Safety testing of children's toys

Safety Testing of Children’s Toys

Toys must be safe. It is possible that unsafe products may cause injury or even death.

Regulations

The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 control the safety of this type of product. These Regulations provide a legal framework to ensure that a producer or distributor supplies a safe product.

Relevant Standards

The British Standard relevant to this type of product is BS EN 71, Safety of Toys.
This standard has a number of parts, each of which covers a particular type of toy or a particular safety aspect.

Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
Part 2: Flammability
Part 3: Migration of certain elements (antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium)

Available Tests

Listed below is a selection of tests that can be carried out by Leicestershire Scientific Services.

Part 1: Small parts, tension test, drop test, tip over test, impact test, compression test, accessibility, sharp edges, sharp points, flexibility of wires, temperature rise, hemispherical shaped toys, suction cups, soaking test, expanding materials, geometric forms, small balls test, play figures, points and wires, filling materials.
Part 2: Flammability
Part 3: Migration of certain elements

Please contact us for further information or advice on:

Tel: 0116 305 5640 Fax: 0116 305 5660 scientificservices@leics.gov.uk