[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 16, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR1500.49]
[Page 454-459]
TITLE 16--COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
CHAPTER II--CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
PART 1500_HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND ARTICLES; ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
Sec. 1500.49 Technical requirements for determining a sharp metal or
glass edge in toys and other articles intended for use by children
under 8 years of age.
(a) Objective. The sharp edge test method prescribed by paragraph
(d) of this section will be used by the Commission in making a
preliminary determination that metal or glass edges on toys and other
articles intended for use by children under 8 years of age, and such
edges exposed in normal use or as a result of reasonably forseeable
damage or abuse of such toys and articles, present a potential risk of
injury by
[[Page 455]]
laceration or avulsion under section 2(s) of the Federal Hazardous
Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261(s)). The Commission will further evaluate
toys and other articles with edges that are identified as presenting a
potential risk of laceration or avulsion injury to determine the need
for individual product regulation.
(b) Scope--(1) General. The sharp edge test of paragraph (d) of this
section is applicable to toys or other articles containing metal or
glass edges that are introduced into interstate commerce after March 26,
1979. Such articles manufactured outside the United States are
introduced into interstate commerce when first brought within as U.S.
port of entry. Such articles manufactured in the United States are
introduced into interstate commerce (a) at the time of first interstate
sale, or (b) at the time of first intrastate sale if one or more
components and/or raw materials were received interstate, whichever
occurs earlier.
(2) Exemptions. (i) Toys and other children's articles that are the
subject of any of the following regulations are exempt from this Sec.
1500.49: The regulations for bicycles, non-full-size baby cribs, and
full-size baby cribs (parts 1508, 1509, and 1512 of this chapter).
(ii) Toys that by reason of their functional purpose necessarily
present the hazard of sharp metal or glass edges and that do not have
any nonfunctional sharp metal or glass edges are exempt from this
section: Provided, the toy is identified by a conspicuous, legible, and
visible label at the time of any sale, as having functional sharp metal
or glass edges. Examples of these are a pair of toy scissors and toy
tool kits.
(iii) Articles, besides toys, intended for use by children that by
reason of their functional purpose necessarily present the hazard of
sharp metal or glass edges and that do not have any non-functional sharp
metal or glass edges are exempt from this section. Examples of these are
children's ice skates and children's cutlery.
(3) Definitions--(i) Glass. For the purpose of this regulation the
Commission defines glass as a hard, brittle, amorphous substance
produced by fusion, usually consisting of mutually dissolved silica and
silicates that also contain soda and lime.
(ii) Metal. For the purpose of this regulation the Commission
intends the word metal to include both elemental metals and metal
alloys.
(c) Accessibility--(1) General. Any metal or glass edge that is
accessible either before or after the test of Sec. Sec. 1500.51,
1500.52, and 1500.53 (excluding the bite test--paragraph (c) of each
section) are performed shall be subject to the sharp edge test of
paragraph (d) of this section. Toys reasonably intended to be assembled
by an adult and not intended to be taken apart by a child shall be
tested only in the assembled state if the shelf package and the assembly
instructions prominently indicate that the article is to be assembled
only by an adult.
(2) Accessible edges. (i) An accessible metal or glass edge for a
toy or article intended for children 3 years of age or less is one that
can be contacted by any portion forward of the collar of the
accessibility probe designated as probe A in Figure 2 of this section.
(ii) An accessible edge for a toy or article intended for children
over 3 years and up to 8 years of age is one that can be contacted by
any portion forward of the collar of the accessibility probe designated
as Probe B in Figure 2 of this section.
(iii) An accessible edge for a toy or article intended for children
of ages spanning both age groups is one that can be contacted by any
portion forward of the collar of either Probe A or Probe B, as shown in
Figure 2 of this section.
(3) Insertion depth. (i) For any hole, recess, or opening having a
minor dimension (the minor dimension of an opening is the diameter of
the largest sphere that will pass through the opening), smaller than the
collar diameter of the appropriate probe, the total insertion depth for
accessibility shall be up to the collar on the appropriate probe. Each
probe joint may be rotated up to 90 degrees to simulate knuckle
movement.
