ASTM CSU Panel Gains Some Ground but CPSC Absence Felt

An ASTM F15.42 panel January 15 made some progress towards presenting changes for balloting of the F2057 standard on clothing storage units (CSUs). For example, participants quickly agreed to a height of 27 inches or above for triggering coverage by the standard.

The number was a compromise that consumer groups and victim's family members on the call said was acceptable contingent on willingness to revisit the figure if new incident data show tipovers of shorter units. Indeed, many had been involved in offering that compromise before the meeting (see related story in this issue).

The goal is to avoid drawing unintended units under the standard, especially nightstands. Those are especially tricky as the heights of beds have risen in recent years, meaning nightstands have too. Some – such as with single "pencil drawers" at the tops – clearly are not intended to hold clothing. However, some designs involve multiple drawers that make units look like little dressers, especially to consumers.

There was less progress on a second issue discussed by the panel last month (PSL, 12/24/18) – how to deal with products made of lighter material like some plastics. One reason was the lack of CPSC participation due to the government shutdown. In December, CPSC staff had agreed to look at incident data again, including whether such products were coded in NEISS as something not previously searched for. The items initially clearly were not CSUs – think plastic filing cabinets or frames around clear, stacked, sliding bins. But designs have evolved, so many have CSU appearances.

The panel is planning to defer some ballot recommendations for later, pending more work. One is a potential exemption, based on weight, for the lightweight units above. The current figure is potentially 35 pounds, but justifying that weight without drawing ballot negative will take work.

Another unresolved matter is differences between drawers and bins. The working group has been discussing potentially exempting units that simply are shelves with bins versus drawers. Again, a challenge is design evolution. Some bin products have lips to hold bins in place and grooves in the shelving to facilitate sliding. Working – but not final – definitions discussed by the panel were:

• Drawer: "A storage container meant to slide in and out of a clothing storage unit and intended to stay with the product during normal use."

 

• Bin: "A storage container that rests inside or on a product, is intended to be removed during normal use, and without mechanical attachment to the product."