OHIO – With the new STURDY federal furniture stability standard less than a month away, furniture manufacturers are communicating with retailers how they’re planning to comply.
Amish solid wood furniture manufacturers in Ohio are among them, each sending out emails primarily to their retailers detailing steps being taken toward compliance. Here’s what five of them are planning:
Eli’s Woodshop
“One measure we will be taking to be compliant is an interlock system which will make it possible to only open one drawer at a time,” said Eli Lapp, owner. “Another option we will use on some pieces is a 3/4 extension slide with a counterweight in the back.
“We will be changing all our nightstands to be 27 inches or shorter in height so that they will not need to comply with the STURDY Act. All of this will add to the price and it possibly means a $50-$100 surcharge per clothing storage piece. This cost will go into effect on all orders placed on or after Aug. 14.
Quality Fabrications
Quality Fabrications said it will use interlock systems and counterweights, with all drawers being full extension. Drawer depth may shorten by around an inch.
New incoming orders will be subject to additional upcharges. These added features will cost approximately $8 to $10 per drawer or door of any unit that requires testing. (This upcharge is an estimate and may change if final costs change.)
The company said it is extending special pricing for customers that currently display its bedroom furniture and want to replace those pieces with certified models.
Elite Woodworking
Elite Woodworking will use interlocking mechanisms. Counterweights will be added if products fail testing after interlocks are applied. Product dimensions might change up to 2 inches in depth, but drawers won’t lose any width, the company said.
There will be upcharges. Between $5 and $7 will be added per drawer. If weights are used, there will be an 80-cent-per-pound charge. The company estimates between five and 15 pounds will be added to pieces that end up needing counterweights.
“We are doing our best to make our products STURDY Act compliant by Sept. 1,” it said.
Criswell
All chests and dressers will utilize an “anti-tip” drawer lock-out system. Some chests may a have a small 5-to-15-pound counterweight in the back. Drawer box sides may also lose 0.75-inch to 1 inch in depth. The company says it will do its best to keep the cabinets the same size. Full-extension drawers will be kept.
All chests and drawers ordered after Aug. 1 will have a $7 per drawer charge to cover the cost of the lock-out system. All nightstands, beds, drawer units and mirrors will be exempt from this upcharge.
E&S Wood Creations
“Like many others, we are going to use an interlock system on our dressers, chests and other clothing storage units,” the company said. “We also will be adding counterweights as needed to meet the standard testing requirements. Our nightstands are exempt from testing with the possible exception being some very large custom pieces that exceed the minimum storage capacity requirements.
“All orders manufactured on Sept. 1 and beyond will need to be compliant. This leads us to create a cut-off date for orders placed, and we will have a new price list. All orders placed on and after July 24 will be made to meet standards along with using our new revised price list.
“We want to assist you in changing out floor models so that you can show compliant furniture on your floor. We are offering a 10% discount on all floor model orders placed through September 1. This special is for complete bedroom suites. We are offering 5% off all individual pieces.”
Background on STURDY
Set to go into effect Sept. 1, the new federal furniture stability standard is based on the updated ASTM F2057-23 voluntary standard, which the CPSC voted April 19 met the requirements of the STURDY Act. STURDY was signed into law Dec. 2022 and aims to prevent children from being injured by furniture tip-overs.
STURDY requires tests that simulate the weight of children up to 60 pounds, and ASTM F2057–23 has a set of three stability tests to simulate the capability of a child weighing up to 60 pounds interacting with a clothing storage unit (CSU).
- The first stability test, Section 9.2.1 Simulated Clothing Load, loads drawers with simulated clothing loads. The CSU must not tip over with all doors and extendible elements (movable load-bearing storage components including, but not limited to, drawers and pullout shelves) open.
- The second stability test, Section 9.2.2 Simulated Horizontal Dynamic Force, applies a 10-pound horizontal force over a period of at least five seconds at a “hand-hold” not to exceed a 56-inch height, and then holds the force for at least 10 seconds.
- The third stability test, Section 9.2.3 Simulating a Reaction on Carpet with Child Weight, uses 60 pounds of weight placed on the edge of an open drawer or pull-out shelf, while the CSU is tilted forward using a 0.43-inch test block to simulate placement on a carpeted surface, with all doors and extendible elements open.