We answer some of the
frequently askedquestions from our customers.
Topic of this month,
children's matresses:
- How it is possible verify that the children's mattress I want to sell is safe?
- Which risks are assessed within the standard on children's mattresses?
- How can I choose the correct mattress for a crib or cot I have already purchased?
- What does harmonized standard mean?
1. How it is possible verify that the children's mattress I want to sell is safe?
The EN 16890:2017+A1:2021 standard describes the safety requirements and test methods for children's mattresses, toppers and mattress bases, for cots, suspended cots, cribs and travel cots. It is a harmonized standard.
2. Which risks are assessed within the standard on children's mattresses?
The EN 16890:2017+A1:2021 standard was the first to list the requirements with the reference to the risks. It is therefore a standard that covers and evaluates at 360° all the possible risks that the child may encounter, and which are:
- Chemical risks (material accessible to the child's mouth)
- Fire and thermal risks (danger due to heat sources)
- Mechanical risks (entrapment, distances, firmness, accessibility, suffocation9
3. How can I choose the correct mattress for a crib or cot I have already purchased?
The standards that verify the safety requirements of cribs (EN 1130:2019) and cots (EN 716-1:2017/AC:2019) also define which information shall be provided to the consumer with the product (instructions for use).
Inside the instructions for use, both standards require the measures of the mattress to be provided, when it is not sold with the cot or crib.
The measures refer to the length and width, which are important so that there is no space greater than 30 mm between the edges of the mattress and the sides/ends of the cot/crib, and to the thickness, to avoid that the height requirement of the lateral protections is not met.
It is therefore important that the product is accompanied by instructions for use.
4. What does harmonized standard mean?
A standard is harmonized when it is written on a mandate of the European Commission that draws its line. After being drafted by the CEN experts of the working group to which the mandate has been given, the document is carefully checked by a consultant in charge of verification (HAS Consultant) who checks that the document contains everything requested in the mandate.
In case of comments from HAS Consultant, the CEN experts are called upon to modify and resolve them.
Once the standard has the consultant's approval, the publication process begins. Then, the European Commission publishes the document in the Official Journal, inserting it in the list of harmonized standards. This procedure (from publication as a standard to publication in the Official Journal) could take more than a year.
For info:Arianna Visintin
+39 0432 747233
[email protected]
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