ISO 8124 Safety of Toys

The “ISO 8124 Safety of Toys” standard, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), consists of the following sub-sections published under the same title:

• The standard “ISO 8124-1 Part 1: Safety aspects relating to mechanical and physical properties” is a cornerstone of the ISO 8124 toy safety series, focusing on the mechanical and physical properties of toys. This standard specifies the requirements and test methods to prevent injuries from hazards such as choking, cuts, pinching, or structural failures during normal use or foreseeable misuse. Applicable to toys designed for children under 14 years of age, this standard generally defines a toy as any product designed or intended for play, excluding sporting goods or collectibles not intended for children.

This standard applies to all toys regardless of material, but excludes certain categories such as kites or experiment kits. It emphasizes reasonably predictable use, taking into account children's curiosity, strength, and tendency to put objects in their mouths, throw, or disassemble them.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Age classification: Stricter rules for younger children (e.g., under 36 months) due to higher risks.
• Durability testing: Toys must withstand drop, torque, tension, and impact tests without producing hazardous parts.
• Hazard identification: Includes small parts, sharp edges/points, protrusions, and swallowing risks.
• The “ISO 8124-2 Part 2: Flammability” standard specifies the categories of flammable substances prohibited in all toys and the requirements regarding the flammability of certain toys when exposed to a small ignition source. The described test methods are used to determine the flammability of toys under specified test conditions. The test results obtained in this way cannot be considered a general indication of the potential fire hazard when toys or materials are exposed to other ignition sources.

This standard covers flammable solids, liquids, and gases in toys, but does not cover food, cosmetics, and writing instruments that are not primarily intended for play. Flammability is defined according to combustion behavior under controlled ignition, taking into account foreseeable misuse such as exposure to small flames.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Material classification: Toys are classified according to their composition (e.g., textiles, plastics, paper) and properties (e.g., beards, wigs).
• Burn rate limits: Maximum surface spread 30 mm/s, no continuous combustion source elimination after ignition.
• Exemptions: Materials that are non-combustible, such as metals, or that burn slowly if proven safe.
• Test conditions: Standard ignition at 20 degrees Celsius and 50% humidity (20 mm flame for 3 seconds).
• The standard “ISO 8124-3 Part 3: Migration of specific elements” describes the acceptable maximum levels of migration of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium (III), lead, mercury and selenium from toy materials and toy parts, and methods for sampling, extraction and determination.

This standard focuses on the migration of the eight elements listed above. Migration refers to the amount of an element that can mix with simulated stomach acid or skin contact, mimicking child exposure.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Bioavailability: Limits are set for soluble (migrating) elements, not for total content, as only leaching amounts pose a risk.
• Age-specific: Due to mouth-putting behavior, toys are stricter for children under 36 months.
• Material coverage: Applies to coatings, substrates, and accessible parts; excludes dry and brittle materials such as chalk, unless ingestible.
• Test difficulty: Uses simulated digestion to mimic the worst-case swallowing scenarios.
• The ISO 8124-4 Part 4 standard, “Swings, slides and similar activity toys for family use in homes, indoors and outdoors,” describes the requirements and testing methods for activity toys intended for family use at home, designed for children under 14 to play on or in. Products covered by this standard include swings, slides, seesaws, carousels, rocking toys, climbing frames, fully enclosed children's swing seats, and other products designed to support the weight of one or more children.

Products not covered by this standard include:

• Fitness and sports equipment, as long as it is not attached 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/gates, picnic tables, cradle rocking chairs, and products specifically designed for therapeutic use.

Inflatable activity toys are covered by this standard. However, a motorized blower used to continuously inflate the toy is considered a household appliance and is therefore not covered by this standard.

In short, this standard covers activity toys intended for climbing, swinging, sliding, rocking, or crawling, used indoors or outdoors in homes or public spaces (e.g., nurseries). Products not intended for play, such as trampolines or amusement park rides, are excluded.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Structural integrity: Toys must be resistant to collapse under load or environmental stress.
• Entrapment prevention: There should be no gaps or openings that could cause the head, limbs, or fingers to become trapped.
• Stability and stability: Designs must prevent tipping during dynamic use.
• Age appropriateness: Requirements vary by age, and stricter rules apply to children under 36 months.
• The standard “ISO 8124-5 Part 5: Determination of total concentrations of specific elements in toys” describes sampling and digestion methods before analyzing the total concentrations of antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in toy materials and parts. Other elements can also be determined using this method, provided adequate analytical performance is demonstrated. Manufacturers are advised to apply ISO 8124-5 test methods and ISO 8124-3 limits to raw materials used in toy production to ensure more accurate compliance with the ISO 8124-3 requirements.

