[Title 16 CFR F]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - January 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 16 - COMMERCIAL PRACTICES]
[Chapter II - CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION]
[Subchapter F - REFRIGERATOR SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
16COMMERCIAL PRACTICES22002-01-012002-01-01falseREFRIGERATOR SAFETY ACT REGULATIONSFSUBCHAPTER FCOMMERCIAL PRACTICESCONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
SUBCHAPTER F--REFRIGERATOR SAFETY ACT REGULATIONS
PART 1750--STANDARD FOR DEVICES TO PERMIT THE OPENING OF HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE--Table of Contents
Sec.
1750.1 Definitions.
1750.2 Transfer of functions.
1750.3 Scope and application.
1750.4 General requirements.
1750.5 Detailed requirements.
1750.6 Tests.
1750.7 Provision for changes in the standard.
Authority: Pub. L. 84-930, sec. 3, 70 Stat. 953 (15 U.S.C. 1213).
Source: 38 FR 34729, Dec. 18, 1973, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 1750.1 Definitions.
As used in this part:
(a) Act means the Refrigerator Safety Act (Pub. L. 84-930, 70 Stat.
953; 15 U.S.C. 1211-14), enacted August 2, 1956.
(b) Commission means the Consumer Product Safety Commission
established by the Consumer Product Safety Act (Pub. L. 92-573, sec. 4,
86 Stat. 1210; 15 U.S.C. 2053).
(c) Device means the mechanism or the means provided for enabling
the doors of household refrigerators to be opened from the inside.
(d) Effective date means the date under the provisions of the act
after which all household refrigerators manufactured and introduced or
delivered for introduction into interstate commerce must comply with
this standard. This date is October 30, 1958.
(e) Household refrigerator means a cabinet or any part of a cabinet
designed for the storage of food at temperatures above 0 deg.C. (32
deg.F.), having a source of refrigeration, and intended for household
use.
(f) Opened as applied to a refrigerator door means to effect release
of the latching mechanism so that a trapped child would have to apply
little or no further effort in order to escape.
(g) Shelving means any shelf, basket, drawer, or baffle which can be
readily removed from the refrigerator without the use of tools.
Sec. 1750.2 Transfer of functions.
Effective May 14, 1973, section 30(c) of the Consumer Product Safety
Act (86 Stat. 1231; 15 U.S.C. 2079(c)) transferred functions under the
Refrigerator Safety Act from the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal
Trade Commission to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sec. 1750.3 Scope and application.
This standard shall apply to devices furnished with household
refrigerators manufactured and introduced or delivered for introduction
into interstate commerce after the effective date (October 30, 1958)
which enable such refrigerators to be opened from the inside. The
requirements of this standard shall apply to household refrigerators in
their normal operating position only. The releasing feature(s) of the
device shall be accessible from all spaces which (a) are bounded by
interior walls or shelving, (b) are directly accessible when the
exterior hinged door(s) is (are) opened, and (c) have a minimum
dimension of 20.3 centimeters (8 inches) or more and a volume of 56.6
cubic decimeters (2 cubic feet) or more either with all shelving in
place or as the result of the removal or the rearrangement of any or all
of the shelving.
Sec. 1750.4 General requirements.
Household refrigerators shall be equipped with a device enabling the
doors thereof to be opened easily from the inside, either by the
application of an outwardly directed force to the inside of the door or
by the rotation of a knob similar to a conventional doorknob. The device
shall not render the refrigerator unsatisfactory for the preservation of
food under any or all normal conditions of use.
Sec. 1750.5 Detailed requirements.
(a) Releasing forces. As determined by the tests prescribed by
Sec. 1750.6, the device:
(1) Shall permit the refrigerator door to be opened on the
application of a force equivalent to one which, if directed
perpendicularly to the plane of
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the door and applied anywhere along the latch edge of the inside of the
closed door, shall not exceed 66.7 newtons (15 pounds);
(2) Shall permit the refrigerator door to be opened on the
application of clockwise or counterclockwise turning moment of not more
than 0.57 newton-meter (5 inch-pounds) to a knob on the door through an
angle of rotation of 45 deg. 15 deg.in either direction; or
(3) Shall function automatically to permit the door to be opened
with a force of 66.7 newtons (15 pounds) or less applied as described in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section whenever space(s) exist(s) or is (are)
created with dimensions and volumes exceeding the dimensions and volumes
imposed by Sec. 1750.3.
(b) Description and location of knob(s). The knob(s) shall resemble
a conventional doorknob in shape and size and shall be mounted near the
latch side of the door extending into the cabinet at least 6.3
millimeters (\1/4\ inch) beyond any inner door surface within a 15.2-
centimeter (6-inch) radius of the knob center. The knob(s) shall be
mounted in such a manner that there is a minimum of 19.0-millimeter (\3/
4\-inch) clearance between the inner periphery of the knob(s) and
adjacent inner door surfaces. The knob(s) shall be located so as to
provide the accessibility required by Sec. 1750.3.
(c) Wear. The device shall comply with the requirements of paragraph
(a) of this section after 300,000 cycles of operation of the door as
determined by the tests prescribed by Sec. 1750.6.
(d) Protection against adverse effects from spillage, cleaning,
defrosting, and condensation. Devices shall be designed so that spillage
of foods or beverages, cleaning or defrosting in accordance with
manufacturer's recommendations, or normal condensation will not so
adversely affect the operation of the device as to result in its failure
to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, as determined
by the tests prescribed by Sec. 1750.6.
(e) Devices which permit door to be opened as a result of forces or
turning moments applied to movable components inside the refrigerator.
