Quality Assurance
EN71 Toy Safety Standard
This standard ensures that any toy which passes the EN71 Standard is safe for use by children. The three main parts of the test check for its mechanical quality, its flammability and its toxic safety. Recommendations are set out with regard to the age range for which the toy is intended.- The mechanical quality test checks that the toys meet a reasonable standard as far as durability is concerned, that there are no unduly sharp edges, or small parts which may constitute a choking hazard and that any sound produced is not too loud.
- The flammability test checks that the toy will not burn even if a fault develops. The materials used have to be self-extinguishing.
- The toxicity test checks that the toy is safe in the event that parts are put in the mouth. For instance a toddler may chew parts of the toy. Batteries etc have to be fastened into the toy in such a way that they can not be removed easily by a young child.
EN5088 Electrical Safety Test
This standard ensures that any toy which passes the EN5088 Standard is safe electrically. All aspects of the electrical circuits are checked.It applies both to the toy and its battery charger (if one is supplied with the toy). The battery charger must comply with all the safety regulations with respect to electrical safety - no live mains parts are accessible and the low voltage charging terminals must be safe even if a fault develops. The toy itself must also remain safe under fault conditions.
Labels on the toy must correctly show which battery power sources are to be used in the toy.
EMC Tests
Electromagnetic Compatibility is a technical way of saying that the toy will not cause undue interference to other electrical equipment.Checks are made to ensure that the transmitter, and the toy itself, do not send signals which could cause problems with other communications. For example they must not cause a television to malfunction or interfere with communications to and from aircraft flying overhead.
A check is also made to ensure that signals coming from another source - a radio or television transmitter, a taxi or CB radio for example - will not cause the toy to malfunction in such a way that it becomes dangerous; a strong local signal may cause the toy to stop functioning, but it must not become dangerous.