In May 2020, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) published latest ASTM F1917 - 20 for ‘Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories’.

This standard specifies safety performance requirements, test methods, and requirements for labeling to minimize the identified hazards to children presented by infant bedding and related accessories. The old ASTM F1917 - 12 shall be superseded accordingly.

The significant changes are as follows:

1. Add 3.1.3 crib bumper/liner, n—any product intended to be placed against any portion of the interior circumference of a crib, and that reduces or eliminates an infant’s access to the crib slats or spindles, the spaces between these components, or both.
2. Add 3.1.7 mesh, n—either a woven fabric in which the warp and filling yarns are interlaced, a knitted fabric in which the wales and courses yarns are interlocked, or any other type of fabric that may be developed that provides openings therein.
3. Add 3.1.8 non-paper label, n—any label material, such as plastic or metal, that either will not tear without the aid of tools or tears leaving a sharply-defined edge or labels made from fabric.
4. Add 3.1.9 paper label, n—any label material (except fabric) that tears without the aid of tools and leaves a fibrous edge.
5. Add labelling requirements 5.5 Labeling—Warning labels (whether paper or non-paper) shall be permanent when tested in accordance in 7.5.
   • 5.5.1.Warning statements applied directly onto the surface of the product by hot stamping, heat transfer, printing, wood burning, and so forth shall be permanent when tested in accordance with 7.6.
   • 5.5.2.Non-paper labels shall not liberate small parts when tested in accordance with 7.6.
   • 5.5.3.Warning labels that are attached to the fabric of crib bumper/liners with seams shall remain in contact with the fabric around the entire perimeter of the label, when the product is in all manufacturer-recommended use positions, when tested in accordance with 7.5.3.
6. Add new test 5.6 Product must comply with the applicable requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
7. Add new test 6.4 Crib Bumper Firmness-For crib bumpers with an installed thickness of 0.59 in. (15 mm) or greater, no part of the bumper shall contact the feeler arm of the firmness text fixture (see Fig. 2), when tested in accordance with 7.7.

More information:

Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories ASTM F1917 - 20

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