2024-25446. Mandatory Toy Safety Standards: Requirements for Neck Floats

Table 1 to Paragraph ( c )(2)( i )—Expected Weight Capacity

Age of child	Weight in kg	Weight in lb
0-3 months	7.7	17.0
4-6 months	9.5	21.0
7-9 months	10.6	23.4
10-12 months	11.5	25.4
1 up to 2 years	17.6	38.8
2 up to 3 years	23.2	51.2
3 up to 4 years	23.7	52.3

(iii) The sentence “If the PFD contains inflatable . . . whichever is less” shall be removed from the first paragraph of section 5.5.9.3 of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-9:2022. In its place, the following sentence shall be added to the beginning of that section: “Any inflatable component(s), if applicable, of the neck float shall be inflated to an internal air pressure of 0.1 ± 0.01 PSIG.”

(iv) Add “If the neck float contains inherently buoyant components” to the beginning of the third paragraph (“The assembly shall remain . . . recorded as B”) of section 5.5.9.3 of ANSICAN/UL 12402-9.

(v) Remove the last two paragraphs “The water temperature . . . immersion period” from section 5.5.9.3 of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-9.

(vi) Remove the last paragraph “The water temperature . . . and pressure conditions” from section 5.5.9.4 of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-9.

(3) Restraint system requirements. All restraint systems used to attach the neck float to the body or to connect components of the neck float together shall require the release of the fastening mechanism to have either a double-action release system that requires two distinct, but simultaneous actions to release, or a single-action release system that requires a minimum of 50 N to release. The restraint system shall also comply with the requirements of section 6.4.4 when tested in accordance with section 7.5.1 of ASTM F833-21, with the following additions and exclusions:

(i) The sentence “At the . . . 2 in. (51 mm).” of section 6.4.4 of ASTM F833-21 shall be removed.

(4) Neck opening test requirement. The neck opening of the neck float shall not admit the passage of a specified head probe when tested in accordance with the following test procedure:

(i) Test method. The neck float shall be placed on an elevated platform and positioned directly above and centered about a circular opening in that platform large enough to allow the head probes to fall fully through it. The surfaces of the neck float shall be saturated with baby wash solution, prepared in accordance with section 7.4.1.5 of ASTM F1967-19.

(ii) If the neck float includes adjustable restraint straps, then all applicable head probes shall be evaluated at the loosest (largest) setting.

(iii) Any inflatable components of the neck float shall be inflated to an internal air pressure of 0.1 ± 0.01 PSIG.

(iv) A specified head probe shall then be weighted to mass M1 and positioned in the neck opening. A hanging weight of mass M2 shall then be suspended below the head probe at distance L, where L includes the length between the narrowest and widest circumference of the specified head probe. The choice of specified head probe, mass M1, mass M2, and distance L shall be determined using Table 2 to paragraph (c)(4) based on the manufacturer's recommended youngest and oldest user age. If the manufacturer's recommended user age falls between two age range options, the younger or older range shall be considered, as is appropriate.

Table 2 to Paragraph ( c )(4)( ii )—Neck Opening Test

Head probe designation	Age range (months)	Head probe mass M1 (kg)	Hanging weight M2 (lbs)	Distance L (in)
A	0-3	1.5	3.4	12.45
B	4-6	2	4.2	13.8
C	7-9	2.2	4.68	14.65
	10-12	2.4	5.08	15.6
	13-18	2.6	7.76	16.55
D	19-24	2.8	7.76	17.55
	25-30	3	10.24	18.75
	31-36	3	10.24	19.4
	37-42	3.2	10.46	20.45
	43-48	3.2	10.46	21.3