Mandatory Attachment of KC Mark on Water Spring Pull-up Bars

KATS Designates New Safety Confirmation Items for Outdoor Exercise Equipment

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Safety management for outdoor exercise equipment such as springs, hiking trails, and parks will be strengthened.

The National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 26th that outdoor exercise equipment will be newly designated as safety-confirmed daily necessities on the 27th. The enforcement regulations of the "Electrical Appliances and Daily Necessities Safety Control Act" will be amended.

The target equipment includes pull-up bars, arm rotation, wave riding, rowing, running, knee extension, weight lowering, parallel bars, waist rotation, and hanging upside down.

Safety standards will be announced next month and will take effect from July 27 next year.

Structural and design requirements (materials, surface treatment, external structure, load resistance, prevention of body pinching, slip prevention, corrosion resistance, etc.) and labeling requirements (exercise instructions, main functions of the equipment, safety information, etc.) will be changed.

Manufacturers and importers must have their products tested at designated testing and inspection agencies and report safety confirmation before shipment or customs clearance after the enforcement date. Products must bear the national integrated certification (KC) mark and labeling information.

More than 6,000 units of outdoor exercise equipment are installed annually. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 115,959 units were installed in 2016, 124,439 units in 2017, and 130,723 units in 2018.

Accordingly, safety accidents have also increased. Due to some products with low safety reliability, safety accidents such as pinching of fingers, neck, feet, and slipping have occurred.

There have also been increasing concerns that exposure to sunlight, snow, and rain causes product aging, which may lead to accidents.

According to the Korea Consumer Agency, 61 safety accidents occurred in 2016, 70 in 2017, 56 in 2018, and 52 last year.

The National Institute of Technology and Standards expects consumer trust to increase as manufacturers and importers will have to officially confirm product safety before selling.

Local governments will also be able to install safety-confirmed outdoor exercise equipment in parks, hiking trails, and other places, which will increase exercise opportunities for local residents.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards said, "Only products with the KC mark attached, designated as safety-confirmed items for outdoor exercise equipment, will be released to the market," and added, "Consumers will be able to exercise safely."

The National Institute of Technology and Standards plans to hold industry meetings and briefings in the second half of the year to provide detailed information on safety standards and guide necessary improvements based on the results of the outdoor exercise equipment status survey.

Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, National Institute of Technology and Standards

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