US CPSC Issues Direct Final Rule for Stationary Activity Centers

SafeGuardSToys and Juvenile ProductsApril 09, 2025

SG 052/25

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a direct final rule, 16 CFR 1238, adopting the latest version of ASTM F2012 as the mandatory safety standard for stationary activity centers.

On March 27, 2025, the CPSC published a direct final rule to update 16 CFR 1238, the safety standard for stationary activity centers. The rule incorporates ASTM F2012-24 (Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Stationary Activity Centers) with no modifications. The rule will become effective on July 5, 2025, unless the CPSC receives significant adverse comments by April 28, 2025.

The latest version of standard includes the following changes:

Requirements for assessing the permanency of warning label attached by a seam updated – pull force must be applied in the direction most likely to cause failure, rather than in any direction, and the pull force must be applied gradually within a period of five seconds and then maintained for an additional 10 seconds
Four additional warning label examples added
Editorial changes that do not affect the requirements

The standard defines a stationary activity center as, “a freestanding product intended to remain stationary that enables a sitting or standing occupant whose torso is completely surrounded by the product to walk, rock, play, spin or bounce, or all of these, within a limited range of motion.”

A read-only copy of the standard is available in the ASTM reading room.

Direct Final rule 16 CFR 1238

Childcare equipment and children’s furniture must meet strict safety, quality and performance requirements. With our global network of experts and laboratories, we provide testing, inspection, risk assessment and technical documentation services. We also conduct factory and social audits to ensure supply chain compliance. Contact us to learn more, or visit our website. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested.

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