Revised European toy safety standard published by BSI
10 December 2020
BSI, in its role as the UK National Standard Body, has just published BS EN 71-2:2020. Safety of toys. Flammability.
The newly-updated standard sets out the categories of flammable materials which are prohibited in all toys, and specifies requirements concerning flammability of certain toys when they are subjected to a small source of ignition.
The test methods detailed in the standard are used for the purposes of determining the flammability of toys under particular test conditions. It includes the following toys, which are considered to present the greatest hazard:
- toys to be worn on the head: beards, moustaches, wigs, etc. made from pile or flowing elements; masks; hoods, headdresses, etc.;
- toy disguise costumes and toys intended to be worn by a child in play;
- toys intended to be entered by a child and constructed from textiles and/or polymer sheets and films;
- soft-filled toys.
The updates are intended to improve the safety of toys by increasing the number and type of test specimens taken from toy disguise costumes as well as bring additional clarity and a consistent approach to testing of all types of toy articles.
The revision has been driven by the BSI technical committee of experts[1] and comments were reviewed and agreed by the European stakeholders before the changes were finalized and published.
The changes to this standard will be of interest to toy designers and manufacturers and those responsible stakeholders in toy production, sale and supply.
Further information about this standard is available here: https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail?pid=000000000030379151
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Notes to the editor:
1Safety of toys committee:
Association of Consulting Scientists; BCF - British Coatings Federation Ltd; Baby Products Association; Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; British Measurement and Testing Association; British Retail Consortium; British Toy and Hobby Association;
British Toymakers Guild; Chartered Trading Standards Institute; Consumer and Public Interest Network; LGC Group; Modern Testing Services Ltd; National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC); Society of Dyers and Colourists; Toy Retailers Association.