EN 71-1:2005+ A8

EN 71-1:2005+A8:2009 (E)
Template E, as defined -in Figure 31. (see 8.32, small balls and suction cups test), addresses balls
capable of entering and blocking the airways at the back of the mouth and upper throat. Ball-shaped objects
trapped behind the ridge of the hard palate can be very difficult to remove due to a reflex that causes
muscular constriction of the throat. Therefore, ventilation holes are not considered to be an appropriate way of
avoiding the hazards related to small balls since a ball can be trapped in any position and therefore many
large holes in all directions would be needed.
Unlike small parts which only present a hazard when they become detached, small balls present a choking
hazard even when they are attached to a toy by a cord or similar, provided that the total length of the cord and
part of the ball is such that the ball can block the airway at the back of the mouth and upper throat. This length
has been defined as 30 mm since this is identical to the depth of templates A and B.
A ball is considered to be “suspended freely” if it is attached to the end of a string regardless of whether the
string is attached to the top of the ball or runs through a part of the ball -(see example in Figure 32).. A
single ball attached to the lowest part of a loop of string attached to a toy (as in Figure A.1), is also covered by
the requirements.
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Figure A.1 – Ball attached to a toy by a loop
Balls and other ball-shaped three-dimensional objects with minor diameters larger than 44,5 mm are seldom
implicated in incidents since these objects are too large to become trapped behind the ridge of the hard palate.
It is the shape of the ball rather than the intended use of the ball that presents the choking hazard.*
A.49 Toy scooters (see 4.15.5)
A body mass of 20 kg corresponds approximately to the average mass of a child of 5 years. A body mass of
50 kg corresponds approximately to the average mass of a child of 14 years.
The safety of scooters considered as sports equipment is covered by EN 14619.
It should be noted that the standard for scooters used as sports equipment is applicable to scooters that weigh
35 kg or more. Therefore there are two types of scooters for the weight group 35 kg to 50 kg – those
classified as toy scooters and those classified as sporting goods.
It has not been considered necessary to require brakes for toy scooters for very young children because they
do not normally travel with great speed and are not considered able to operate a brake.