The STURDY Act, introduced by U.S. Senator Bob Casey, aims to enhance furniture safety standards to prevent tip-overs. With thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths caused by furniture tip-overs, this legislation requires manufacturers and retailers to prioritize stability and ensure child safety. Senator Casey emphasizes that the law offers peace of mind to parents, reducing the risk of accidents and saving children’s lives.
“I passed the STURDY Act because too many families have faced unimaginable tragedy due to inadequate safety standards for furniture at risk of tipping over,” said Senator Casey. “This law requires furniture manufacturers and retailers ensure the safety and stability of their products, so that parents can finally rest assured that new furniture they buy has been specifically manufactured with their kids’ safety in mind. Simply put, because of this legislation, fewer children will die.”
The STURDY Act changes the stability standard for manufacturers of clothing storage units from voluntary to mandatory. That standard goes into effect today, meaning that all furniture manufactured from September 1, 2023 must comply with the new stability standard. While the mandatory standards created by STURDY are a significant accomplishment and will help prevent tip-overs, Casey is urging parents to be diligent about anchoring new and existing furniture to their walls. For more information on how to anchor your furniture and keep your children safe, please visit AnchorIt.gov.
The law received the support of a robust coalition of organizations, including consumer groups and Parents Against Tip-overs, and manufacturers and retailers like IKEA, the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Room & Board, Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma.
Read more about the STURDY Act here.
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