Standardization News

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that seven deaths have resulted from infants strangling in monitor cords when the cord has been placed too close to a crib. In order to lessen the possibility of such an event, ASTM International has published a new standard, F2951, Consumer Safety Specification for Baby Monitors.

F2951 was developed by Subcommittee F15.68 on Baby Monitors, part of ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products.

According to Anthony Paolo, F15.68 chairman, audio, video and motion monitor manufacturers, as well as retailers and consumers will all benefit from F2951.

"All cords must now be labeled with a conspicuous strangulation hazard warning label to remind caregivers that children have strangled in cords and to mount the cord more than three feet away from the crib," says Paolo, vice president, corporate quality, Summer Infant Inc.

Paolo believes that the subcommittee considers F2951 "a baseline standard that can be built on for years to come." The F2951 task group is formulating further requirements to be added to the standard in future revisions. All interested parties are invited to join in the ongoing process.

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CONTACT Technical Information: Anthony Paolo, Summer Infant Inc. • Woonsocket, R.I. • Phone: 401-671-6589 | ASTM Staff: Leonard Morrissey • Phone: 610-832-9719 | Upcoming Meeting: F15 Juvenile Products Subcommittees • Oct. 22-26 • ASTM Headquarters, West Conshohocken, Pa.