Children's Bathrobes, Dressing Gowns, Housecoats And Robes

2006
ISBN: 0-662-49011-8
Cat. No.: H128-1/06-466
HC Pub.: 4139

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Information for Manufacturers, Importers and Retailers

Children's bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes up to and including size 14X that are advertised, labelled or sold in Canada must comply with the flammability requirements set out in the Hazardous Products (Children's Sleepwear) Regulations.

Fabric Criteria

Fibre content, fabric construction, fabric weight and fabric finishes all affect the flammability or rate of burn of textiles. Fibres such as cotton, acrylic, acetate and blends of these fibres should not be used in the construction of children's bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes as testing has demonstrated that they will not comply with the flammability requirements of the Hazardous Products (Children's Sleepwear) Regulations. The presence of cotton threads or trim may also result in non-compliance. Garments made from 100% nylon, 100% polyester or polyester/nylon blends are more likely to comply; however, some brushed polyester fleece fabrics have been found to fail the requirements.

Only testing can ensure that a garment complies with the Hazardous Products (Children's Sleepwear) Regulations.

To be in compliance with the Hazardous Products (Children's Sleepwear) Regulations, every product tested must exhibit:

1. an average char length for five specimens that does not exceed
   178 mm; and
   
   
2. not more than one individual specimen with a char length equal to the full length of the specimen (254 mm).
   

Refer to the "Test Method for Flammability of Children's Sleepwear" (4) for this testing procedure.

Design Criteria

Garments that resemble bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes, are considered as such.

Exceptions:

• Robes promoted as beachwear or beach cover-ups that meet the following criteria:
  
  
  • front closes the length of the garment with velcro, buttons, zipper, etc.;
    
    
  • no exterior belt; and
    
    
  • do not exceed the maximum lengths given in the following table.

• Bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes designed for hospital use only are subject to Item 5 of Part I of Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act. Refer to the "Test Method for Flammability of Textiles" (5) for this testing procedure.

Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Program recommends that any belts, ties or sashes on these products be stitched firmly to the centre back. Young children are at risk of strangulation from any type of cord that can be detached from clothing.

Dimensional Criteria

The maximum chest circumference for children's bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes up to and including size 14 X is 980 mm.

Infant bathrobes, dressing gowns, housecoats and robes with a chest circumference of 508 mm or less are considered garments designed for infants up to 7 kg and are subject to Item 5 of Part I of Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act. Refer to the "Test Method for Flammability of Textiles" (5) for this testing procedure.

Measurement Of Bathrobes, Dressing Gowns, Housecoats And Robes

All measurements must be made when the fabric of the garment is smooth and fully extended but without tension, and any zippers, buttons or ties are closed, buttoned or tied.

Chest Circumference

• The chest circumference for tie-style garments shall be measured when the tied fronts overlap 90 mm for sizes 0 - 4, 100 mm for sizes
  5 - 6 X, and 120 mm for sizes 7 - 14 X (C to D).
  
  
• The chest circumference is twice the distance across the closed garment 20 mm below the lowest point of the armhole seam (twice A to B).

Length of Garment

The distance from the centre back at the point where the collar is attached to the body to the bottom edge of the garment (M to N).

Reference Documents

1. Children's Sleepwear: Flammability Requirement Guidelines
   www.healthcanada.gc.ca/sleepwear
   
   
2. Hazardous Products Act
   http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-3/index.html
   
   
3. Hazardous Products (Children's Sleepwear) Regulations
   http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-3/SOR-87-443/index.html
   
   
4. Test Method for Flammability of Children's Sleepwear (Vertical Char Test)
   http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/prod-test-essai/method/inflammab/
   f-17_e.html
   
   
5. Test Method for Flammability of Textiles (45 Degree Angle Test)
    http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/ prod-test-essai/method/inflammab/f-01_e.pdf
   
   
6. Flammability of Textile Products in Canada
   www.healthcanada.gc.ca/sleepwear
   
   
7. Consumer Product Safety Homepage
   www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps

For further information contact the Health Canada Consumer Product Safety Office nearest you: