What is BS EN 71-2:2020 about?
This European standard is the second in a 13-part series on toy safety. It deals with toy flammability and is used to help manufacturers improve toy safety and comply with the requirements of the EU’s Toy Safety Directive. BS EN 71-2:2020 is a revision that was produced, in particular, to increase levels of child safety when wearing “fancy dress” or “disguise costumes”, which are classed as toys.
Who is BS EN 71-2:2020 for?
- Toy designers and manufacturers (in particular toy disguise costume manufacturers/suppliers)
- Toy retailers
- Other responsible stakeholders in toy production, sale and supply
- Certification bodies and test laboratories
- Enforcement officials
- Trading Standards
- Fire services
- Factory managers
- Product designers
- Product approvers
Why should you use BS EN 71-2:2020?
This standard details the categories of flammable materials that are prohibited in all toys, and specifies requirements concerning flammability of certain toys when they’re subjected to a small source of ignition. The test methods described are used to determine the flammability of toys under the particular test conditions specified.
BS EN 71-2:2020 also includes general requirements relating to all toys and specific requirements and methods of test relating to the following toys, which are considered as being those presenting the greatest hazard:
- Toys to be worn on the head: beards, moustaches, wigs, etc. made from pile or flowing elements; masks; hoods and headdresses, etc. However, paper and paperboard hats without embellishments or attachments are excluded
- Toy disguise costumes and toys intended to be worn by a child in play
- Toys intended to be entered by a child and constructed from textiles and/or polymer sheets and films
- Soft-filled toys
Use of the standard will:
- Increase the safety of toys
- Help manufacturers comply with the EU Toy Safety Directive
- Give suppliers and retailers clarity that the products they supply are in line with current regulations
- Give consumers confidence that products meet current regulations
- Increase awareness that particular products pose greater hazards and so greater care should be taken around ignition sources
NOTE: Additional requirements for flammability of electric toys are specified in BS EN 62115.
What’s new about BS EN 71-2:2020?
This standard updates and replaces BS EN 71-2:2011+A1:2014. BS EN 71-2:2020 increases testing of certain types of toy materials, and improves ease of use. Among the key changes, this revision:
- Increases the number and type of test specimens taken from toy disguise costumes
- Adds new definitions, including for cleansing, flowing elements, highly flammable solids, toy disguise costumes, toys intended to be entered by a child and washing
- Adds new requirements, e.g. for disguise costumes to be tested before and after washing, and for loose stuffing
- Increases the testing of smaller specimens by allowing combined or half-size specimens
- Adds clarifications on the measurement of unhindered dimensions, and of test categories applicable to toys worn on the head and to toy disguise costumes
- Adds new advice on assessing whether toys are to be entered
- Adds an annex on suggestions to manufacturers on how to reduce the rate of flame spread
- Adds an annex that clarifies how to obtain test specimens from disguise costumes