What is the ASTM F963-23 Test Report?

For toy manufacturers in the United States, ASTM F963, the Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, is a set of safety regulations and guidelines developed by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials). This standard is mandatory across the country and serves as a comprehensive framework for identifying various toy-related hazards.

On October 13, 2023, ASTM International released the revised version ASTM F963-23, which includes updates related to acoustic requirements (toy sound levels), battery accessibility, expanding materials, and projectile toys. Additionally, the revision clarifies requirements for phthalates, exemptions for toy substrate materials, and tracking labels to align with corresponding federal regulations and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) policies.

Key Revisions in Toy Safety Requirements

1. Heavy Metals

 - The exemption scope for toy substrates has been revised to align with CPSC regulations.

2. Acoustic Requirements

 - New use and abuse tests have been introduced for sound-producing toys intended for children aged 8-14 years.

 - These tests also apply to children aged 36-96 months.

 - If a toy exhibits multiple characteristics, it must be tested under all applicable requirements. If a toy’s classification is unclear, it must be evaluated based on the most appropriate standard.

3. Battery Accessibility

 - A new requirement ensures that battery compartments secured with fasteners remain attached to the toy or the battery cover before and after abuse testing.

4. Expanding Materials

 - The expanding material requirements now apply to certain cases, including:

 - Small toy components that are enclosed in a non-small part casing, which can dissolve in liquid, be opened by a child, or break to expose the expanding material.

 - Expanding components that initially do not qualify as small parts but could shrink and later re-expand to form small parts.

5. Projectile Toys

 - New detailed kinetic energy test methods have been introduced for bows and arrows.

6. Phthalates

 - The standard now aligns with CPSC regulations, restricting the presence of eight specific phthalates in accessible plastic toy materials to a maximum of 0.1% (1000 ppm).

7. Tracking Labels

 - New requirements ensure compliance with CPSC tracking label regulations.

Explanation of Major Changes

Heavy Metals in Substrate Materials

- New Note 4 clarifies rules for determining accessibility:

- Paint, coatings, or plating are not considered non-accessible barriers.

- Fabric coverings on toys smaller than 5 cm, or fabrics that do not effectively prevent internal access during reasonable use and abuse testing, are not considered non-accessible barriers.

- Specific exemptions for paper and textile materials have been outlined separately.

- The requirements for modeling clay have been reformatted for better clarity.

Phthalates

To comply with 16 CFR 1307, the following eight phthalates must not exceed 0.1% (1000 ppm) in accessible plastic toy materials:

- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)

- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

- Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)

- Diisononyl phthalate (DINP)

- Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

- Di-n-pentyl phthalate (DPENP)

- Di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHEXP)

- Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)

Acoustic Requirements

- Revised definitions for push/pull toys and desktop, floor, or crib toys to improve classification clarity.

- New abuse testing is required for sound-producing toys intended for children over 8 years old.

- All toys intended for children under 14 years old must comply with acoustic standards before and after use and abuse testing.

- For toys intended for children aged 8-14 years, use and abuse testing for 36-96-month-old children applies.

- Push-pull toys' sound level limits (LAFmax) have increased from 85 dB to 94 dB.

Battery Accessibility in Battery-Operated Toys

- Toys for children over 8 years old must undergo abuse testing, following standards applicable to toys for children aged 3-8 years.

- Fasteners (e.g., screws) on battery covers must remain intact after abuse testing.

- Special tools provided for opening battery compartments must be documented in the user manual, with:

- A reminder for consumers to keep the tool for future use.

- A warning to store the tool out of children’s reach.

- A statement clarifying that this tool is not a toy.

Expanding Materials

- Scope expansion now includes expanding materials that are initially not classified as small parts upon receipt.

- Testing gauges have been updated with new tolerances and significant figures for improved precision.

Tracking Label Requirements

Under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), new requirements state that toys and packaging must include tracking labels with the following details:

- Manufacturer or private labeler name

- Production location and date

- Manufacturing process details (e.g., batch/run numbers or other identifying features)

- Any additional information that helps identify the product’s source

Implementation Timeline

The revised ASTM F963-23 standard was officially enforced starting in mid-April 2024.