2013 ISO8124 toys safety

Mechanical and physical properties 
Activity  toys  for  domestic  use:  In  2010  a  new  standard,  ISO  8124-4,  was  published  specifying
requirements  for activity toys for private  use  (swings,  slides,  etc.).  Currently,  work  is  underway  to
update  this  standard  for ‘paddling  pools’.  The  starting  point  is  the  requirements  already  placed  on
these toys in the corresponding European standard. 
Projectiles,  rotors  and  propellers:  The  requirements  for  toys  that  can  launch  projectiles  have  not
changed  significantly  over the  years,  but  many  new  types  of  such toys  have  been  made  available on
the market. ISO is therefore working on a complete review of the requirements and test methods. The
hope is that this work will provide the basis for a future revision of the corresponding requirements in
Europe. 
Cords, strings etc.: The requirements in the European standard for cords, strings, electrical cables, etc.
changed  in  2011. These requirements now  form the  basis  for  an update of the  corresponding  ISO
standard.  
Toys presenting a fall-on hazard: In the US, there have been accidents and deaths where children have
had an object of a particular size and shape in the mouth and then fallen so that the object has been forced down the throat and become lodged. Therefore, in 2008, the US introduced new requirements into the ASTM standard F 963. The requirements have been modified slightly since then, and the goal of ISO is to introduce the modified ASTM-requirements in 8124-1.

Flammability 
In connection with  the  entry  into  force of  the new  Toy  Safety  Directive  in  Europe, the  standard  for
flammability was updated  (EN  71-2).  This  updated  version  is  now  the  basis  for  the  updating  of  the
corresponding standard within ISO. 

Total concentration of certain heavy metals in toy material 
At  present,  the  requirements  for  maximum  migration  of  eight  heavy  metals  from  toy  materials are
virtually identical in the US, Europe and in the ISO standard. They will, however, be changed in Europe
from 20 July 2013. A new ISO standard for determining the total content of these eight heavy metals
in  toy  materials  will  enable manufacturers,  for  example, to  determine  if  more  expensive  migration
tests  are  needed  (if  the  total  concentration  is  less  than  the  allowable  migration  there  is  no  need  to
perform the migration tests).

Total concentration of phthalates in toy material 
In  many  parts  of  the  world,  there  are requirements  for  the  maximum  concentration  of  certain
phthalates  (used  for  example  as  plasticisers  in some  plastics).  However,  there  is  a no common  test
method in place for determining the total concentration. The ISO standards will, when published, be
useful in many parts of the world.

Age determination guidelines 
It  is  not  always  easy  to  determine  for  which  age  group  of  children  a  certain  toy  is  suitable.  By
developing  guidelines for  age determination,  there  is  hope that the  ISO  group  will  create  conditions
for age determination to be made uniformly across the globe.