CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL E-SSENTIALS

Canada: New standard CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020 Flammability and labelling requirements for tents published

APRIL 2020 – RELEVANT FOR: HARDLINES, TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS 

The new Canadian national standard CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020¹ Flammability and labelling requirements for tents has recently been published.

This standard applies to consumer tents for outdoor use (including tents intended for both indoor and outdoor use), such as camping tents, backpacking tents, suspended tents, teepees, children’s tents, tent trailers, ice-fishing tents, dining shelters, sun shelters and screen houses. It does not apply to consumer tents intended for indoor use only, tents that are not intended to shelter people, tents used for commercial purposes only or tents subject to the National Building Code of Canada.

Health Canada is currently working on the proposal to replace the existing flammability and labelling requirements under the Tents Regulations² with the requirements in CAN/CGSB-182.1 as per the notice³. The scope of the proposed Tents Regulations will also align with the standard. Consequential amendments to the Toys Regulations would be required so that flammability protections for toys that are indoor play tents can be included in those regulations.

For the present time, the existing requirements set out in the Tents Regulations remain in effect for tents manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada. Compliance with CAN/CGSB-182.1 is voluntary until the Tents Regulations and Toys Regulations are amended.

[1] CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020

[2] Tents Regulations

[3] Notification on amendment to the Tents and Toys Regulations, January 2019

[4] E-ssentials of Public Review notification for draft version of CAN/CGSB-182.1, Flammability and labelling requirements for tents, December 2018