U.S. CPSC Approves Final Rule for 16 CFR 1261 for Clothing Storage Units

On Nov 25, 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published in the Federal Register the final rule for clothing storage units (CSUs) to address the risks of death and injury, particularly for children, associated with CSUs tipping over. The final rule went into effect on May 24, 2023, and applies to CSUs manufactured after that date. The final rule also has anti-stockpiling provisions to prevent manufacturers from circumventing the requirements. Additionally, 16 CFR Part 1261 will adopt  ASTM F2057-23 requirements, effective September 1, 2023

The final rule will create a new consumer product safety standard for CSUs in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by adding a new part, 16 CFR 1261. This new section will contain minimum stability and labelling (including hangtags) requirements for CSUs. The final rule will also require manufacturers of children’s CSUs to test to the 16 CFR 1261 standards at a CPSC-approved third-party laboratory.

16 CFR 1261 definition of CSUs

A clothing storage unit is defined in the rule as a consumer product that is a freestanding furniture item, with drawer(s) and/or door(s), that may be reasonably expected to be used for storing clothing, that is designed to be configured to greater than or equal to 27 inches in height, has a mass greater than or equal to 57 pounds with all extendable elements filled with at least 8.5 pounds/cubic foot times their functional volume (cubic feet), has a total functional volume of the closed storage greater than 1.3 cubic feet, and has a total functional volume of the closed storage greater than the sum of the total functional volume of the open storage and the total volume of the open space.

Common CSUs include but are not limited to:

- chests                     

- bureaus                                               

- dressers                                             

- armoires                                 

- door chests

- wardrobes

- chests of drawers

- drawer chests

- chifforobes

Stability requirements:

1. Procedures to determine the tip-over point and the threshold point of a CSU when tested on a hard, level and flat test surface. The rule requires that the tip-over point exceeds the threshold point.

2. Simulation of the use of carpet (which was found to have a significant impact on CSU stability) and the use of a 0.43-inch-thick test block that tilts the CSU forward at an average angle of 1.5 degrees.

3. Use of two test methods: Test Method 1 and Test Method 2.

- Test Method 1 should be used for CSUs with extendable elements that extend at least 6 inches from the fulcrum. To

reduce variability, Test Method 1 must be conducted using weights.

- Test Method 2 should only be used when Test Method 1 does not apply.

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