Commission Decision of 7 January 2010 on the safety requirements to be met by European standards for consumer-mounted childproof locking devices for windows and balcony doors pursuant to Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2009) 10298) (Text with EEA relevance) (2010/11/EU)

ANNEX Specific safety requirements and test methods for childproof, consumer-mounted locking devices for windows and balcony doors

Physical and mechanical properties

Window and balcony doors locking devices must be built to withstand wear by repeated opening and closing, both loaded and unloaded, as well ageing and exposure to all weather conditions, such as sunshine, rain, snow, ice, moisture, high and low temperatures, wind and remain child protective.

The devices must be able to withstand accidental impacts during their lifetime without breaking.

To fulfil their intended purpose, the devices must limit the opening distance between the frame and the casement to a maximum distance to effectively prevent the passage of a young child, bearing in mind, in particular, the developmental abilities and anthropometric measurements of children at different ages.

Small parts

To prevent choking hazards, detached or detachable small parts must be of such dimensions as to prevent their being swallowed and/or inhaled.

Sharp edges and projecting parts

To prevent punctures, cuts, shearing, scissoring or other physical injury, accessible edges must be rounded or chamfered and there must be no points or protruding surfaces.

Entrapment of fingers

The devices must not have accessible openings, bearing in mind the anthropometric measurement of children and their abilities at different ages.

Testing

Ageing against UV radiation and increased temperature, wear and tear, mechanical stability and childproof function must be subject to specific testing methods. Products with flexible parts, such as chains, wires and ropes, must also be tested with a stamping method. The devices must not break and must be fully functional after the test.

The testing methods must be adapted, as appropriate, to test the performance of the locking devices for all types of windows (e.g. ‘French’ or ‘casement windows’, sash windows and sliding windows).

Forces in the tests shall be applied in the most onerous directions and must be measured with an uncertainty of measurement not exceeding ± 1 %, and displacements with an uncertainty of measurement not exceeding ± 1 mm.

Child test panel

The child protective function must be verified. Requirements in EN ISO 8317 on child resistant packaging must be used as a reference. The failure criteria laid down in that standard must be met.

Product information

Product information must be provided to reduce the risk of potential foreseeable hazards connected with the use of the product.

Information concerning the safe use of the product must be provided. These instructions must include at least the following:

• The name or trade mark of the manufacturer, importer or organisation responsible for its sale.

• The instruction: ‘Read this instruction carefully before mounting and using the device. The child protective function of the device may be affected if you do not follow the instructions. Keep the instructions for future reference.’

• Information on the type of windows for which the product is designed.

• Instructions on how and where to mount the devise correctly. Different instructions may be needed for different types of windows and different materials, such as wood, metal, plastic etc.) Since assembling the device is vital for it to be child protective, the instructions must be precise and in some cases a special assembly tool may need to be provided.

• Any other information for safe use.