What is the Sturdy Act?
The STURDY Act (Stopping Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth Act) (ASTM F2057-2023) ) is a law passed in December in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The law aims to improve the safety of dressers and other free-standing furniture that poses a tip-over risk to smaller individuals. The law requires clothing storage units to meet certain stability standards and undergo testing to prove compliance.
The STURDY Act became a law on September 1, 2023 and The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will actively enforce the standard.
The STURDY Act defines a Clothing Storage Unit (CSU) as meaning “any free-standing furniture item manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States that is intended for the storage of clothing, typical of bedroom furniture.” Note two key features of this definition. First, the furniture product must be “intended for the storage of clothing” by the manufacturer. Second, it must be “typical of bedroom furniture”.
Aspects of the Sturdy Act?
Age of the Child
Will children age 6 and under be using the clothing storage unit (CSU) in any capacity?
Furniture Dimensions
Does the CSU have a height of 27 inches or higher, a minimum mass of 30 pounds, and a volume of 3.2 cubic feet or more.
Weight of the Child
Does the CSU have a height of 27 inches or higher, a minimum mass of 30 pounds, and a volume of 3.2 cubic feet or more.
A foot to rest on
Although University Loft Company manufacturers furniture that is designed to meet the rigors of student housing, usually for use by individuals 17 years of age and older, we’ve taken the proactive approach to provide a simple and smart solution that can make any of our products that are 27” or higher compliant with the Sturdy Act. The solution ensures that when individuals up to 60 lbs. were to interact with our products, it would not tip over.
MORE THAN PASSING
Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential hazards related to tipping over. Consider factors such as the height and weight of the CSU, the distribution of weight within the unit, and any protruding or unstable components.
Stability Testing: Perform stability testing to assess the CSU’s resistance to tipping over. This may involve applying horizontal and vertical forces to simulate various scenarios, such as a child climbing on the unit or pulling on drawers. Ensure that the CSU remains stable under these conditions and does not tip over easily.
Weight Distribution Analysis: Analyze the weight distribution within the CSU to identify any imbalance that could increase the risk of tipping over. Distribute weight evenly across the unit and avoid placing heavy items in drawers or shelves that could cause instability.
| Common CSU’s |
| Drawer chests Armoires Wardrobes Bureaus Door chests Dressers |
The CSPC will look to the following criteria to ascertain whether a ULoft furniture product is a children’s product or not:
- Manufacturer statements about the intended use of the product, including a label on the product if such statement is reasonable;
- Whether the product is represented in its packaging, display, promotion, or advertising as appropriate for use by children 12 years of age or younger;
- Whether the product is commonly recognized by consumers as being intended for use by a child 12 years of age or younger; and The Age Determination Guidelines issued by CPSC staff in September 2002, available at https://www.cpsc.gov/-Age-Determination-Guidelines, and any successor to such guidelines.