Those components of a device upon which the safety features of the
device depend shall not break, crack, permanently deform, nor show other
visible damage when subjected to forces and moments specified in the
tests under Sec. 1750.6(c). The requirements of paragraph (a) of this
section shall be satisfied after the device has been subjected to the
tests under Sec. 1750.6(c).
(f) Power supply. The device shall operate in accordance with the
requirements of this standard with the electric, gas, or other fuel
supply either on or off.
Sec. 1750.6 Tests.
It is the intent of this standard that where tests are not
specified, the general and detailed requirements shall be checked by
inspection, simple measurement, and by consideration of pertinent
standard commercial practices. Compliance with the requirements of
Sec. 1750.5 (a), (c), (d), and (e) shall be checked with the aid of the
following tests:
(a) Test for releasing force on door. The force measurements shall
be made by means of a force gage with a calibrated accuracy within
1.3 newtons (0.3 pound) when measuring a force
of 66.7 newtons (15 pounds). The dial of the gage shall be graduated
with finest divisions not exceeding 0.9 newton (0.2 pound), and the
full-scale range shall not exceed 133.4 newtons (30 pounds).
Measurements shall be made at three points on the door near the inside
latch edge--one point near the top of the interior space created by
removal of all shelving, one point near the bottom, and one point midway
between these two points. The requirements of Sec. 1750.5(a)(1) shall be
satisfied.
(b) Test for knob torque. The measurement of the turning moment
required to operate the knob release shall be made with a torque gage
adapted for attachment to the knob or knob shaft. The gage shall have a
calibrated accuracy within 0.011 newton-meter (0.10 inch-
pound) when measuring a moment of 0.57 newton-meter (5 inch-pounds). The
finest graduations on the dial of the gage shall correspond to a moment
increment not greater than 0.011 newton-meter (0.10 inch-pound) and the
full-scale range shall not exceed 1.13 newton-meters (10 inch-pounds) in
each direction from the null reading. The
[[Page 761]]
turning moment shall be applied so as to rotate the knob the full amount
required for release, in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise
direction. The angle of rotation required for release shall be checked
by means of an angle gage adapted to measure the angle of rotation about
the longitudinal axis of the knob shaft. The gage shall have a
calibrated accuracy within 1 deg. at an angle of 45 deg. and
the finest divisions shall not exceed 1 deg.. The requirements of
Sec. 1750.5(a)(2) shall be satisfied.
(c) Tests for strength of device components which affect the safety
features of the device. (1) The tests prescribed by paragraph (c)(2) of
this section shall apply only to devices which permit the door to be
opened as a result of forces or turning moments applied to movable
components inside the refrigerator.
(2) A turning moment of 2.26 newton-meters (20 inch-pounds) shall be
applied for 50 successive operations in a clockwise direction, followed
by 50 successive similar operations in a counterclockwise direction, to
components designed to permit the door to be opened as a result of the
application of a turning moment to them. The turning moment shall be
applied to the outer periphery of the component provided. The gage used
for registering the moment applied shall have a calibrated accuracy
within 0.044 newton-meter (0.4 inch-pound) when
measuring a moment of 2.26 newton-meters (20 inch-pounds). The finest
graduations on the dial of the gage shall correspond to a moment
increment not greater than 0.044 newton-meter (0.4 inch-pound) and the
full-scale range of the gage shall not exceed 4.52 newton-meters (40
inch-pounds) in each direction from the null reading. The turning moment
applied in each operation shall be applied for a period of time
sufficient for the component to come to rest after completing the extent
of movement for which designed. A pushing force of 89.0 newtons (20
pounds) shall be applied for 50 successive operations, followed, if
applicable, by 50 successive similar operations with a pulling force, to
components designed to permit the door to be opened as a result of the
application of a force to them. Areas which may be, in service,
subjected to pushing or pulling forces which create maximum stresses
(for example, points on the outer periphery of components designed to
transmit a turning moment, or unsupported portions of members or areas
designed for transmitting a force) shall be subjected to test. The gage
used for registering the force applied shall have a calibrated accuracy
within 1.8 newtons (0.4 pound) when measuring a
force of 89.0 newtons (20 pounds). The finest graduations on the dial of
the gage shall correspond to a force not in excess of 1.8 newtons (0.4
pound) and the full-scale range shall not exceed 177.9 newtons (40
pounds).
(3) Upon being subjected to the tests prescribed by paragraph (c)(2)
of this section, no device component on which the safety features of the
device depend shall break, crack, permanently deform, or show other
visible damage. The device must satisfy the requirements of
Sec. 1750.5(a) after being subjected to the tests in paragraph (c)(2).
(d) Simulated use test. Tests shall be conducted on the completely
assembled refrigerator in its normal operating position to determine
that the release device complies with the requirements of Sec. 1750.5
during and after the 300,000 cycles of door operation and following
exposure to spillage of foods and beverages, to cleaning and defrosting
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, and to
condensation. The equipment provided for operating the door shall open
the door sufficiently on each cycle to assure a complete cycle of
operation for the latch mechanism.
Sec. 1750.7 Provision for changes in the standard.
(a) Section 5 of the act provides for the possibility of changes in
the commercial standard first established pursuant to section 3 of the
act and allows a period of 1 year and 90 days for compliance with such
changes after they are published.
(b) Any person wishing to propose a change in this standard shall
submit to the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
D.C. 20207, the proposed change. Before a change is recommended, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission shall secure advice and consultation
from public or private sources including particularly the
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household refrigerator manufacturing industry and the Division of
Maternal and Child Health, Health Resources and Services Administration,
Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. The
Commission shall then take such action as it deems appropriate.
[38 FR 34729, Dec. 18, 1973, as amended at 51 FR 10, Jan. 2, 1986; 52 FR
406, Jan. 6, 1987]