16 CFR 1500.52 Test Methods to Simulate Use and Abuse of Toys and Other Articles Designed for Use by Children Over 18 Months of Age but Under 36 Months of Age

The standard “16 CFR 1500.52 Test methods to simulate use and abuse of toys and other articles intended for use by children over 18 months but under 36 months of age” published under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) describes the following test methods used to simulate normal and reasonably foreseeable use, damage, or abuse of toys and other articles intended for use by children over 18 months but under 36 months of age in conjunction with the standard 16 CFR 1500.18:

Medium impact test: Toys weighing less than 1,8 kg plus/minus 4,5 g, except those specified in this standard, are subject to this test. The impact medium shall consist of type IV vinyl-composition tile, composition 1-asbestos-free, 0,3 cm nominal thickness and concrete with a maximum thickness of 6,4 cm. The impact area shall be at least 0,3 square meters. Meanwhile, it is assumed that the specified impact medium is equivalent to a surface covered with vinyl-asbestos tile and will give the same impact test results.

When performing the test, the toy shall be dropped four times from a height of 91 cm plus/minus 1,3 cm onto the impact environment described in this standard, except as specified in this standard. The toy shall be dropped in a random orientation. After each drop, the test specimen shall be allowed to come to rest and shall be inspected and evaluated before continuing.

In the case of large and bulky toys, a toy having a projected base area of 2.560 square centimetres or more shall be tested against impact in accordance with this standard. The base area of toys with permanently attached legs shall be measured by calculating the area enclosed by straight lines joining the outermost edges of each leg. A toy having a volume exceeding 0,085 cubic metres, calculated on the basis of the main dimensions excluding minor extensions, shall be tested against impact in accordance with this standard. Toys described in this standard shall be tested against impact by tipping the specimens three times, while slowly pushing them over their centre of balance into the impact medium described in this standard.

Bite test: When performing this test, a toy or its component or any accessible part that has an external dimension of 3,18 cm plus/minus 0,13 cm or less and has a design configuration that will permit a child to insert a portion into the mouth in any orientation up to a bite thickness of 3,18 cm plus/minus 0,13 cm shall be subjected to this test with penetration of at least 0,64 cm.

The contact mechanism of the testing device consists of two metal strips or plates, each 0,64 cm plus/minus 0,05 cm high and each having a contact edge radius of 150 cm plus/minus 0,05 cm for a section arc of at least 0,005 degrees. A recommended contact mechanism is shown in the figure given in 16 CFR 1500.51. The loading device shall be a balance or force gauge with a sensitivity of plus/minus 225 grams.

Bend test: This test is applied to each component of a toy containing metal wires or other metal materials for the purpose of stiffening or maintaining its form if it can be bent through a 5,1-degree arc with a maximum force of 0,1 kg plus/minus 5,1 kg applied perpendicular to the major axis of the component at a distance of 0,1 cm plus/minus 6,8 cm from the point where the component intersects the main body of the toy, or at the end of the component if the component is 0,2 cm plus/minus 60 cm short.
Torque test: A toy with a protrusion, part or assembly that a child can grasp with at least their thumb and forefinger or teeth should be subjected to this test. These are toys with rotating components. If the protrusions, parts or assembly are rigidly mounted on an accessible rod or shaft designed to rotate with them, they should be tested by clamping the rod or shaft to prevent rotation.
Tension test: Any protrusion of a toy that the child can grasp with at least the thumb and forefinger or the teeth is subjected to this test. This test is conducted on the same toy that has been subjected to the torque test described in this standard. The seams of a stuffed toy or bean bag made of flexible materials (such as fabric) and having seams are subjected to a force of 6,80 kg plus/minus 0,23 kg applied in any direction.
Compression test: Any area on the surface of a toy that is accessible to a child and is not accessible to flat surface contact during the impact test is subjected to this test. The loading device shall be a rigid metal disk measuring 2,86 cm plus/minus 0,04 cm in diameter and 0,95 cm thick. The circumference of the disk shall be rounded to a radius of 0,08 cm to eliminate irregular edges. The disk shall be mounted on a suitable compression scale accurate to plus/minus 225 grams.

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