Mandatory Rule for Furniture Stability Published

Furniture World News Desk on 11/29/2022

A new mandatory product safety rule designed to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with furniture tipping over on young children was published in the Federal Register on November 25.

The Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units drafted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission takes effect 180 days after its publication, giving home furnishings manufacturers and importers until May 24, 2023, to engineer and test their products to meet the rule’s minimum stability requirements and to add the required warning label and hangtag to all covered units.

The rule applies to freestanding chests, dressers, armoires and bureaus but is not limited to furniture that is marketed for “clothing storage.” Any storage furniture that is 27 inches or more in height with a total functional volume of closed storage (drawers and/or interior cabinet space) and open storage (shelves) greater than 1.3 cubic feet falls within the scope of the standard. Nightstands, shelving units, office storage, dining storage, accent chests and any other type of storage furniture meeting this functional definition must be tested and labeled according to the requirements outlined in the rule.

In anticipation of the rule’s publication, three weeks ago the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) invited the CPSC to participate in a workshop in North Carolina next month.

“The Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units published by the CPSC on Friday is a very complex rule with a proposed minimum stability threshold that will generate many questions as manufacturers and importers attempt to implement it across a wide array of products,” said AHFA CEO Andy Counts. “A better understanding of the requirements in the final rule is critical, and a workshop would provide the agency with an excellent opportunity to provide clarity and constructive guidance.”

AHFA has not yet received any response from the agency but remains prepared to host a workshop should the agency agree to participate.

About The American Home Furnishings Alliance
The American Home Furnishings Alliance, based in High Point, N.C., represents more than 200 leading furniture manufacturers and distributors, plus about 150 suppliers to the furniture industry worldwide.