Standardization News

A growing need among manufacturers, consumer groups and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to address safety requirements for cribs and crib mattresses has led to the development of a new ASTM International standard.

F2933, Consumer Safety Specification for Crib Mattresses, was developed by Subcommittee F15.66 on Crib Mattresses, part of ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products. Topics covered in the standard include the gap between a mattress and crib rails, the height of a crib from the top of a mattress and mattress thickness.

According to Mo Anooshah, director of compliance and quality assurance at Kolcraft Enterprises, and chairman of F15.66, primary users of F2933 will be manufacturers of cribs and crib mattresses. In addition, the standard will be used by laboratories to test products, retailers to set purchasing requirements, consumers to understand the proper choice and safe use of a mattress and by regulatory bodies to identify unsafe products and educate consumers.

"F2933 will make it easier for the general public to choose a safe mattress for their infants and toddlers," says Anooshah. "This standard will help consumers feel confident that the crib mattress they purchase will have undergone standardized safety requirements. F2933 will eliminate confusion."

The standard establishes design requirements, testing requirements and methods, and requirements for labeling for full-size and non-full-size crib mattresses. The standard includes test methods for permanence of labels and warnings and mattress dimensional measurements for full-size cribs.

Requirements for the marking and labeling of warning statements on a crib mattress are also included in F2933. The goal of the additional warning label is to help educate caregivers about creating a safe sleeping environment in a child's crib.

An appendix to the standard provides detailed rationales for many requirements in the standard.

All interested parties are invited to join in the ongoing development of F2933. Information on mattress thickness and firmness will be among the topics addressed in upcoming revisions of the standard.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Sales (phone: 877-909-ASTM; sales@astm.org).

CONTACT Technical Information: Mo Anooshah, Kolcraft Enterprises • Chicago, Ill. • Phone: 312-361-6334 | ASTM Staff: Leonard Morrissey • Phone: 610-832-9719 | Upcoming Meeting: F15 Juvenile Products Subcommittees • Sept. 23-26 • ASTM Headquarters, West Conshohocken, Pa.