Revision of EN 71-1 to take into account the new Toys Safety Directive 2009/48/EC with regard to Legibility of warnings and Correction of Gauss-meter specification

Amendments relating to cords

Amendment 8 concerning hazardous magnets in toys

See EN 71-1:2014

Amendments relating to clause 7 "Warnings and instructions for use"

See EN 71-1:2014

Amendments relating to
- sound-pressure measurements
- toys containing a heat source
- tip-over tests
- points and wires

To add a requirement that cap firing toys shall carry an indication regarding which percussion caps designed for use in toys, they can be safely used with.

This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the standards for safety of toys and gives guidelines for deciding which toys are intended for children under 36 months of age and which toys are not intended for such children.
The document is a broad guideline and further study is required to determine whether a particular toy is appropriate for a given age.
In addition, this document gives clarification on items that are not considered as toys.
Explanation of stages of the development of children is given in Annex A together with background information and considerations concerning safety of toys.
NOTE: Only toys that on account of their function, dimensions, characteristics, properties or other cogent grounds are manifestly unsuitable for children under 36 months do not require a warning in the context of annex IV.1 of the Toy Safety Directive.

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months, children under 18 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. According to Directive 2009/48/EC intended for use by means that a parent or supervisor shall reasonably be able to assume by virtue of the functions, dimensions and characteristics of a toy that it is intended for use by children of the stated age group. Therefore, for the purpose of this European Standard, e.g. soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
NOTE   Information relating to the age grading of toys and, in particular, which toys are intended for children under
36 months and which toys are not, can be found in CEN Report CR 14379, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Age determination guidelines, CEN/CENELEC Guide 11 and the European Commission’s Guidance Documents.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not apply to the following toys:
-   playground equipment intended for public use;
-   automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use;
-   toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines (see A.2);
-   toy steam engines;
-   slings and catapults.
Items that are propelled into free flight by a child releasing an elastic band (e.g. aeroplanes and rockets) are considered as catapults (see 5th indent above).
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 62115.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
-   decorative objects for festivities and celebrations;
-   products for collectors, provided that the product or its packaging bears a visible and legible indication that it is intended for collectors of 14 years of age and above. Examples of this category are:
-   detailed and faithful scale models (see A.2);
-   kits for the assembly of detailed scale models;
-   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles;
-   historical replicas of toys;
-   reproductions of real fire arms;
-   sports equipment including roller skates, inline skates, and skateboards intended for children with a body mass of more than 20 kg;
-   bicycles with a maximum saddle height of more than 435 mm, measured as the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the seat surface, with the seat in a horizontal position and with the seat pillar set to the minimum insertion mark;
-   scooters and other means of transport designed for sport or which are intended to be used for travel on public roads or public pathways;
-   electrically driven vehicles which are intended to be used for travel on public roads, public pathways, or the pavement thereof;
-   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water, and swimming learning devices for children, such as swim seats and swimming aids;
-   puzzles with more than 500 pieces;
-   guns and pistols using compressed gas, with the exception of water guns and water pistols;
-   bows for archery over 120 cm long;
-   fireworks, including percussion caps which are not specifically designed for toys;

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months, children under 18 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. According to Directive 2009/48/EC intended for use by means that a parent or supervisor shall reasonably be able to assume by virtue of the functions, dimensions and characteristics of a toy that it is intended for use by children of the stated age group. Therefore, for the purpose of this European Standard, e.g. soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
NOTE   Information relating to the age grading of toys and, in particular, which toys are intended for children under
36 months and which toys are not, can be found in CEN Report CR 14379, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Age determination guidelines, CEN/CENELEC Guide 11 and the European Commission’s Guidance Documents.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not apply to the following toys:
-   playground equipment intended for public use;
-   automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use;
-   toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines (see A.2);
-   toy steam engines;
-   slings and catapults.
Items that are propelled into free flight by a child releasing an elastic band (e.g. aeroplanes and rockets) are considered as catapults (see 5th indent above).
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 62115.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
-   decorative objects for festivities and celebrations;
-   products for collectors, provided that the product or its packaging bears a visible and legible indication that it is intended for collectors of 14 years of age and above. Examples of this category are:
-   detailed and faithful scale models (see A.2);
-   kits for the assembly of detailed scale models;
-   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles;
-   historical replicas of toys;
-   reproductions of real fire arms;
-   sports equipment including roller skates, inline skates, and skateboards intended for children with a body mass of more than 20 kg;
-   bicycles with a maximum saddle height of more than 435 mm, measured as the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the seat surface, with the seat in a horizontal position and with the seat pillar set to the minimum insertion mark;
-   scooters and other means of transport designed for sport or which are intended to be used for travel on public roads or public pathways;
-   electrically driven vehicles which are intended to be used for travel on public roads, public pathways, or the pavement thereof;
-   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water, and swimming learning devices for children, such as swim seats and swimming aids;
-   puzzles with more than 500 pieces;
-   guns and pistols using compressed gas, with the exception of water guns and water pistols;
-   bows for archery over 120 cm long;
-   fireworks, including percussion caps which are not specifically designed for toys;

