I thought I would blog about my ce teasing journey in making
the dolly slings and carriers safe for children.
When I started looking into it, I got very overwhelmed with
it all, but by joining groups and paying for membership, it has been a good
journey and a steep learning curve!
I joined CE marking group, and paid for their CE pack, there
is another place that you can get the pack slight cheaper but found this is
most comprehensive.
Number 1. Make a master copy of the CE pack, this means you
can reuse again and again with out having to buy each time. In certain
documents I have also made a master with details that will remain the same.
Saves time retyping!
Number 2. Read and read and read until dizzy in head! After
a few times, you start to understand the process.
Number 3. Gather your equipment. I looked around the house
and found we had things like wooden spoons, lighter (for candles), my phone has
a stopwatch, camcorder, jute bag for holding weights, magazines to use as
weights, washing up bowl for the soaking test (we just replaced our old one, so
kept it solely for that purpose). The only thing I had to buy was luggage
scales, I got digital set from my local supermarket and read out the weight
reading, but have since got a set of the old fashioned kind.
Number 4. Don't panic
when starting! By doing it in steps and
doing it slowly it then becomes clearer. I found that there is no clear
guidance for dolly carriers/slings but hopefully with the help from the groups,
I got there.
Number 5. Certificates! This is where the expense can mount
up. You need certificates for majority of the material used, there is some
exceptions, if you are in groups they will charge a nominal amount for you to
purchase, but once you have it, you can copy and paste to other items you make.
You use due diligence on using fabric for the same manufacturer which can help,
testing the fabric yourself can cost £60 and the groups will have recommendations
of the testing houses.
Number 6. Burning your toy!
It is scary after all the work you have put in, but it is essential. You
will need somebody to help you in order to film you doing, in fact another
person with you is good, even for moral support. The flash testing is done differently, I made
up a square 20 cm by 20cm and then sewed it in format I would be using, and
then laid it on a metal tray and set fire to it.
Number 7. Paperwork
and paperwork tons of it. I keep a USB
stick that solely has the CE testing information on it as a backup, but you
also have to keep a paper copy of the CE markings and I copy all the pictures
and videos onto a DVD. Some say don’t keep the flash testing fabric or the
sample, but I do, this way if a check in needed, it is there.
Number 8. CE
labels. Emmmm easy you think, no. There is certain information that has to be
on it, along with your contact details (name, house number and postcode is
fine) along with the CE mark. You can
also add any warnings etc. I printed mine
on card and then tagged them onto the product.
You also have to put batch numbers on them as well, this is so it is traceable
if any fault occurs and you know who you sold your product to.
If you want to incorporate the label in your product you
have to remember to test the product with the label in.
And if it passes all the tests, then you have a product, and
you will feel very proud when it goes on sale and you can say, yes they are CE
certified.
As more and more people become aware that any toy that has
play value you have to CE certify your product, whether it is knitted, crochet
or sewed. Some craft shows will even ask
you if your products are self-certified before they will allow you a stall.
Just ask if you need any help or assistance.
Kay
