As a kind of educational toy loved by children, the safety of magnetic block is very important. In order to ensure that magnetic blocks are non-toxic and harmless and meet relevant safety standards, a series of rigorous tests are required. The following are the main methods and criteria for testing the safety of magnetic blocks:
1. Physical and mechanical performance test
Physical and mechanical testing is a critical step in ensuring that magnetic blocks do not harm children under normal use and misuse.
Small parts test: To detect whether the various parts of the magnetic building block are easy to fall off, especially for toys for children under 3 years old, any removable small parts must not be able to pass the test cylinder with a diameter of 31.7mm to prevent accidental swallowing and suffocation.
Sharp edge and tip testing: Ensure that the edges and corners of the blocks are chamfered and will not cause cuts to children.
Magnetic safety test: For building blocks containing magnetic components, the single magnet flux index should be less than 50kG²mm² to avoid the impact of strong magnetic fields on children's health.
Drop resistance test: Simulate the performance of the building blocks in a fall or impact to ensure that they do not break or create dangerous debris.
2. Chemical composition detection
Chemical testing is an important link to ensure that magnetic building blocks are non-toxic and harmless, mainly testing the following contents:
Heavy metal content: Detect whether the building material contains lead, cadmium, mercury and other harmful heavy metals. These heavy metals can be harmful to children's health through oral contact or skin contact.
Phthalates testing: Phthalates are a common plasticizer that may interfere with the endocrine system. Testing ensures that the building blocks do not contain such harmful chemicals.
Other harmful substances detection: including formaldehyde, AZO dyes, etc., these substances may release toxic gases or cause allergies.
3. Combustion performance test
Combustion performance testing assesses the flame retardancy of magnetic building block materials to ensure that they do not burn quickly or release toxic fumes when exposed to fire sources, thereby reducing the risk of fire.
4. Label and warning requirements
In order to ensure the correct use of magnetic building blocks by consumers, product packaging and instructions must meet the following requirements:
Age label: Clearly mark the applicable age, such as "3+" or "8-12 years old", and the font height must be ≥3mm.
Bilingual warnings: Label the package with bilingual warnings such as "Warning: Choking hazard".
Traceable information: Packaging should include manufacturer's name, address and lot number.
5. International standards and certification
Different countries and regions have specific standards and certification requirements for the safety of magnetic blocks:
CPC Certification: According to ASTM F963 standard, magnetic building blocks need to pass heavy metals, phthalates and other tests, and a test report issued by a third-party laboratory recognized by CPSC.
Eu EN71 certification: covers physical properties, chemical properties, packaging and labeling, etc., to ensure that products meet the requirements of the EU market.
Canadian SOR/2011-17 standard: Magnetic building blocks are required to meet the detection requirements of small parts, magnetic strength, sharp edges, etc.
China GB6675 standard: The magnetic building blocks sold in China must meet the GB6675 standard, covering many aspects such as physical, chemical and combustion performance.
Ensuring the safety of magnetic building blocks is a comprehensive and systematic process, involving physical, chemical, combustion performance and other aspects of the test. By complying with international standards and certification requirements, manufacturers can effectively reduce the potential risks of their products to children's health and provide consumers with safe and reliable toys. When purchasing magnetic building blocks, parents should also pay attention to the certification label and warning information of the product to ensure that the purchased products meet the relevant safety standards.