Preventing Injuries from Falling Dressers... Strengthening Safety of 'Children's Products'

Ministry of Industry Revises Safety Standards for Drawers, Brush Cutter Blades, and BB Guns
Strengthened Drawer Tipping Test and Improved Brush Cutter Blade Standards from 'Material to Performance'

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced that it will revise the safety standards for three household products: dressers, portable grass trimmer blades, and BB guns.

According to the National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 2nd, safety standards for dressers have been strengthened to prevent children from getting injured if the dresser collapses.

The load applied in the vertical stability test was increased from 23kg to 25kg to ensure that children do not get hurt even if they hang on the drawers. The institute explained that 25kg corresponds to the weight of the top 5% of 5-year-old boys in Korea.

It was taken into account that dressers can tip over when items are stored inside and in use.

The revised standards will be enforced six months after the announcement date, which is the 1st.

For portable grass trimmer blades, material requirements have been relaxed to increase business freedom, while a new hardness standard has been established.

Previously, only specific materials such as carbon steel could be used, but if the new safety standards and existing impact resistance and overspeed tests are met, products can be released regardless of material.

The revision will take effect one year after the announcement date, on March 3rd of next year.

The lower energy limit for BB guns has been removed, as it was judged not to be an essential element for safety management.

For youth-use BB guns, the standard changed from exceeding 0.08J and up to 0.14J to up to 0.14J, and for adult-use, from exceeding 0.14J and up to 0.20J to up to 0.20J.

The institute added that, applying the adult age under civil law, the usage age for adult BB guns was changed from 20 years old and above to 19 years old and above.

The BB gun revision will be applied immediately from the 1st.

The full text of the revised product safety standards can be found on the institute’s website and the Ministry of Government Legislation’s legal information center.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.