Standard - Household Cots

The Product Safety Standards (Household Cots) Regulations 2005

The cot standard applies to new and second hand free-standing cots designed for normal household use. This includes those cots of similar design that may be used in day-care centres or crèches.

It does NOT include:

• institutional cots or purpose built cots such as space-savers
• portable cots or play-yards
• antique or collectible cots as long as these are labelled: ' WARNING: THIS COT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR USE AS A SLEEPING FACILITY FOR INFANTS OR CHILDREN'.

The regulations declare AS/NZS 2172:2003 Cots for household use- Safety requirements (with variations) to be a product safety standard. The standard sets out measurements for gaps and projections. It addresses such features as the depth of the cot, allowable base heights, safe sizes for holes and openings in the cot, protrusions, and the integrity of the fastening device. There is durability, information labelling and packaging requirements for new cots.

The revision includes changes to some dimension requirements, and to the performance requirements for access fastening devices. It clarifies the standard’s intentions with regard to labelling and marking and makes explicit the relationship of the testing protocols to the general construction requirements.

Enforcing the standard

The Commerce Commission is responsible for enforcing this standard and has published some guidelines.

Purchasing the standard

AS/NZS 2172:2003 Cots for household use- Safety requirements can be purchased from Standards New Zealand, see their website for details. 

Note

The new Product Safety Standard for household cots came into force on 18 August 2005. However, the 2000 regulation will remain in effect until 22 July 2006 to allow for a transition period for manufacturers, importers, suppliers and retailers to comply with the new standard.