US Proposes Mandatory Safety Standard, 16 CFR 1241, for Crib Mattresses

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) regarding a mandatory safety standard for crib mattresses. Issued under Section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the mandatory standard would incorporate, by reference, ASTM F2933-19, with some modifications.

Currently crib mattresses are not included in the statutory list of durable infant or toddler products. However, it is the intention of the CPSC to amend part 1130 and add crib mattresses that are within the scope of ASTM F2933-19. This is considering the following points:

1. They are intended for use, and may be reasonably expected to be used, by children under the age of 5 years
2. They are products like the products listed in section 104 of the CPSIA
3. They are used in conjunction with other durable infant or toddler products used for unattended infant sleep, such as cribs, bassinets, and play yards
4. CPSC cannot fully address the risk of injury associated with such infant sleep products without addressing the hazards associated with the use of crib mattresses in these infant sleep products

The NPR contains modifications that will address:

1. Suffocation hazards associated with overly soft crib mattresses – test for mattress firmness added
2. Entrapment hazards associated with full-size crib mattresses due to poor mattress fit from compression by sheets – repeat dimensional conformity test with measuring for corner gaps
3. Entrapment hazards associated with after-market, non-full-size crib mattresses, due to lack of dimensional requirements for rectangular-shaped products – extend the dimensional requirements in ASTM F2933-19 to all non-full-size crib mattresses
4. Laceration hazards associated with coils and springs breaking and poking through mattresses – add a cyclic impact test for mattresses that use coils and springs
5. Risk of SIDS and suffocation related to infant positioning, soft bedding, and gap entrapment – improve labeling and instructional literature requirements to better communicate risks to consumers

CPSC is accepting comments on this proposal until January 11, 2021. If adopted, it will come into effect six months after it is published in the Federal Register.

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