AS/NZS ISO 8124 Toy Safety

The “AS/NZS ISO 8124 Safety of toys” standard, a joint Australian/New Zealand standard published by the Australian Standards Council, consists of a number of sub-sections under the same title:

• In the standard "AS/NZS ISO 8124-1 Part 1: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties", safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties, which are generally applicable to toys for children up to 14 years of age, are defined, taking into account normal use and reasonably foreseeable abuse. Other standards in this series provide specifications for additional mechanical and physical properties that apply to specific categories of toys and other features of toys. Specifications for electrical properties of toys are included in the standard AS/NZS 62115.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-2 Part 2: Flammability” describes the categories of flammable materials that are prohibited in all toys and the requirements for the flammability of specific toys when exposed to a small ignition source. The test methods described in this section are used to determine the flammability of toys under specific test conditions. The test results obtained in this way cannot be considered to provide a general indication of the potential fire hazard of toys or materials when exposed to other ignition sources. This standard contains general requirements applicable to all toys and specific requirements and test methods applicable to the following types of toys considered to present the greatest hazard:
  • Toys to be worn on the head
  • Beards, moustaches, wigs and the like made of hair, feathers or similar material
  • Molded and fabric masks
  • Headings and similar
  • Flowing elements of toys to be worn on the head (excluding paper hats of the type usually given in party crackers)
  • Toy disguises are costumes and toys designed for a child to wear in play.
  • Toys designed for a child to get into
  • Soft-filled toys (animals and dolls and the like) that are stacked or have a textile surface
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-3 Part 3: Migration of specific elements” specifies the maximum acceptable levels for migration of the elements antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium from toy materials and toy parts, and methods for sampling, extraction and determination. Packaging materials, for example boxes and containers, are not included unless they are intended for storage or form part of the toy or have an intended play value. The maximum acceptable levels for migration of the elements listed above from the following types of toy materials are specified:
  • Coatings of paint, varnish, lacquer, printing ink, polymer and similar coatings
  • Polymeric and similar materials, including laminates, whether or not textile-reinforced (excluding other textiles and nonwovens)
  • Paper and cardboard
  • Natural, artificial or synthetic textiles
  • Glass, ceramic and metallic materials excluding lead solder when used for electrical connections
  • Other materials, whether or not coloured in mass (e.g. wood, chipboard, hardboard, bone and leather)
  • Materials intended to leave a mark (e.g. graphite materials in pencils and liquid ink in pens)
  • Flexible modelling materials including modelling clay and gels
  • Paints to be used in toys as such, including finger paints, varnishes, lacquers, glaze powders and similar materials in solid or liquid form
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-4 Part 4: Activity toys for home use” specifies the requirements and test methods for activity toys for family use in the home, designed for or in which children under 14 years of age play. Products covered by this part include swings, slides, seesaws, merry-go-rounds, rocking toys, climbing frames, fully enclosed toddler swing seats and other products designed to support the mass of one or more children. Products not covered by this standard include:
  • Fitness and sports equipment, unless it is connected to an activity toy
  • Equipment designed for use in schools, nurseries, kindergartens, public playgrounds, restaurants, shopping malls and similar public places
  • Child care products, including but not limited to baby swings, playpens and enclosures, picnic tables, cradle rockers, and products specifically designed for therapeutic use. Inflatable activity toys are included in the scope of this section of the standard. However, a motorized blower used to continuously inflate the toy is considered a household appliance and is within the scope of the requirements of IEC 60335-2-80.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-5 Part 5: Determination of the total concentration of certain elements in toys” describes sampling and digestion methods prior to the analysis of the total concentration of the elements antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium from toy materials and toy parts. Digestion methods for the elements mentioned are specified for the following types of toy materials:
  • Coatings of paints, varnishes, lacquers, printing inks, polymers and similar coatings
  • Polymeric and similar materials, including laminates, whether or not textile reinforced (excluding other textiles)
  • Paper, paperboard and cardboard
  • Natural or synthetic textiles
  • Metallic materials, whether coated or not
  • Other materials, whether or not coloured in mass (e.g. wood, chipboard, hardwood, bone and leather)
  • Materials intended to leave a mark (e.g. graphite materials in pencils and liquid ink in pens)
  • Flexible modelling materials, including modelling clay and gels
  • Paints for use in toys, including finger paints, varnishes, lacquers and similar materials in solid or liquid form
  • Packaging materials that form part of the toy or have intended play value
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-6 Part 6: Some phthalate esters” describes a method for the determination of di-iso-butyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl-butyl phthalate (BBP), bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP), di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DINP) and di-iso-decyl phthalate (DIDP) in toys. The method can also be applied to other phthalate esters if sufficient validation is shown. This part is applicable to toys made of plastics, textiles, coatings and liquids. It has also been validated for polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) plastics and some representative paint coatings. The standard is also applicable to other product categories.
• The standard "AS/NZS ISO 8124-7 Part 7: Requirements and test methods for finger paints" describes the requirements aimed at reducing the risks to children when finger paints are used in an appropriate or foreseeable manner, taking into account children's behaviour. This standard contains requirements for substances and materials used in finger paints and applies only to finger paints. It does not apply to paints intended for application to the face or body, such as face paints. This section contains additional requirements for markings, labelling and containers.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-8 Part 8: Age determination - First age class for appropriate play with toys” provides an indication of the minimum age at which children can begin to play with toys in specific toy subcategories. It is primarily intended for manufacturers and organisations assessing the compliance of toys with safety standards. This section can be used as a reference for use by distributors, children’s play organisations and institutions, as well as paediatric institutions, teachers, other professionals who use toys in their routine activities and consumers to determine the suitability of toys for the earliest age. The age at which children develop different abilities is unique to each child. This standard indicates the age ranges at which a typical child develops certain abilities. Although age grading has safety implications, this standard is not designed to address specific safety requirements. Specific safety requirements for toys, for example, the restriction of small parts and small balls in toys for certain age groups because of the risk of choking, are included in the ISO 8124 series and other toy safety standards.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-9 Part 9: Safety aspects related to mechanical and physical properties - Comparison of ISO 8124-1, EN 71-1 and ASTM F963-17” addresses potential hazards that may not be readily apparent to the public and that may be encountered during 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 section does not cover product performance or quality, except as it relates to safety.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-10 Part 10: Organic chemical compounds - Sample preparation and extraction” describes the procedures for sample preparation and extraction to determine the release or content of organic compounds from toys for which the EN 71 standard on the safety of toys and the requirements of this part are present.
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-11 Part 11: Chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets” describes the requirements and test methods for substances and materials used in chemical toys (sets) other than experimental sets. These substances and mixtures are:
  • Classified as hazardous by the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals
  • Substances and mixtures that, if used in excessive quantities, may harm the health of children who use them and are not classified as hazardous by the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals
  • Other chemicals and mixtures included with the chemical toy
• The standard “AS/NZS ISO 8124-12 Part 12: Microbiological safety” describes acceptable criteria for maintaining the microbiological cleanliness and adequacy of specified toy materials. The requirements in this section apply to all toys that contain, contain or are supplied with aqueous materials (e.g. paste, putty, liquid or gel). In addition, this document applies to toys that are or contain cosmetics (including those intended for use in a toy and on a child). Powders and similar substances intended to be mixed with water are also within the scope of this document.

Among the numerous tests, measurements, analyses and evaluations carried out for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services defined in the "AS/NZS ISO 8124 Toy Safety" standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.