EN 71-1:2011+A3:2014

Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties

Publication date:   May 19, 2014

Scope

This European Standard specifies requirements and methods of tests for mechanical and physical properties of toys.
This European Standard applies to toys for children, toys being any product or material designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children of less than 14 years. It refers to new toys taking into account the period of foreseeable and normal use, and that the toys are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the behaviour of children.
It includes specific requirements for toys intended for children under 36 months, children under 18 months and for children who are too young to sit up unaided. According to Directive 2009/48/EC intended for use by means that a parent or supervisor shall reasonably be able to assume by virtue of the functions, dimensions and characteristics of a toy that it is intended for use by children of the stated age group. Therefore, for the purpose of this European Standard, e.g. soft-filled toys with simple features intended for holding and cuddling are considered as toys intended for children under 36 months.
NOTE Information relating to the age grading of toys and, in particular, which toys are intended for children under
36 months and which toys are not, can be found in CEN Report CR 14379, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Age determination guidelines, CEN/CENELEC Guide 11 and the European Commission’s Guidance Documents.
This European Standard also specifies requirements for packaging, marking and labelling.
This European Standard does not cover musical instruments, sports equipment or similar items but does include their toy counterparts.
This European Standard does not apply to the following toys:
- playground equipment intended for public use;
- automatic playing machines, whether coin operated or not, intended for public use;
- toy vehicles equipped with combustion engines (see A.2);
- toy steam engines;
- slings and catapults.
Items that are propelled into free flight by a child releasing an elastic band (e.g. aeroplanes and rockets) are considered as catapults (see 5th indent above).
This European Standard does not cover electrical safety aspects of toys. These are covered by EN 62115.
Furthermore, it does not cover the following items which, for the purpose of this European Standard, are not considered as toys:
- decorative objects for festivities and celebrations;
- products for collectors, provided that the product or its packaging bears a visible and legible indication that it is intended for collectors of 14 years of age and above. Examples of this category are:
- detailed and faithful scale models (see A.2);
- kits for the assembly of detailed scale models;
- folk dolls and decorative dolls and other similar articles;
- historical replicas of toys;
- reproductions of real fire arms;
- sports equipment including roller skates, inline skates, and skateboards intended for children with a body mass of more than 20 kg;
- bicycles with a maximum saddle height of more than 435 mm, measured as the vertical distance from the ground to the top of the seat surface, with the seat in a horizontal position and with the seat pillar set to the minimum insertion mark;
- scooters and other means of transport designed for sport or which are intended to be used for travel on public roads or public pathways;
- electrically driven vehicles which are intended to be used for travel on public roads, public pathways, or the pavement thereof;
- aquatic equipment intended to be used in deep water, and swimming learning devices for children, such as swim seats and swimming aids;
- puzzles with more than 500 pieces;
- guns and pistols using compressed gas, with the exception of water guns and water pistols;
- bows for archery over 120 cm long;
- fireworks, including percussion caps which are not specifically designed for toys;

Related legislation

Legislation related to this standard