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months, children under 18 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. According to Directive 2009/48/EC "intended for use by" means that a parent or supervisor shall reasonably be able to assume by virtue of the functions, dimensions and characteristics of a toy that it is intended for use by children of the stated age group. Therefore, for the purpose of this European Standard, e.g. soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
NOTE   Information relating to the age grading of toys and, in particular, which toys are intended for children under
36 months and which toys are not, can be found in CEN Report CR 14379, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Age determination guidelines, CEN/CENELEC Guide 11 and the European Commission’s Guidance Documents.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not apply to the following toys:
-   playground equipment intended for public use;
-   automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use;
-   toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines (see A.2);
-   toy steam engines;
-   slings and catapults.
Items that are propelled into free flight by a child releasing an elastic band (e.g. aeroplanes and rockets) are considered as catapults (see 5th indent above).
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 62115.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
-   decorative objects for festivities and celebrations;
-   products for collectors, provided that the product or its packaging bears a visible and legible indication that it is intended for collectors of 14 years of age and above. Examples of this category are:
-   detailed and faithful scale models (see A.2);
-   kits for the assembly of detailed scale models;
-   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles;
-   historical replicas of toys;
-   reproductions of real fire arms;
-   sports equipment including roller skates, inline skates, and skateboards intended for children with a body mass of more than 20 kg;
-   bicycles with a maximum saddle height of more than 435 mm, measured as the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the seat surface, with the seat in a horizontal position and with the seat pillar set to the minimum insertion mark;
-   scooters and other means of transport designed for sport or which are intended to be used for travel on public roads or public pathways;
-   electrically driven vehicles which are intended to be used for travel on public roads, public pathways, or the pavement thereof;
-   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water, and swimming learning devices for children, such as swim seats and swimming aids;
-   puzzles with more than 500 pieces;
-   guns and pistols using compressed gas, with the exception of water guns and water pistols;
-   bows for archery over 120 cm long;
-   fireworks, including percussion caps which are not specifically designed for toys;
-   products and games using sharp-pointed missiles, such as sets of darts with metallic p

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. For the purpose of this European Standard, soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 62115, Electric toys - Safety.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
-   Christmas decorations (see A.2);
-   detailed scale models for adult collectors (see A.2);
-   equipment intended to be used collectively in playgrounds;
-   sports equipment;
-   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water;
-   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles for adult collectors;
-   "professional" toys installed in public places (shopping centres, stations etc.) (see A.2);
-   puzzles with more than 500 pieces or without picture, intended for specialists;
-   air guns and air pistols (see A.2);
-   fireworks, including percussion caps except percussion caps specifically designed for toys;
-   slings and catapults (see A.2);
-   sets of darts with metallic points;
-   electric ovens,

To introduce various necessary amendments for clarification of scope, requirements and test methods

To delete clause 4.6.4 "Impact from swing elements" and 6.4 "Determination of impact from swing elements" in EN 71-8:2003

This part of EN 71 specifies requirements and test methods for activity toys for domestic family use attached to or incorporating a crossbeam, and similar toys intended for children under 14 years of age to play on or in and to bear the mass of one or more children. It does not, for example, apply to equipment intended for use in schools, kindergartens, public playgrounds, or as an adjunct to commercial activities such as hotels, restaurants, pubs or shopping centres. Requirements for public playground equipment are given in EN 1176.

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. For the purpose of this European Standard, soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by /EN 62115, Electric toys - Safety0.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
-   Christmas decorations (see A.2);
-   detailed scale models for adult collectors (see A.2);
-   equipment intended to be used collectively in playgrounds;
-   sports equipment;
-   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water;
-   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles for adult collectors;
-   "professional" toys installed in public places (shopping centres, stations etc.) (see A.2);
-   puzzles with more than 500 pieces or without picture, intended for specialists;
-   air guns and air pistols (see A.2);
-   fireworks, including percussion caps except percussion caps specifically designed for toys;
-   slings and catapults (see A.2);
-   sets of darts with metallic points;
-   electric ovens

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

2007-03-13  Amendment 1 has not been consolidated individually considering the Amendment 4 was to be approved shortly after, both will be included in the edition consolidating Amendment 4.

Various changes to requirements for toy scooters

TC - Editorial updates, 4.21, 8.11.2.1 and 8.17
CMC - Editorial error, numbering of subclause in Clause 3

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or clearly intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. For the purpose of this European Standard, soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 50088, Safety of electric toys.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
   Christmas decorations (see A.2);
   detailed scale models for adult collectors (see A.2);
   equipment intended to be used collectively in playgrounds;
   sports equipment;
   aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water;
   folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles for adult collectors;
   "professional" toys installed in public places (shopping centres, stations etc.) (see A.2);
   puzzles with more than 500 pieces or without picture, intended for specialists;
   air guns and air pistols (see A.2);
   fireworks, including percussion caps except percussion caps specifically designed for toys;
   slings and catapults (see A.2);
   sets of darts with metallic points;
   (continued)

Improved test methods and requirements for dynamic strength of certain types of toys.

To develop additional requirements and test methods for toy scooters.

Amend the indent    " - flotation aids such as arm bands (see C.24);" to
" - flotation aids such as arm bands and swim seats (see C.24);"

Additional requirements concerning acoustics.

Safety of toy skates, toy inline skates and toy skateboards specifically designed for use by children with a mass up to 20 kg.

Amendments/corrections to clauses 3.7; 4.4; 4.15.2.4; 4.16; 5.4; 7.8; 7.18; 8.2; 8.4.2.2; 8.11.3; 8.15; 8.17; 8.26.2.2; C.5; C.10; C.30; C.32.

This part of EN 71 specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys. The standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or clearlyl intended for use in play by children of less than 14 years of age. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use and when the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.