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ASTM F963

       ASTM F963 American toy testing standard is a North American country, and it is also a compulsory certification standard for the United States, the only powerful country in the world today.


       In the past few years, the toy industry around the world has undergone development and tremendous changes. Countries and regions around the world, led by the European Union and the United States, have begun to revise toy-related laws and standards. Among them, the new EU toy EN71 directive 2009/ 48/EC has officially entered into force, and relevant laws and regulations are also undergoing changes. Starting on June 10, 2013, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will require toy manufacturers to obtain third-party certification to prove that their products comply with ASTM F963-11 toy safety certification (ASTMF963-11-Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety).


       ASTM F963 is formulated in accordance with the mandatory requirements of the United States Federal Regulations. Generally speaking, the content of the standard fully includes the relevant technical requirements of CPSC 16CFR. Manufacturers can ensure that products meet the requirements of ASTM F963, which basically meets the requirements of CPSC 16 CFR. Regarding technical requirements, in order to ensure that products meet the requirements of CPSC 16 CFR, toy manufacturers must pay attention to the requirements and changes of CPSC 16 CFR in a timely manner while ensuring that products meet the requirements of ASTM F 963, so as to ensure that products meet the requirements of U.S. law .


   The main technical requirements of ASTM F963 include mechanical physical safety, combustion performance, chemical toxicity, electrical safety and microbiological safety. ASTM F963 is the American toy testing standard. The current new version number is ASTM F963-08, which was officially enforced on February 10, 2009. This standard has general requirements for toy products exported to the U.S. market.


   The main content is divided into the following three parts:


  1, physical and mechanical properties


  2, combustion performance


  3, chemical properties


  The requirements of physical and mechanical properties mainly involve: impact test, drop test, tensile test of component removal, pressure test, deflection test and other items.


  The toy flammability test procedure is in accordance with the requirements of 16CFR 1500.44, and the toy is burned horizontally, and the self-burning speed along the main axis of the toy should be 2.5mm/s lower after the toy catches fire.


  Chemical properties: It involves the test of the migration of eight kinds of heavy metals and the total lead content. Unlike N71-3, ASTM F 963 adds the total lead test, but only the surface coating is required for the material.


   The new revised content of ASTM F963-08 is introduced as follows:


   Magnet: The modification part concerns the age of children who may be harmed by ingestion of relatively small magnet parts in toys. The volume of the magnetic parts of the magnet is required to be increased to the size of a small object drum, and the age requirement is extended to toys suitable for children 14 years and younger. In addition, this part also includes special testing and abuse requirements for magnets to avoid the magnets from falling off the components during play.


  Acoustics: The continuous sound requirement for push/pull toys to pass the noise test is replaced by impulse sound. The modification of this part also enables further harmonization between F963 and the European toy standard EN71-1.


  Bungee Yo-Yo: Added exemptions for sports balls with wrist or ankle straps longer than 70 cm that can rebound after being kicked or thrown. The test method of strap length is to place the strap on a level surface without any load.


Impaction hazard: Suitable for children 18-48 months old, with nails, screws and screws, weighing less than 1.1 pounds (lb), and the shaft or handle is attached to the ball or hemispherical end of the toy, in terms of design, Its end should not enter or pass through the entire cavity of the supplementary test device. This requirement should be tested under its own weight rather than under pressure.


   Flame retardancy: The concept of the main shaft has been redefined, and the definitions of accessories, rope and paper have been added at the same time. Modified the exemption for packaging materials, fabrics and sleeping bags, but there is no exemption for packaging materials that are integrated with toys during play. Partly due to the presence of attached fabric, if the burn rate of the toy exceeds 0.1 in/s, increase the second test condition. A new test procedure for flame retardancy of fabrics has been added.


   Folding device and hub: The product range involved in this part is modified to a toy that is expected or likely to support a child's weight in normal use. New folding device requirements include locking devices or other devices to prevent accidental or sudden movement or collapse of items. The locking device should function automatically after being placed in the use position recommended by the manufacturer. The new standard adds a loading test to check the firmness of the folding device and the locking device.


   The danger of chin jamming in the handle and steering wheel: This part is a new requirement in the F963-08 version. The purpose is to prevent the following toys that are suitable for children under 18 months from using the handle or steering wheel to jam the child’s chin. Such toys include activity tables for children to play while standing, large-volume toys, fixed floor toys, push toys pushed by children while standing and walking, and riding toys. Toy handles or hinges made of flexible materials (belts and ropes) are exempt.


This standard makes technical requirements and test methods for toys used by children under 14 years of age. This standard involves the dangers that may not be easily recognized by the public and that toys may encounter after normal use or reasonably foreseeable abuse. The standard only stipulates the safety performance of toy products, but does not involve the performance and quality of toy products. Except for the functional hazards of toys indicated by the labeling requirements and the age group for which the toys are suitable, the standard also does not require the inherent and recognized dangerous parts of toys that are displayed as functional functions, such as the tip is inherent to the function of the needle.