Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2009/09/03/E9-20948/safety-standard-for-infant-bath-seats
Timestamp: 2014-04-20 23:30:09
Document Index: 522370765

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', 'art 1215', 'ART 1215', '§ 1215', '§ 1215', 'art 51']

Federal Register | Safety Standard for Infant Bath Seats
Dates: Written comments must be received by November 17, 2009.
Comments Close: 11/17/2009
-45723 (5 pages)
Document Number: E9-20948
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/E9-20948 Related Topics
Safety Standard for Infant Bath Seats Public Comments
a. Definition of Bath Seat (Proposed § 1215.2(b)(1))
c. Leg opening requirement (Proposed § 1215.2(b)(8) through (10))
d. Editorial and clarifying changes (proposed § 1215.2(b)(3) and (5))
C. ASTM Voluntary Standard Back to Top
In response to changes in the ASTM standard, product design changed significantly. The new designs use an arm that clamps onto the side of the bath tub rather than relying on suction cups for stability. The current voluntary standard for bath seats, ASTM F 1967-08a, was published in December 2008. The current version contains the same labeling, stability and leg opening requirements as the 2007 version.
E. Assessment of Voluntary Standard ASTM F 1967-08a and Description of Proposed Changes and the Proposed Rule Back to Top
During the testing of the JPMA certified bath seat, the arm rest of the clamping mechanism lifted up from the top surface of the side of the tub. The clamp did not disengage from the tub, but the arm rest contact points were no longer in contact with the tub surface. The bath seat remained in a tilted position from the installed and presumed “manufacturer's intended use position.” A strict interpretation of the pass-fail criteria suggests that this bath seat, as tested by CPSC staff, also does not meet the standard, but the clamp, while not in the initial position, remained clamped to the side of the bath tub. Thus, one could assert that, because the product did not tip over and did not disengage from the platform, the product complied with the standard. This result indicates that the pass/fail criteria are ambiguous and could result in passing a bath seat that could nevertheless pose a stability hazard to an infant.
To best understand the proposed standard, it is helpful to view the current ASTM F 1967-08a standard for bath seats at the same time as the Commission's proposed modifications. The ASTM standard is available for viewing for this purpose during the comment period through this link: http://www.astm.org/cpsc.htm.
Limiting the tilt of the bath seat (proposed § 1215.2(b)(2), (6) and (7)). As discussed above, during testing the Commission staff found that the clamping mechanism on one bath seat lifted from the side of the tub and continued to tip backward when force was applied, but it did not tip over. To prevent possible misinterpretation of the ASTM standard's pass/fail criteria, the Commission proposes a requirement that limits the allowable tilt angle of the bath seat during the stability test. This proposed modification would be added to sections 6.1, between sections 7.4.2.2 and 7.4.2.3, and between sections 7.4.2.3 and 7.4.2.4 of the ASTM standard. The Commission proposes that a bath seat capable of tilting 12 degrees or more during testing be considered a failure. This limit was determined after measuring, and allowing for the flexibility of, current products. Staff also considered other ASTM standards such as those for infant bouncer seats and toys. These use a 10 degree table or tilt when testing stability. The Commission is proposing a tilt angle just above that level.
Test solution application (proposed § 1215.2(b)(4)). The Commission recognizes that the outside of a tub may become wet, and this may affect the ability of a bath seat's attachment arm to remain stable. Thus, the Commission proposes that a test solution be applied to all areas where the product may make contact while in use.
Measuring water levels (proposed § 1215.2(b)(5)). When testing the stability of bath seats, Commission staff noted that it can be difficult to obtain accurate water level measurements because the unoccupied bath seat may float when the test platform is flooded. To address this, the Commission proposes to add a clarifying statement: “For the purpose of measuring the water level, the product's seating surface can be temporarily weighed down to prevent the seat from floating.”
An additional proposed change (at proposed § 1215.2(b)(8) and (9)) related to the torso probe concerns the ASTM standard's instruction in section 7.7.1 and 7.7.2 of the ASTM standard to insert the test probe “* * * in the most adverse orientation into each opening.” This language is open to interpretation as it may not always be intuitive what `the most' adverse position is. Therefore, the Commission proposes changing this wording to say that the probe needs to be inserted “in all orientations to determine if any position can create a slip through and/or entrapment hazard.”
F. Request for Comments Back to Top
List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1215 Back to Top
PART 1215—SAFETY STANDARD FOR BATH SEATS Back to Top
1215.1 Scope, application and effective date.
1215.2 Requirements for bath seats.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110-314, 104, 122 Stat. 3016 (August 14, 2008).
§ 1215.1 Scope.
§ 1215.2 Requirements for bath seats.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each bath seat shall comply with all applicable provisions of ASTM F 1967-08a, Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Infant Bath Seats, approved November 1, 2008. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy from ASTM International, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, P.O. Box 0700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428; http://www.astm.org. You may inspect a copy at the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone 301-504-7923, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
(1) Instead of section 3.1.1:“Bath seat, n—an article that is used in a bath tub, sink, or similar bathing enclosure and that provides support, at a minimum, to the front and back of a seated infant during bathing by a caregiver. This does not include products that are designed or intended to retain water for bathing.”
(3) Instead of section 7.4.1.2:“Prepare the test surface as follows:”
(4) Instead of section 7.4.1.4:“Using a spray bottle containing a 1:25 mixture of test solution (see table Z) to distilled water, immediately before each test run, thoroughly saturate all test platform surfaces above the water line where the product makes contact and where contact might be expected.”
(5) Instead of section 7.4.1.5:“Flood the test platform with clear water that is at an initial temperature of 100 to 105º F (37.8 to 10.6º C) and a depth of 2 in. (51 mm) above the highest point of the occupant seating surface. Install the product according to the manufacturer's instructions onto the test platform specified in 7.4.3. For the purpose of measuring the water level, the product's seating surface can be temporarily weighed down to prevent the seat from floating.”
(6) Between section 7.4.2.2 and section 7.4.2.3:“Rigidly install an inclinometer to the test bar above the location where force is to be applied. The weight of the inclinometer and the fastening method shall be less than or equal to 2.2 pounds. The inclinometer shall have a measurement tolerance of less than or equal to 0.5 degrees. Measure and record the pre-test angle of the test bar.”
(7) Between section 7.4.2.3 and section 7.4.2.4:“Measure and record the maximum angle of the test bar during the application of the 17.0 lbf load. Calculate the absolute value of the Change in Angle in degrees. Change in Angle = (Angle measured during test)—(Angle measured pre-test).”
(8) Instead of section 7.7.1:“With the bath seat in each of the manufacturer's recommended use position(s), insert the tapered end of the Bath Seat Torso Probe (see Fig. 4a) in all orientations into each opening. The probe should be inserted from the direction of the occupant seating surface. Gradually apply a force of 15 lbf (67 N) in the direction of the major axis of the probe within a period of 5s. Maintain this force for an additional 10s (see Fig. 5).”
(9) Instead of section 7.7.2:“With the bath seat in each of the manufacturer's recommended use position(s), insert the tapered end of the Bath Seat Shoulder Probe (see Fig. 6) in all orientations into each opening. The probe should be inserted from the direction of the occupant seating surface. Gradually apply a force of 15 lbf (67 N) in the direction of the major axis of the probe within a period of 5s. Maintain this force for an additional 10s (see Fig. 7). Release and apply a force of 10 lbf (44 N) to the top 1.0-in. (25-mm) perimeter of the probe in a direction vertically downward toward the seating surface over a period of 5s. Maintain this force for an additional 10s (see Fig. 8).”