Toys Regulations (SOR/2011-17)

Scope

• 1 This method covers the evaluation of the flammability of dolls, plush toys and soft toys that have at least one of the following characteristics:

  • (a) they have exposed surfaces that consist of spun staple yarn or bulked continuous filament yarn; or

  • (b) they are constructed, in whole or in part, of parallel bundles of spun staple yarn or bulked continuous filament yarn that are exposed.

Procedure

• 2 Prepare specimens that are cut from a doll, plush toy or soft toy by laundering (if they have a flame-retarding finish) and by drying. Hold the dried specimen at a 45° angle in the specimen holder of the flammability tester. Apply a standardized flame to the lower end for one second, and record the time that is required for flaming to proceed up the specimen over a distance of 127 mm (5 inches).

Required Materials

• • 3 (1) Flammability tester described in section 1 of Schedule 6.

  • (2) Brushing device described in section 2 of Schedule 6.

  • (3) Modified specimen holder described in section 3 of Schedule 6.

  • (4) Laboratory drying oven.

  • (5) Desiccator that is 250 mm (9.8 inches) in diameter.

  • (6) Calcium chloride, anhydrous.

  • (7) Butane, cp.

  • (8) Commercially available detergent.

  • (9) Mercerized cotton sewing thread No. 50.

Test Specimens

• • 4 (1) Ensure that the yarn is laundered in accordance with section 5 if it is known to have a flame-retarding finish or if preliminary testing indicates that such a finish may be present.

  • (2) Select from the part of the outer covering that burns most rapidly specimens of the yarn that each measure 152 mm (6 inches) in length.

Laundering Procedure

• • 5 (1) Precondition outer covering samples that are known to have, or that are suspected of having, a flame-retarding finish applied to them by subjecting them to the washing and drying procedure described in this section.

  • (2) Prepare a bath solution that consists of water that has a hardness of not greater than 324 mg (5 grains) of calcium carbonate per 4.5 L (1.0 imperial gallons) in an amount 30 times the weight of the sample and a commercially available detergent in an amount equal to 15% of this weight. Ensure that the temperature of the bath solution is from 35°C to 38°C inclusive (95°F to 100°F).

  • (3) Immerse the sample and allow it to soak for 3 minutes. Work the sample gently by hand for 2 minutes, squeezing the bath solution through the part of the sample to be tested.

  • (4) Rinse the sample three times in water that has a hardness not greater than 324 mg (5 grains) of calcium carbonate per 4.5 L (1.0 imperial gallons) in an amount 30 times the weight of the sample. Ensure that the temperature of the rinse water is 27°C (80°F). Immerse and gently squeeze the sample in the first rinsing bath for 1 minute and in the second and third baths for 2 minutes each.

  • (5) Remove excess water from the sample after each bath by squeezing gently. After the final rinsing bath blot out as much moisture as possible using paper towels or cotton terrycloth.

  • (6) Lay the sample flat to dry at ambient temperature, namely, from 18°C to 24°C inclusive (65°F to 75°F).

Preparation of Specimens

• 6 Place specimens side by side, without overlapping, and clamp sufficient 152 mm (6 inch) lengths of the yarn in the modified specimen holder to form a 25 mm (1 inch) wide specimen in the centre of the holder. The loose ends may be tucked under the bottom wire to hold them in place. Prepare five test specimens. Dry the mounted test specimens in an oven for 30 minutes at 105°C (221°F) or for 120 minutes at 75°C (167°F). Remove them from the oven and place them until cool in a desiccator over anhydrous calcium chloride for at least 15 minutes and not more than 2 hours.

Procedure

• • 7 (1) Open the control valve of the fuel supply and allow approximately 5 minutes for the air to be driven from the fuel line. Ignite the gas and, with the door closed as far as possible, adjust the flame to a length of 16 mm (5/8 inch) measured from its tip to the opening in the gas nozzle.

  • (2) Remove a specimen from the desiccator and trim the lower ends to the length that will ensure that the ignition flame will contact the end of the yarn.

  • (3) Test the specimen within 45 seconds after the time it is removed from the desiccator. String the stop cord (mercerized cotton sewing thread No. 50) through the guides in the upper plate of the specimen holder, across the top of the specimen, through the guides at the rear of the chamber and through the guide ring. Attach the weight to the cord close to and just below the guide ring.

  • (4) Close the door of the flammability tester. Set the stop watch to zero. Conduct the test in a draft-free room with the flammability tester at room temperature.

  • (5) Bring the starting lever over to the extreme right and release it. This starts the timing mechanism and applies the flame to the specimen for a period of one second. Timing is automatic, starting on application of the flame and ending when the weight is released by the burning of the stop cord.

  • (6) Record the flame spread time for each specimen.

Interpretation of Results

• • 8 (1) A specimen that exhibits burning of sufficient intensity to sever the stop cord in 7 seconds or less is considered to have failed the test.

  • (2) Test five additional specimens if one of the five fails. If two out of 10 specimens fail, the doll, plush toy or soft toy does not meet the test requirements.