Revised standards for safer children’s nightwear

Thursday 17 March 2016

Revised standards for safer children’s nightwear

Revised standards surrounding the safety of children’s nightwear have now been mandated, helping parents make informed decisions about the safety of their children’s clothing.

The Product Safety Standards (Children’s Nightwear and Limited Daywear Having Reduced Fire Hazard) Regulations 2016, which mandate the recently updated standard AS/NZS 1249:2014, will come into force on 18 April 2016, with a 12 month transition period for industry to comply.

“The revised AS/NZS 1249:2014 standard encompasses best practice within the sector and has earned strong support from industry and regulators,” says Principal Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Trading Standards Unit, Martin Rushton.

Historically, children experience more burn injuries at night when they are more likely to encounter heat or open flame. Previous standards have reflected this by covering traditional night wear garments.

“The scope of garments covered by the revised standards has been expanded to include items such as all-in-ones, wearable towels, blankets and sheets, as these items are also likely to be worn at night time when the risk of burn injuries is higher.

“Large suppliers and retailers often use the same stock in both New Zealand and Australia, and the revised version of the standard was designed to simplify requirements for businesses operating in the trans-Tasman market.

“New warning labels have been introduced to help consumers make informed decisions about garment flammability. Garments which pass certain flammability requirements but like all fabrics can still burn, will carry a white caution label. Garments with higher flammability properties will carry a red warning label to alert consumers. Some garments fail the standard altogether and are prohibited from sale as they are considered too flammable.

“As more and more of our purchases move online, so too must the safety standards we have in place to protect consumers. Children’s nightwear and limited daywear products offered for online sale must now clearly display fire hazard information as part of the online image and product description.

The revised standard also includes a new test for the hazard of molten materials and clarification on the requirements for certain fabrics.

“These changes represent a significant improvement in the regulation of children’s nightwear. However, parents should remember no nightwear is heat or flame resistant and to always keep children at least a metre away from the heater,” says Mr Rushton.

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