Bed-N-Loft bunk bed assembly kits

CPSC Recall #99-085 — March 24, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-085
Recall DateMarch 24, 1999
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 5,400
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Menards
Payless Cashways
Cotter-Miller
and Woodworker's Supply stores mainly in the Midwest sold the kits from January 1994 through September 1998 for about $40.

Product

Bed-N-Loft bunk bed assembly kits

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Newco Inc., of Janesville, Wis., is announcing a recall to repair program for about 5,400 bunk bed assembly kits sold under the brand name Bed-N-Loft Kits. Some kits did not include hardware or instructions for installing guardrails on the top bunk. A child could fall or become entrapped between the wall and the mattress if there are no guardrails on the top bunk. Other kits had incorrect assembly instructions for the guardrails, which caused spaces on the top bunk to be larger than 3.5 inches. This space could be large enough for a child's body to fall through, but small enough to entrap a child's head and possibly strangle. CPSC and Newco are not aware of any injuries related to the kits. The kit contains hardware, including bed frame brackets and screws, for the assembly of a wood bunk bed or loft system. The kit was sold in a cardboard box labeled in part, "Do-It-Yourself Bed-N-Loft Hardware Kit...Ideal For: Dorm Rooms, Children's Rooms, Spare Bedrooms, Cabins & Cottages...Made in U.S.A....NE 8830". Menards, Payless Cashways, Cotter-Miller, and Woodworker's Supply stores mainly in the Midwest sold the kits from January 1994 through September 1998 for about $40. Consumers should stop using any bunk bed assembled from this kit until they have repaired the bed. To receive the repair kit, which consists of instructions for properly placing guardrails on the top bunk and the necessary hardware, consumers should call Newco Inc. at (256) 997-5212 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday.

Hazard

Some kits did not include hardware or instructions for installing guardrails on the top bunk. A child could fall or become entrapped between the wall and the mattress if there are no guardrails on the top bunk. Other kits had incorrect assembly instructions for the guardrails, which caused spaces on the top bunk to be larger than 3.5 inches. This space could be large enough for a child's body to fall through, but small enough to entrap a child's head and possibly strangle.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using any bunk bed assembled from this kit until they have repaired the bed. To receive the repair kit, which consists of instructions for properly placing guardrails on the top bunk and the necessary hardware, consumers should call Newco Inc. at (256) 997-5212.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.