The U.S. Shopper Product Security Fee (CPSC) has requested the ASTM Worldwide Furnishings Security Subcommittee to develop a efficiency customary to handle hazards related to reclining furnishings.

ASTM’s Furnishings Security Subcommittee (F15.42) met in Could and agreed to develop the usual. A digital subcommittee assembly shall be held Monday, July 10, from 2 to three p.m. Jap time to start dialogue of the brand new customary. The assembly shall be hosted by Subcommittee Chairman Richard Rosati, of Bureau Veritas. Firms inquisitive about becoming a member of the ASTM F15.42 Furnishings Security Subcommittee and/or attending the July 10 recliner assembly ought to contact Molly Lynyak, the ASTM F15.42 workers supervisor, at mlynyak@astm.org, for particulars.

In an April 27 letter to Rosati, the CPSC Workplace of Hazard Identification and Discount stated the company is conscious of 13 incidents, together with seven fatalities, involving youngsters between eight months and 5 years previous. These incidents occurred between 2011 and 2021.

“Previous to the CPSC’s April letter, we weren’t conscious of any harm or fatality incidents involving reclining furnishings throughout that point interval,” stated Invoice Perdue, vice chairman of regulatory affairs for the American House Furnishings Alliance (AHFA). Along with collaborating within the ASTM customary improvement course of, Perdue stated AHFA is convening a brand new movement furnishings activity group to evaluation the incidents and contemplate potential necessities for the usual.

The incidents display two hazard patterns, in line with CPSC. One is entrapment within the foot assist raise mechanism from beneath the recliner, which is compounded when the raise is motorized. The second is entrapment within the high of the leg-rest whereas the furnishings is in a reclined place, usually when a toddler slips between the leg-rest and the seat cushion.

ASTM doesn’t presently publish any customary associated to reclining furnishings. In 1988, the American Furnishings Producers Affiliation (now AHFA) printed trade recliner pointers specifying that openings between the upholstered seat and the leg relaxation ought to measure 5 inches or much less. This adopted a joint press launch from CPSC and AFMA in 1985 alerting mother and father about “potential unintended demise or harm to younger youngsters utilizing or enjoying on recliner chairs.”

At the moment, CPSC had investigated or obtained experiences of three deaths and two severe mind accidents to youngsters between the ages of 12 and 20 months. These incidents occurred previous to 1985 and concerned youngsters climbing or enjoying on the leg-rest a part of the chair whereas it was reclined.  

About The American House Furnishings Alliance

The American House Furnishings Alliance, based mostly in Excessive Level, N.C., represents greater than 200 main furnishings producers and distributors, plus about 150 suppliers to the furnishings trade worldwide.