EN 71-1:2005+ A8

A.11 Folding and sliding mechanisms (see 4.10.1)
EN 71-1:2005+A8:2009 (E)
These requirements are intended to address some but not all of the possible crushing, laceration and pinching
hazards that might occur due to the sudden and unexpected collapse of folding toys whether intended to
support the mass of a child or not.
They are also intended to address the hazards associated with the child being trapped in a collapsing
pushchair or perambulator, and with children getting their fingers jammed when playing with a toy.
Fatal accidents are known to have occurred when toy pushchairs have collapsed and the handle has come
down over the head or throat of the child when the child has been trying to sit in or climb into the toy pushchair.
It is, therefore, necessary to require that such pushchairs or perambulators should be equipped with two
separate locking and/or safety devices as is the case for full-size pushchairs and prams.
Certain pushchairs are not designed with a handlebar that folds down over the toy when it collapses but folds
together in a sideways direction. It has been agreed that such toys do not present the same severe hazard
and consequently do not require two separate locking devices.
However, it has not been considered possible to eliminate all possible jamming hazards of toys when they are
folded together in their intended way. Manufacturers should reduce those hazards as far as possible, for
example by allowing for a 12 mm clearance between moving parts and by using safety stops. Great care
should also be used when designing toys with folding or sliding parts so that scissor-like actions of moving
parts are avoided as far as possible.
Items a), b), and c) of 4.10.1 cover toys that may collapse. Item d) refers to other toys with moving parts (e.g.
excavating equipment on a ride-on tractor), and the requirement that these toys are intended for or capable of
bearing the mass of a child excludes smaller toys.
A.12 Driving mechanisms (see 4.10.2)
These requirements are intended to address the laceration and puncture hazards associated with sharp
edges and points being exposed if the toy has been damaged. They are also intended to address pinching or
laceration by entrapment of fingers in holes, in winder keys or between the winder key and the body of the toy.
Driving mechanisms should be enclosed in order to prevent jamming or crushing of fingers and other parts of
the body. Toys that should be assembled by an adult are tested when assembled (see 4.2, assembly).
Small mechanisms are excluded, such as in small cars which would have insufficient power to jam fingers,
and where power may be checked with a finger or a pencil inserted into the mechanism.
A mechanism would fail the requirement in this clause, were it to become accessible and the moving parts
would be liable to jam the fingers or otherwise injure a child.
A.13 Hinges (see 4.10.3)
This requirement is intended to address the possible crushing hazard related to varying clearances along the
hinge line, admitting fingers in one position of the hinged part but not in another.
It is only applicable to hinged assemblies in which both parts have a mass of 250 g or more and where the
hinged moving part could be construed as a 'door' or a 'lid'. For the purposes of this requirement, a door or lid
can be defined as a closure of extended surface area with an extended hinge line. Other hinged parts without
a significant surface area or hinge line would probably fall into the category of a folding mechanism (see
4.10.1, parts moving against each other, folding and sliding mechanisms).
The requirement relates to the entrapment of a finger and injury through squashing between edges along the
hinge line and between surfaces parallel with the hinge line as shown in Figure 1 (see 3.21, hinge line,
definition) but not between other edges and surfaces of the assembly. There is only concern with the
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