This standard includes methods for measuring the total concentration of eight elements (antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium) in accessible toy materials. Unlike the ISO 8124-3 standard, which tests for bioavailable (leakable) amounts, this standard provides a broader safety net for regulatory compliance by assessing total presence.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Total content-oriented: Measures the entirety of an element in a material, not just those that might migrate.
• Material scope: Applies to coatings, substrates, and accessible parts; excludes non-contact materials.
• Compliance with regulations: Supports jurisdictions where total content is regulated, such as the US (CPSIA limits lead to a total of 100 mg/kg).
• Sensitive testing: Uses advanced analytical techniques for accurate detection at low levels.
• The standard “ISO 8124-6 Part 6: Certain phthalate esters” describes a method for determining di-iso-butyl phthalate, din-butyl phthalate, benzyl-butyl phthalate, bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, di-iso-nonyl phthalate, and di-iso-decyl phthalate in toys. This method may be applied to other phthalate esters if sufficient validation is provided. This standard applies to toys made from plastics, textiles, coatings, and liquids. This standard has been validated for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) plastics and certain representative paint coatings. This standard may also be applied to other product categories.

The ISO 8124-6 standard specifies extraction and analytical methods for phthalates to assess material safety, emphasizing total concentration rather than migration. It supports regulations limiting phthalates to 0,1% (1.000 mg/kg) in accessible portions.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Target phthalates: Focuses on seven esters linked to health risks and excludes others unless confirmed.
• Material applicability: Verified for PVC, PU, ​​and paints; can be extended to others based on evidence.
• Regulatory support: Provides compliance tools, not barriers, and adheres to national thresholds.
• Sensitivity: Advanced chromatography provides low detection limits (e.g., 50 mg/kg).
• The standard “ISO 8124-7 Part 7: Requirements and test methods for finger paints” describes the requirements for substances and materials used in finger paints. This standard applies only to finger paints. It does not apply to paints intended for application to the face or body (e.g., face paints). Additional requirements for markings, labeling, and containers are specified. This standard includes guidelines regarding impurities in finger paints, excluding body or face paints, to protect young artists from harmful substances.

The ISO 8124-7 standard addresses the risks arising from impurities in finger paint components and emphasizes safe formulation rather than physical properties. It covers wet and dry paints, but not those intended for permanent marking or industrial use.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Impurity control: Restrictions on heavy metals, aromatic substances, and microorganisms in raw materials and final products.
• Child-focused: Takes into account ingestion (up to 100 mg), skin/eye exposure, and pH stability.
• Protective boundaries: These close off biocides to prevent sensitization.
• Labeling: Requires warnings such as "Keep out of reach of children" and batch codes.
• The ISO 8124-8 Part 8: Age determination - First age class for appropriate play with toys” standard indicates the minimum age at which children can begin playing with toys in specific subcategories. It is primarily intended for manufacturers and organizations that assess the conformity of toys to safety standards.

This standard can be used as a reference for determining the suitability of toys for the earliest age by distributors, institutions and organizations involved with children's play, as well as pediatric institutions, teachers, other professionals who use toys in their daily activities, and consumers.

The age at which children develop different abilities varies for each child. This standard indicates the age ranges at which a typical child develops specific abilities. While age classification has safety implications, this standard is not intended to address specific safety requirements. Specific safety requirements for toys (e.g., restricting the presence of small parts and small balls in toys for certain age groups due to choking hazards) are addressed in other sections of this standard.

The ISO 8124-8 standard applies to toys for children under 14, focusing on the minimum safe age for subcategories based on physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities. It excludes specific hazard tests but informs practices such as small parts rules for children under 36 months.

The basic principles are as follows:

• Developmental stages: It draws on pediatric research into motor skills, cognition, and risk-taking.
• Subcategory focus: Groups toys based on age thresholds (e.g., balls, puzzles).
• Recommendation: Not mandatory, but suggested for risk assessments and to support warnings such as "Not suitable for children under X age".
• Holistic view: Takes into account predictable abuses such as mouthing or throwing objects across cultures.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services to businesses in accordance with the "ISO 8124 Safety of Toys" standards.