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ASTM F963-23
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety
1.1 This specification2 relates to possible hazards that may not be recognized readily by the public and that may be encountered in the normal use for which a toy is intended or after reasonably foreseeable abuse. It does not purport to cover every conceivable hazard of a particular toy. This specification does not cover product performance or quality, except as related to safety. Except for the labeling requirements pointing out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is intended, this specification has no requirements for those aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard as part of the function of the toy. Such an example is a sharp point necessary for the function of a needle. The needle is an inherent hazard that is well understood by the purchaser of a toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as part of the normal educational process.
1.2 On the other hand, while a riding toy has inherent hazards associated with its use (for example, falling off onto the sidewalk), the possible hazards associated with its construction (sharp edges, exposed mechanisms, etc.) will be minimized by the application of this specification.
1.3 This specification covers requirements and contains test methods for toys intended for use by children under 14 years of age. Different age limits for various requirements will be found in this specification. These limits reflect the nature of the hazards and expected mental or physical ability, or both, of a child to cope with the hazards.
1.4 Articles not covered by this specification are as follows:
Bicycles
Tricycles
Non-Powered Scooters
(see Consumer Safety Specification F2264)
Recreational Powered Scooters and Pocket Bikes
(see Consumer Safety Specification F2641)
Sling shots and sharp-pointed darts
Playground equipment
Non-powder guns
Kites
Hobby and craft items in which the finished item is not
primarily of play value
Model kits in which the finished item is not primarily of
play value
Crayons, paints, chalks, and other similar art materials in
which the material itself or the finished item is not
primarily of play value, except that all art materials,
whether or not a component of a toy, shall comply with
LHAMA, in accordance with 4.29.1 – 4.29.3.
Sporting goods, camping goods, athletic equipment,
musical instruments, juvenile products, and furniture;
however, toys that are their counterparts are covered.
(It is recognized that there is often a fine line between,
for example, a musical instrument or a sporting item
and its toy counterpart. The intention of the producer
or distributor, as well as normal use and reasonably
foreseeable abuse, determines whether the item is a
toy counterpart.)
Powered models of aircraft, rockets, boats, and land
vehicles; however, toys that are their counterparts are
covered.
Constant air inflatables
1.5 General guidelines for age labeling toys and toy packaging are contained in Annex A1.
1.6 Information regarding packaging and shipping is contained in Annex A2.
1.7 This consumer safety specification includes the following sections:
| Title | Section |
| Scope | 1 |
| Referenced Documents | 2 |
| Terminology | 3 |
| Safety Requirements | 4 |
| Material Quality | 4.1 |
| Flammability | 4.2 |
| Toxicology | 4.3 |
| Electrical/Thermal Energy | 4.4 |
| Sound-producing Toys | 4.5 |
| Small Objects | 4.6 |
| Accessible Edges | 4.7 |
| Projections | 4.8 |
| Accessible Points | 4.9 |
| Wires or Rods | 4.10 |
| Nails and Fasteners | 4.11 |
| Plastic Film | 4.12 |
| Folding Mechanisms and Hinges | 4.13 |
| Cords, Straps, and Elastics | 4.14 |
| Stability and Over-load Requirements | 4.15 |
| Confined Spaces | 4.16 |
| Wheels, Tires, and Axles | 4.17 |
| Holes, Clearance, and Accessibility of Mechanisms | 4.18 |
| Simulated Protective Devices | 4.19 |
| Pacifiers | 4.20 |
| Projectile Toys | 4.21 |
| Teethers and Teething Toys | 4.22 |
| Rattles | 4.23 |
| Squeeze Toys | 4.24 |
| Battery-operated Toys | 4.25 |
| Toys Intended to be Attached to a Crib |
|
| or Playpen | 4.26 |
| Stuffed and Beanbag-type Toys | 4.27 |
| Stroller and Carriage Toys | 4.28 |
| Art Materials | 4.29 |
| Toy Gun Marking | 4.30 |
| Balloons | 4.31 |
| Certain Toys with Nearly Spherical Ends | 4.32 |
| Marbles | 4.33 |
| Balls | 4.34 |
| Pompoms | 4.35 |
| Hemispheric-shaped Objects | 4.36 |
| Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toys | 4.37 |
| Magnets | 4.38 |
| Jaw Entrapment in Handles and Steering Wheels | 4.39 |
| Expanding Materials | 4.40 |
| Toy Chests | 4.41 |
| Labeling Requirements | 5 |
| Instructional Literature | 6 |
| Producer's Markings | 7 |
| Test Methods | 8 |
| General | 8.1 |
| Testing for Hazardous Substance Content | 8.2 |
| Test Methods for Determination of Heavy Element | 8.3 |
| Tests for Cleanliness and Preservative Effectiveness | 8.4 |
| Normal Use Testing | 8.5 |
| Abuse Testing | 8.6 |
| Impact Tests | 8.7 |
| Torque Tests for Removal of Components | 8.8 |
| Tension Test for Removal of Components | 8.9 |
| Compression Test | 8.10 |
| Tests for Tire Removal and Snap-in Wheel and |
|
| Axle Assembly Removal | 8.11 |
| Flexure Test | 8.12 |
| Test for Mouth-actuated Toys and Mouth-actuated Projectile | 8.13 |
| Projectiles | 8.14 |
| Test for Stability of Ride-on Toys or Toy Seats | 8.15 |
| Pompoms | 8.16 |
| Stalled Motor Test for Battery-operated Toys | 8.17 |
| Tests for Battery-Powered Ride-on Toys | 8.18 |
| Test for Toys that Contain Secondary Cells or Batteries | 8.19 |
| Tests for Toys which Produce Sound | 8.20 |
| Dynamic Strength Test for Wheeled Ride-on Toys | 8.21 |
| Plastic Film Thickness | 8.22 |
| Test for Loops and Cords | 8.23 |
| Yo Yo Elastic Tether Toy Test Methods | 8.24 |
| Magnet Test Methods | 8.25 |
| Test Methods for Locking Mechanisms or |
|
| Other Means | 8.26 |
| Tests for Toy Chest Lids and Closures | 8.27 |
| Test for Overload of Ride-on Toys and Toy Seats | 8.28 |
| Stuffing Materials Evaluation | 8.29 |
| Expanding Materials – Test Method | 8.30 |
| Identification | 9 |
| Age Grading Guidelines | Annex A1 |
| Packaging and Shipping | Annex A2 |
| Design Guidelines for Toys Attached to Cribs |
|
| or Playpens | Annex A3 |
| Design Guidelines for Bath Toy Projections | Annex A4 |
| Flammability Testing Procedure for Solids and Soft Toys | Annex A5 |
| Flammability Testing Procedure for Fabrics | Annex A6 |
| Compositing Procedure for Total Heavy Metal Analysis | Annex A7 |
| Design Guidelines for Battery Operated Toys | Annex A8 |
| Rationale for 2007 Revisions | Annex A9 |
| Rationale for 2008 Revisions | Annex A10 |
| Rationale for 2011 Revisions | Annex A11 |
| Rationale for 2016 Revisions | Annex A12 |
| Rationale for 2017 Revisions | Annex A13 |
| Rationale for 2023 Revisions | Annex A14 |
1.8 The values stated first are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.9 The following precautionary statement pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 8, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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