Test Procedures to Determine the Mechanical Hazards - Sharp Edges-
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(146K)
Product Safety Reference Manual
Book 5 - Laboratory Policies and Procedures |
Effective
2001-11-30
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| Part B: Test Methods Section, Method
M-00.2 |
Amendment
#29
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1 Scope
1.1 This method describes
a procedure for performing the Sharp Edge Test on products or the
components of products described in item 13 of Part II of Schedule
I to the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) to determine if they meet
the applicable requirements set out in the Hazardous Products (Toys)
Regulations and to determine if the edges of products or the components
are sharp and could cause injury to a child. Toys and other products
that by reason of their functional purpose require an edge to be
sharp are exempt. Since the numerical values of performance measures
are based upon regulatory requirements, the tolerances for these
values have been chosen such that no test parameter is applied to
the product that results in a more severe condition than that specified
in the regulation.
2 Applicable Documents
2.1 The Hazardous Products Act (HPA).
2.2 Hazardous Products (Toys) Regulations and other HPA regulations
that include requirements for sharp edges.
2.2 PSL Project Report 2001: 0626: New Method: TEST PROCEDURES
TO DETERMINE THE MECHANICAL HAZARDS - SHARP EDGES
3 Sampling
3.1 The following test procedure should
be conducted on the number of specimens provided or received.
4 Apparatus
4.1 A Sharp Edge Tester, model 8200 supplied
by U.S. Testing Co., Inc. (see Figure 1),
or other suitable test device yielding equivalent results and having
the following equivalent specifications:
- Mandrel diameter - 9.35 ± 0.12 mm;
- Mandrel length - of suitable length to carry out test;
- Mandrel material - steel or other metallic material having
a surface roughness of not greater than 0.4 µm and a hardness
of 40 or more when measured on the Rockwell C Scale in accordance
with ASTM standard E18-89a "Standard Test Methods for Rockwell
Hardness andRockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials"
or latest edition; and
- Calibrated at a point 6.35 mm in from the end of the mandrel
to ensure that the force with which the mandrel is applied to
a test edge does not exceed 6 N.
4.2 An adhesive-backed polytetrafluoroethylene
(PTFE) tape of which the thickness of the PTFE component is between
66 µm and 89 µm and the nominal thickness of the silicone
polymer adhesive component is 80 µm; and
4.3 A caliper or other suitable measuring device with a precision
of 0.05 mm.
5 Testing Procedure
5.1 Table-top or bench-mounted sharp edge
tester (for edges difficult or impossible to test initially, use
the hand-held sharp edge tester as a screening device. The product
can be disassembled or broken down to facilitate testing and confirm
edge sharpness with the table-top or bench-mounted sharp edge tester
but only after all other required tests have been performed.
5.1.1 Identify and locate ridges or lines
of intersecting surfaces on the product that are exposed, meet applicable
accessibility requirements1 and
that may present a hazardous sharp edge. Note the restrictions or
applicability of the testing procedure depending on the following
material and product characteristics:
Plastic (toys):
plastic edges that are suspected of being potentially
hazardous sharp edges (except for the exemption mentioned in 1.1)
that are exposed initially or prior to reasonably foreseeable use
testing, and plastic edges that are exposed under the conditions
of reasonably foreseeable use.
Plastic (non-toy articles):
plastic edges that are exposed only upon initial
visual and tactile examination.
Metal, wood and glass (all products):
edges of which that are exposed only upon initial
visual and tactile examination.
Cut edges of metal tubing (non-toy articles):
edges of which that are unprotected and exposed
upon initial visual and tactile examination, or cut edges of metal
tubing that have become exposed when protective caps have been removed
by a force of up to 90 N applied in any direction.
5.1.2 Wrap a single layer of test tape
around the mandrel of the sharp edge tester so that one edge of
the tape is aligned with the end of the mandrel. Ensure that the
ends of the tape are not butted or overlapped by more than 2 mm.
5.1.3 Place the taped mandrel so that its
axis is at 90 ± 5º to the line of the straight edge being
tested, or 90 ± 5º to a tangent at the test point of a curved
edge, and the tape is in contact with the edge when the mandrel
is rotated.
5.1.4 Apply an upward force not greater than 6 N (1.35 lb force
indicator line on the model 8200 housing) normal to the mandrel's
axis and roll the mandrel 360º about its axis along the edge, ensuring
that no relative motion occurs between the mandrel and the edge
during the rotation of the mandrel (Note: if this causes the edge
to bend, adjust the edge accordingly to maintain its contact with
the taped mandrel).
5.1.5 Release the mandrel from
the edge and carefully remove the test tape from the mandrel without
enlarging any cuts in the tape or causing any score in the tape
to become a cut.
5.1.6 Using a caliper or other suitable
measuring device, measure the continuous length of tape that is
cut completely through.
5.1.7 Repeat steps 5.1.2 to 5.1.6
for each area that was identified and located in step 5.1.1.
5.2 Hand-held sharp edge tester (used as a screening device
only)
5.2.1 Perform 5.1.1,
5.1.2 and position the taped mandrel with
respect to the edge being tested as per the orientation described
in 5.1.3.
5.2.2 Press down on the handle of the tester such that the mandrel
arm is approximately parallel with the upper edge of the tester’s
handle. Move the taped surface of the mandrel 50 mm along the edge
under test, or at least the full length of the edge if less than
50 mm, and then back to its starting position without breaking contact
with the edge.
5.2.3 Perform 5.1.5
and 5.1.6.
5.2.4 Repeat steps 5.2.1 to 5.2.3
for each area that was identified and located in step 5.1.1.
5.3 Results
5.3.1 Record the location of any sharp edge, whether they cut
the Sharp Edge Test Tape and the length of the cut.
6 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures
6.1 Ensure that all measuring instruments
are functional and are calibrated with traceability to national
or international standards.
6.2 Testing and the results obtained according to this method
include uncertainty associated with the:
- uncertainty of any or all calibrations by an accredited calibration
laboratory of the apparatus stated and used in this method,
- standard uncertainty or standard deviation of a series of
repeated measurements with the caliper or other suitable measuring
device (documented in the Equipment Record binder),
- a coverage factor (k = 2) to express an expanded uncertainty
(U = kuc, where uc is the combined standard uncertainty) for
a level of confidence of approximately 95%, assuming normal
distribution (Reference: General Guidelines for Evaluating and
Expressing the Uncertainty of Accredited Laboratories’
Measurement Results, CLAS Reference Document 5, May 1999).
7 Test Report
7.1 The test report should contain the
following information:
7.1.1 A description of the product to include brand, style,
country of origin, photo and UPC.
7.1.2 The number of sample elements tested.
7.1.3 The results of the tests (conducted in the sequence presented
in section 5 of this test method) with specific
details for any non-compliances or potential problems observed.
7.1.4 The analyst's name and signature, as well as the name(s)
and signature, as well as the name(s) and signature(s) of the reviewer(s).
Figure 1: Typical sharp
edge testers
1
Refer to pages M12-46 and M12-47 of the Test Method for Cribs and
Cradles to determine accessibility of product occupants to sharp
edges.
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