U.S. – CPSC Adopts ASTM F2613-21 for Children’s Folding Chairs and Stools in Direct Final Rule

Vol. 1246 | 24 May 2021

As part of the rulemaking process required by Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved, by direct final rule, the revised ASTM F2613-21 to be incorporated in the federal regulation, 16 CFR 1232 Safety Standard for Children’s Folding Chairs and Stools.

A children’s chair, as defined in the standard, is seating furniture with a rigid frame that is intended to be used as a support for the body, limbs, or feet of a child when sitting or resting in an upright or reclining position and children’s stools are considered a subset of chairs, “children’s chair without back or armrests.” The standard further defines “folding chairs” and “folding stools” as “children’s chair or stool which can be folded for transport or storage.”

In 2020, the CPSC adopted ASTM F2613-19 as the mandatory safety standard. The version had one significant change addressing the locking and latching mechanisms section. In the most recent version, ASTM F2613-21, the key changes include:

• Scope clarification to ensure the inclusion of ottomans within the standard and re-directing infant and toddler rockers to the comply with the ASTM F3084-20, Consumer Safety Specification for Infant and Infant/Toddler Rockers.
• Removal of an older version of the locking test method, not used in the standard anymore.

The ASTM F2613-21 standard becomes the mandatory Safety Standard for Children’s Folding Chairs and Stools effective August 21, 2021, unless the CPSC receives any adverse comments by June 16, 2021. Children’s folding chairs and stools manufactured on and after the August 21, 2021 date shall meet requirements of this rule and additionally will also require certification per 16 CFR 1110 based on testing at a CPSC approved third party accreditation body (third party lab) for 16 CFR 1232 per the revised ASTM F2613-21 standard.

The Final Rule can be viewed at: 2021-10293.pdf (govinfo.gov)

For questions, please contact Laxmi Ravikumar (laxmi.ravikumar@intertek.com, +1-630-209-9265) or Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1-847-212-8273).