Comparison of ASTM F963 and EN 71

The comparison between ASTM F963 (U.S. Standard) and EN 71-1 (European Standard) regarding drop test requirements primarily focuses on test height, number of repetitions, and test surface specifications.

ASTM F963's drop test parameters vary based on the toy's intended age range, while EN 71-1 adopts a unified set of parameters.

Key Differences and Supplementary Details:

1. Drop Height and Repetitions

The stringency of ASTM F963's drop test is explicitly age-dependent:

①　For toys intended for 0–18 months, ASTM F963 requires 10 drops from a height of 137 cm (4.5 ft)—the most rigorous requirement across all age groups.

②　For toys intended for 18–96 months, ASTM F963 mandates 4 drops from 91 cm (3.0 ft), with both fewer repetitions and a lower height compared to the infant/toddler group.

EN 71-1 specifies a consistent drop height of (850 ± 50) mm (approximately 85 cm) and 5 repetitions. This falls between ASTM F963's two age groups in terms of height, while the number of drops (5) exceeds ASTM's requirement for children over 18 months (4 times).

2. Test Surface/Impact Medium

This represents the most significant technical difference between the two standards:

①　EN 71-1 utilizes a rigid coated steel plate with a coating hardness of Shore A (75 ± 5). This surface is designed to simulate rigid impact scenarios that stress toy structures.

②　ASTM F963 employs concrete covered with vinyl composition tile—a semi-rigid surface intended to replicate more common and reasonable abuse conditions in household environments.

3. Applicability Exceptions

Both standards exclude large or bulky toys from drop testing:

①　Under EN 71-1, for certain hazard assessments, the drop test (8.5) is typically replaced by the Tip Over Test (8.6) for large and bulky toys.

②　Per ASTM F963, large and bulky toys (with a projected base area exceeding 400 square inches or a volume exceeding 3 cubic feet) are exempt from drop testing (8.7.1) and instead undergo the Tipover Test (8.7.2).