(ii) For any hole, recess, or opening having a minor dimension
larger than the collar diameter of Probe A, but less than 7.36 inches
(186.9 millimeters),
[[Page 456]]
when Probe A is used, or a minor dimension larger than the collar
diameter of Probe B, but less than 9.00 inches (228.6 millimeters), when
Probe B is used, the total insertion depth for accessibility shall be
determined by inserting the appropriate probe with the extension, shown
in Figure 2, in any direction up to 2\1/4\ times the minor dimension of
the hole, recess, or opening, measured from any point in the plane of
the opening. Each probe joint may be rotated up to 90 degrees to
simulate knuckle movement.
(iii) For any hole, recess, or opening having a minor dimension of
7.36 inches (186.9 millimeters) or larger when Probe A is used, or a
minor dimension of 9.00 inches (228.6 millimeters) or larger when Probe
B is used, the total insertion depth for accessibility is unrestricted
unless other holes, recesses, or openings within the original hole,
recess, or opening are encountered with dimensions specified in
paragraph (c)(3) (i) or (ii) of this section. In such instances, the
appropriate paragraphs (c)(3) (i) or (ii) of this section shall be
followed. If both probes are to be used, a minor dimension that is 7.36
inches (186.9 millimeters or larger shall determine unrestricted access.
(4) Inaccessible edges. Metal or glass edges shall be considered
inaccessible without testing with a probe if they lie adjacent to a
surface of the test sample, and any gap between the edge and the
adjacent surface does not exceed 0.020 inch (0.50 millimeter) both
before and after the tests of Sec. Sec. 1500.51, 1500.52, and 1500.53
(excluding the bite test--paragraph (c) of each section) are performed.
For example, in a lap joint in which a metal edge is overlapped by a
parallel surface, any burr or feather-edge on the side closest to the
protecting parallel surface is considered inaccessible if the gap
between the edge and the parallel surface is no greater than 0.020 inch
(0.50 millimeter). As an additional example, when sheet metal has a
hemmed edge a portion of the sheet adjacent to the edge is folded back
upon itself, approximately 180 degrees, so that it is roughly parallel
to the main sheet. Any burrs or feathering on the inside edge, the side
closest to the protecting parallel surface of the main sheet, will be
considered inaccessible if the gap between the inside edge and the
parallel surface does not exceed 0.020 inch (0.50 millimeter).
(d) Sharp edge test method--(1) Principle of operation. The test
shall be performed with a sharp edge tester which contains a cylindrical
mandrel capable of rotation at a constant velocity. (Engineering
drawings for a suitable portable sharp edge test instrument are
available from the Commission's Office of the Secretary.) The full
circumference of the mandrel shall be wrapped with a single layer of
polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE) tape as specified in paragraph (e)(3) of
this section. The mandrel shall be applied to the edge to be tested with
a normal force of 1.35 pounds (6.00 Newtons) such that the edge contacts
the approximate center of the width of the tape as shown in Figure 1 of
this section. The mandrel shall be rotated through one complete
revolution while maintaining the force against the edge constant. Linear
motion of the mandrel along the line of the edge shall be prevented. The
edge shall be identified as sharp if it completely cuts through the tape
for a length of not less than \1/2\ inch (13 millimeters) at any force
up to 1.35 pounds (6.00 Newtons).
(2) Procedure. (i) The edge of the sample to be tested shall be held
in such a manner that it does not move during the test. If the full
mandrel force of 1.35 pounds (6.00 Newtons) causes the edge to bend, a
reduced mandrel force may be used.
(ii) Part of the test sample may need to be removed to allow the
sharp edge testing device to test an edge that is accessible by the
criteria of paragraph (c) of this section. Such dismantling of the test
sample could affect the rigidity of the edge in question. The sharp edge
test shall be performed with the edge supported so that its stiffness
approximates but is not greater than the edge stiffness in the assembled
sample.
