Toy Sound Level — EN 71-1 / 2009/48/EC

What Is Sound Level?

The toy sound level test measures the sound the product emits as a sound pressure level at the measurement distance and conditions defined in the standard. Continuous sound and impulsive sound are assessed separately; the measurement distance differs for toys used close to the ear.

Purpose of Sound Level

The purpose is to verify the toy does not emit sound at a level that could damage the child's hearing. The risk is markedly higher for toys held close to the ear.

Which Products Is Sound Level Applied To?

Sound-emitting and musical toys
Toy phones and headphones
Cap guns and popping toys
Whistles, horns and rattles
Electronic instruments

In Which Sectors Is Sound Level Used?

ToyRetailConsumer ProductsElectrical & Electronics

Standards Related to Sound Level

TS EN 71-1 (mechanical and physical properties — acoustic requirements)
ISO 8124-1
TS EN ISO 3744 / 3745 (sound power measurement environments)
EN 71-1Mechanical and physical properties in toys test
EN 71-2oyuncaklarda yanabilirlik test
EN 71-3migration of certain elements in toys test

Sound Level Conditions

Measurement distance: According to how the toy is used; shorter for those used close to the ear
Sound type: Continuous sound and impulsive sound are assessed separately
Environment: Anechoic or semi-anechoic room; background noise is controlled

Equipment for Sound Level

Class 1 sound level meter
Anechoic or semi-anechoic room
Acoustic calibrator
Artificial ear or measurement rig

Sample Requirements for Sound Level

Specimen as offered for sale, with its batteries
Measurement is performed with new, fully charged batteries
If there is a volume control, it is measured at the maximum setting
The mode of use (close to/away from the ear) must be provided

Duration of Sound Level

The measurement itself is short; duration is determined by environment setup, calibration and the number of measurement points.

Sound Level Procedure

1The background noise of the measurement environment is verified.
2The sound level meter is calibrated.
3The toy is positioned at the location and distance defined in the standard.
4Sound level is measured at the maximum setting.
5Separate assessment is made for continuous and impulsive sound.
6Results are compared against the limits in the standard.

Sound Level Acceptance Criteria

EN 71-1 defines sound pressure level limits according to toy type and mode of use; separate limits apply for toys used close to the ear and for impulsive sound. Current limits are confirmed from the standard's latest edition.

Evaluation of Results

The measurement condition determines the result: the same toy gives a different level at a different distance. Choosing the measurement position matching the product's actual use is therefore critical. Sound level drops as battery voltage falls, so measurement is done with a new battery.

Sound Level Report

Product identification and sound-generation method
Measurement environment and background noise
Measurement distance and position
Continuous and impulsive sound results
Limit values compared against

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

2009/48/EC Toy Safety Directive Annex II

Oyuncak Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Sound Level test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Toy testing shows that a product is safe in children's use. What sets this family apart is that risk is defined according to the USER: the same product may be hazardous for a child under 36 months and safe for an older child. Age marking is therefore not a marketing preference but a technical decision that determines which requirements apply, and it is justified in the technical file.

At the centre of the field is the risk of CHOKING. Children under 36 months put objects in their mouths; a part that detaches or is small to begin with can block the airway. Assessment with the small parts cylinder is the fundamental criterion for this group, and the tests examine whether the part detaches after use and misuse.

The logic of the tests is not that the toy must not break but that BREAKING must not produce a hazardous outcome. A child drops, pulls, bites and stands on a toy. Drop, tension, compression, torque, impact and tipping tests are therefore applied, and the resulting new state is then assessed: is the detached part a small part, did the broken surface leave a sharp edge, has the internal mechanism become accessible?

On the chemical axis, MIGRATION is what counts. What is measured in a toy is not how much of an element the material contains but how much of it dissolves and transfers under conditions simulating the mouth. Materials are divided into three categories (dry brittle powder, liquid or sticky, scrapable) and different limits apply to each; the amount of material a child could ingest varies by category.

Flammability is the third axis and is critical particularly for costumes, tents and plush toys: how quickly flame spreads across the surface is measured.

Electrical and battery-powered toys bring additional bodies of work: EN 62115 for electrical safety, the relevant battery standards and Battery Regulation obligations for the battery. For toys containing button cells, making the battery compartment impossible for a child to open has become a separate requirement — a swallowed button cell is a cause of serious injury.

Sound level is an item that is often overlooked. For toys used close to the ear (toy telephones, rattles, cap-firing toys) the sound pressure is limited; the risk of hearing damage is assessed.

Market regimes differ and do not substitute for one another: the Toy Safety Directive and CE marking in Europe, and in the United States the CPSIA with mandatory ASTM F963 and a third-party laboratory certificate (CPC). The United States also looks at total lead content while Europe looks at migration; the two approaches can produce different results.

Method groups in this field

Mechanical and physical
Small parts assessment, sharp edges and points, entrapment, cord and drawstring safety, dynamic strength, drop and tipping (EN 71-1).
Flammability
Rate of flame spread and ignition behaviour (EN 71-2); decisive for costumes and plush toys.
Element migration
Migration of specified elements in the three material categories (EN 71-3).
Organic chemicals
Phthalates, flame retardants, azo dyes, preservatives and fragrances (EN 71-9 and REACH restrictions).
Electrical toys
Electrical safety under EN 62115; heating, insulation, battery compartment and charging safety.
Sound and other
Sound pressure measurements; the requirements of EN 71-4 and EN 71-5 for chemistry sets and chemical toys.

Commonly confused in this field

Toy safety cannot be demonstrated with a single standard; the mechanical, flammability and chemical parts are assessed together.
Age marking determines which requirements apply; it must be justified in the technical file and not left to marketing preference.
An ASTM F963 report is not accepted in a CE file; the requirements and test arrangements of the two regimes differ.
Migration and total content are different things; the CPSIA looks at total lead while EN 71-3 looks at migration.
If the material category is chosen incorrectly the limit is applied incorrectly too; the category decision is made before sample preparation.
For toys containing button cells, battery compartment safety is a separate requirement; passing electrical safety is not sufficient.

Which decisions these results support

CE marking and the technical file
Determining age marking and warning texts
The CPC certificate and mandatory third-party testing for the US market
Supplier and lot-based acceptance control
Determining the scope of retesting after a design change

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Sound Level

If the volume control is turned down, does the measurement come out lower?

Measurement is performed at the maximum setting because it is foreseeable that a child will turn the volume all the way up. A result taken at a lower setting does not demonstrate compliance.