ASTM_F_1912_-_98_2009.pdf

Designation:F191298(Reapproved 2009)Standard Specification forSafety of Bean Bag Chairs1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1912;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThis safety specification addresses choking and suffocation hazards that may exist with children andbean bag chairs.From January 1973 to August 1995,the U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission receivedreports of five deaths and 26 non-fatal incidents associated with bean bag chairs.Victims range in agefrom 14 months to 14 years.Deaths and injuries related to:(1)Suffocationinside the bag,(2)Suffocationfrom pellets clogging nose/throat,(3)Chokingpellets in mouth,(4)Inhaling pellets,and(5)Earachepellets in ear.1.Scope1.1 This specification is intended to reduce choking andsuffocation hazard(s)associated with bean bag chairs.1.2 This specification covers bean bag chairs with andwithout zippers.1.3 This specification covers two types of bean bag chairs:1.3.1 Those designed to be refilled,and1.3.2 Those designed with permanent closures and notintended to be refilled.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Terminology2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:2.1.1 bean bag chair,nan article of furniture composed ofa fabric,vinyl,leather,or other cover,no internal supportmechanism,and a filling of polymeric or natural materialbeads.Any seams which are not sewn shut are closed with azipper.2.1.2 direct path,nan opening in a bean bag chair thatallows a straight,6 in.long,18-in.diameter,cylindrical rod topenetrate from outside the bag to the beads or to a liner insidethe bag that holds the beads if such a liner is used.3.Performance Requirements3.1 Bean bag chairs shall be supplied with label(s)perma-nently attached and as specified in Section 4.The label(s)shallwarn the users of potential harm of an open bag and of theingredients.3.2 The durability test as specified in Section 5 shall notresult in the failure of the bean bags closures components orprojections,or failure of its seams that allow beads or fillermaterial to escape,or allow access to the beads or liner holdingthe beads,if such a liner is used,by probe A defined in Fig.1driven by 5 lbf(22 N)or less.3.3 Bean Bag Chairs,with Zippers but Not Intended To BeRefilled:3.3.1 Prior to shipment,zippers shall be closed and perma-nently disabled with a mechanical device.3.3.2 The zipper shall be closed and disabled such that aforce to open the zipper of 15 lbf(67 N)or more shall berequired to produce a direct path.3.4 Bean Bag Chairs,with Zippers and Intended To BeRefilled:3.4.1 The zipper shall always lock when closed.The use ofa special tool as described in the product literature or supplied1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 onConsumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.39 on BeanBag Chairs.Current edition approved April 1,2009.Published May 2009.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as F1912 98(2004).DOI:10.1520/F1912-98R09.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 at the time of purchase shall be required to open or reopen thezipper.Aforce to open the zipper of 15 lbf(67 N)or more shallbe required to produce a direct path unless a special tool isused.3.4.2 Prior to shipment the zipper shall be closed and thespecial tool required to open or reopen the zipper shall beremoved from the zipper.4.Label(s)4.1 Bags having zippers but not intended for refilling shallhave a permanent warning label as shown in Fig.2.4.2 Bags having zippers that are intended for refilling shallhave a permanent warning label as shown in Fig.3,andinformation either on the warning label or on a separatepermanent label describing detailed instructions for openingand reclosing the zipper.5.Durability Test5.1 ScopeThis test evaluates the ability of the finishedbean bag chair to contain the polymeric beads.5.2 Significance and UseThis test method is designed todifferentiate between acceptable and unacceptable bean bagchair design and construction.This test is not designed tosimulate actual bean bag chair use.5.3 Procedure:5.3.1 The test shall be conducted in room temperatures of 65to 80F(18 to 27C).FIG.1 Accessibility ProbesLetteringSignal word:AL