(iii) Conduct of a sharp edge test is as follows: Wrap one layer of
polytetrafluoroethylene (TFE) tape, described in paragraph (e)(3) of
this section, around the full circumference of the mandrel in an
unstretched state. The ends of
[[Page 457]]
the tape shall be either butted or overlapped not more than 0.10 inch
(2.5 millimeters). Apply the mandrel, at the approximate center of the
tape, to the edge of the test sample with a force of 1.35 pounds (6.00
Newtons) measured in a direction at right angles to the mandrel axis.
The mandrel shall be placed so that its axis is at 90 degrees 5 degrees to the line of a straight test edge or 90
degrees 5 degrees to a tangent at the point of
contact with a curved test edge. The point of contact between the test
edge and the mandrel shall be in the approximate center of the width of
the tape. The axis of the mandrel may be positioned anywhere in a plane
which is at right angles to either the line of a straight test edge or
to a tangent at the point of contact with a curved test edge. The
operator should seek the orientation most likely to cause the edge to
cut the tape. Maintain the force against the edge and rotate the mandrel
through one complete revolution while preventing any linear motion of
the mandrel along the edge. Release the mandrel from the edge and remove
the tape without enlarging any cut or causing any score to become a cut.
A cut in the tape with a length of not less than \1/2\ inch (13
millimeters) identifies an edge as sharp. (The test instruments used by
the Commission in its test for compliance with the regulation will be
calibrated to insure that the force with which the mandrel is applied to
a test edge does not exceed 1.35 pounds.)
(e) Specifications for sharp edge test equipment. The following
specifications shall apply to the equipment to be used in the sharp edge
test described in paragraph (d) of this section:
(1) The rotation of the mandrel shall produce a constant tangential
velocity of 1.000.08 inch per second (25.42.0 millimeters per second) during the center 75 percent
of its rotation and shall have a smooth start and stop.
(2) The mandrel shall be made of steel. The test surface of the
mandrel shall be free of scratches, nicks, or burrs and shall have a
surface roughness no greater than 16 microinches (0.40 micron). The test
surface shall have a hardness no less than 40 as measured on the
Rockwell ``C'' scale, as determined pursuant to ASTM E 18-74 entitled
``Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial
Hardness of Metallic Materials,'' published July 1974 and which is
incorporated by reference in this regulation. (Copies are available from
American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.) The diameter of the mandrel shall be
0.3750.005 inch (9.350.12
millimeters). The mandrel shall be of suitable length to carry out the
test.
(3) The tape shall be pressure-sensitive polytetrafluoroethylene
(TFE) high temperature electrical insulation tape as described in
Military Specification MIL-I-23594B (1971) which is incorporated by
reference in this regulation. (Copies are available from Naval
Publications and Forms Center, 5801 Tabor Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
19120.) The thickness of the polytetrafluoroethylene backing shall be
between 0.0026 inch (0.066 millimeter) and 0.0035 inch (0.089
millimeter).\1\ The adhesive shall be pressure-sensitive silicone
polymer with a nominal thickness of 0.003 inch (.08 millimeter). The
width of the tape shall not be less than \1/4\ inch (6 millimeters).
While conducting sharp edge tests the temperature of the tape shall be
maintained between 70 [deg]F (21.1 [deg]C) and 80 [deg]F (26.6 [deg]C).
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\1\ The tape that the Commission will use for the sharp edge test is
CHR type ``T'' manufactured by The Connecticut Hard Rubber Co., New and
East Streets, New Haven, Conn. 06509.
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(f) For the purpose of conformance with the technical requirements
prescribed by this Sec. 1500.49, the English figures shall be used. The
metric approximations are provided in parentheses for convenience and
information only.
[[Page 458]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC03OC91.057
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC03OC91.058
(Secs. 2(s), 10(a), 74 Stat. 378 (15 U.S.C. 1261, 1269))
[43 FR 12645, Mar. 24, 1978, as amended at 43 FR 21324, May 17, 1978]