ASTM F1816-18 (2024) PDF

Full title and description

ASTM F1816-18(2024) — Standard Safety Specification for Drawstrings on Children's Upper Outerwear. This specification defines safety and performance requirements intended to reduce strangulation and vehicular-dragging hazards posed by accessible drawstrings on children's upper outerwear (jackets, sweatshirts and similar garments) in the sizes and locations covered by the standard.

Abstract

The standard sets performance and design limits for drawstrings on children’s upper outerwear to minimize entanglement, strangulation and dragging incidents. It specifies which garment sizes and drawstring locations are covered, limits on exposed drawstring length, prohibitions on end attachments (toggles/knots), and exceptions for fully retractable designs. The specification is concise (two pages) and intended for manufacturers, testers and regulators concerned with juvenile apparel safety.

General information

• Status: Active (reapproved/affirmed 2024 as F1816-18(2024)).
• Publication date: Original designation 2018; reapproved/updated in 2024 (designation F1816-18(2024), last updated November 11, 2024).
• Publisher: ASTM International (Committee F15, Subcommittee F15.37).
• ICS / categories: 61.020 (Clothes — children's apparel).
• Edition / version: F1816-18, reapproved 2024 (often shown as F1816-18R24 or F1816-18(2024)).
• Number of pages: 2.

Scope

This specification applies to drawstrings on children's upper outerwear intended to be worn over other clothing. It covers neck/hood drawstrings for sizes 2T through 12, and waist/bottom drawstrings for sizes 2T through 16. Fully retractable drawstrings that become inaccessible after adjustment are excluded. The intent is to reduce strangulation and vehicular-dragging hazards associated with exposed drawstrings.

Key topics and requirements

• No drawstrings in the hood/neck area for children's upper outerwear in sizes 2T–12 (prohibition on neck/hood drawstrings within the covered size range).
• Waist/bottom drawstrings for sizes 2T–16 must not extend more than 3 inches (76.2 mm) outside the drawstring channel when the garment is fully expanded.
• Free ends of waist/bottom drawstrings must be free of toggles, knots or other attachments that could catch on objects.
• If a waist/bottom drawstring is one continuous string, it must be bar-tacked (stitched) to prevent it from being pulled through the channel and creating a hazardous loop.
• Upper outerwear with fully retractable drawstrings that become inaccessible after adjustment are exempt from the prohibition.
• Standard is a safety specification (design/performance requirements); compliance is used by manufacturers and regulators to assess hazard reduction rather than to prescribe test machinery or lab methods beyond simple measurement and inspection.

Typical use and users

Primary users are apparel designers and manufacturers of children's outerwear, product safety and compliance teams, importers and retailers, third‑party testing laboratories, regulatory agencies and consumer-safety advocates. The standard is used to guide product design, perform compliance checks during production inspection, and support regulatory enforcement and recall decisions.

Related standards

ASTM F1816 is referenced in regulatory and guidance materials addressing children's outerwear safety. U.S. regulators treat non‑conforming drawstrings as a substantial product hazard under 16 CFR Part 1120 (CPSC rulemaking/ guidance referencing ASTM requirements). Health Canada and other national agencies reference ASTM F1816 criteria in risk-mitigation guidance for drawstrings. Historical versions include ASTM F1816-97 (and its reapprovals); the subcommittee F15.37 maintains the specification and meets regularly to consider revisions.

Keywords

drawstrings, children's outerwear, hood drawstring, waist drawstring, strangulation hazard, vehicular dragging, ASTM F1816, juvenile apparel safety, bar-tack, toggles, length limit.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM F1816-18(2024) is a short safety specification that sets design and performance limits for drawstrings on children's upper outerwear to reduce strangulation and dragging hazards.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers drawstrings in the hood/neck (sizes 2T–12) and waist/bottom (sizes 2T–16) of children's upper outerwear, specifying prohibited locations, maximum exposed drawstring length (3 in / 76.2 mm for waist/bottom), ban on toggles/knots at free ends, and bar‑tacking requirements for continuous strings; fully retractable drawstrings are exempt.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Apparel manufacturers, design and compliance teams, testing laboratories, retailers, importers, and regulatory agencies use the standard to design safe garments and to check conformity during inspection and enforcement.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The F1816-18 edition was reapproved/affirmed in 2024 and is currently active. It supersedes earlier editions such as ASTM F1816-97; regulatory guidance (for example by the U.S. CPSC) references ASTM criteria when determining substantial product hazards.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: F1816 is a single safety specification maintained under ASTM Committee F15 (Consumer Products), Subcommittee F15.37 (Drawstrings for Children’s Clothing). It sits alongside other consumer-product and children's-product standards but is not a sequential "series" of numbered sibling documents — rather it is the designated drawstring safety specification.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Drawstrings, children's outerwear, hood/neck prohibition, 3‑inch limit, bar‑tack, toggles/knots ban, strangulation hazard, ASTM F1816.