16 CFR Part 1513——Requirements for Children's Bunk Beds

Core objective:

Prior to the enactment of regulations,there had been instances where children,particularly those under the age of 3,had died from asphyxiation while using bunk beds,having become trapped between the upper bunk and the wall or having had their heads or bodies caught in decorative openings at the head and foot of the bed.Part 1513 aims to eliminate these fatal risks by establishing quantifiable size testing and structural requirements.

Scope of application:

This applies to all double beds manufactured or imported in the United States,except for those used exclusively by institutions(such as prisons,military camps,etc.).Special attention is required,as facilities used for children under the age of 6 are not considered“institutions”and thus must still comply with this regulation.

Age Definitions:

Child-sized bunk beds:If a bunk bed is designed for children aged 12 or younger,it must comply with the requirements of 16 CFR Part 1513.

Adult-sized bunk beds:If they are not intended for use by children,they must comply with 16 CFR Part 1213.However,the technical requirements of these two parts are essentially the same.

Definition:The regulations define a“bunk bed”as a bed whose mattress support frame(bed frame)has a bottom edge that is more than 30 inches(approximately 760 mm)above the ground.

Key testing tools:

Part 1513 outlines a set of specialized physical testing tools for assessing risks:

Wedge blocks:Used to simulate the dimensions of a child’s body,to test if the opening can pass through the body.

9-inch rigid sphere:Used to simulate the dimensions of an infant’s head.

Neck probe:Used to simulate the head and shoulders of a child,to test the risk of neck entrapment.

Additional requirements under the CPSIA:

Since children’s bunk beds are designed specifically for children aged 12 and under,they must also comply with additional requirements set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act(CPSIA):

Surface coating:The lead content in paint shall not exceed 90 ppm.

Total lead content:The total lead content in any accessible component substrate shall not exceed 100 ppm.

Phthalates:The content of eight specific phthalates in plastic components shall not exceed 0.1%.

Testing and certification:Testing must be conducted by a third-party laboratory accredited by the CPSC,and a Certificate of Compliance for Children’s Products(CPC)must be issued.

Tracking labels:There must be permanent tracking labels on the product and packaging.