Wooden bunk beds
CPSC Recall #95-174 - September 27, 1995
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 95-174 |
| Recall Date | September 27, 1995 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, Replace |
| Units Affected | Over 41,000 |
Product
Wooden bunk beds
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC and 10 bunk bed manufacturers and importers announced today the recall of over 41,000 wooden bunk beds. The bunk beds have openings on the top bunk which may present a potential entrapment hazard to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap the child's head. On May 9, 1995, CPSC and 11 manufacturers announced the recall of more than 320,000 wooden bunk beds with similar entrapment hazards. In response to this action, the manufacturers participating in the recall today have also identified bunk beds with similar entrapment hazards. From 1990 through 1995, CPSC received reports of 26 children who died from becoming caught in bunk beds with similar spaces in the top bunk. Twenty one of those children were ages two and under, and four were three years of age. Neither CPSC nor the manufacturers are aware of any deaths associated with the products listed below. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standard for bunk beds requires that, in addition to having guardrails on both sides of the top bunk, any spaces between the guardrail and bed frame, and in the head and foot boards on the top bunk, be less than 3.5 inches. Bunk beds currently made by the companies listed below now meet the spacing requirement of the voluntary standard. The companies are also placing permanent labels on their bunk beds to warn that children under the age of six be prohibited from the upper bunk. CPSC and the manufacturers continue to urge parents and caregivers not to put children under the age of six on the top bunk. The manufacturers and importers listed below are participating in this recall to improve the safety of these beds and to meet the requirements of the voluntary standard. Consumers should stop using the recalled beds immediately and call the company or contact the retailer for a replacement guardrail, retrofit kit, or instructions to help eliminate the potential entrapment hazard. If this cannot be done (for example, firm is out of business) the product should be destroyed or discarded. If consumers are not sure of the bunk bed manufacturer or have questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772. Company Model #'s Dates Distributed Locations Artwood Fine Furniture Mfg. South El Monte, CA (818) 350-5976 200 400 446 1992 - 1995 1989 - 1994 1992 - 1994 California Brewster Corp. Hamilton, AL (205) 921-9712 300 500 46-33 Sept. 1989 - Jan. 1995 Oct. 1993 - Jan. 1995 Nov. 1993 - Jan.1995 D&J Mattress Grants Pass, OR OUT OF BUSINESS twin/twin twin/full 1993 - 1995 Oregon Crescent City, CA Furniture Imports Philadelphia, PA (215) 423-7010 Wooden Bunk Bed when used with metal rails 967 1767 1994 - 1995 Irons Country Pine Florence, AL OUT OF BUSINESS 4600 4900 4300 1995 NY, PA, RI, CT, KY, MD, MA, IL, WV, DC Lee Anderson Furniture Buena Park, CA OUT OF BUSINESS 64832 64882 Feb. 1992 - 1995 Nationwide Nordwins Corp. Los Angeles, CA OUT OF BUSINESS 862 1986 - 3/95 Southern CA, NY, AZ, CO, OR, WA Pine Cone Rustics Mfg. Madison, MN (320) 598-7774 Both models are bookcase style, with a half-moon design cut out of head board 300 280 1986 - 1995 MN, SD, ND,WI, IA,MO, IL, IN, MI, KS Room Improvement Woodland, CA CONTACT RETAILER 2x4 twin/twin 2x6 twin/twin 2x6 twin/full 4x4 Standard 4x4 Jungle Gym 1/89 - 6/95 Valley District, Store North Highland, CA The Bunk Bed Shop Cedar Creek, TX OUT OF BUSINESS 101 101S 1995 103RS 202RS 203BC Early 1980's Texas
Hazard
The bunk beds have openings on the top bunk which may present a potential entrapment hazard to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap the child's head.
Incidents & Injuries
From 1990 through 1995, CPSC received reports of 26 children who died from becoming caught in bunk beds with similar spaces in the top bunk. Neither CPSC nor the manufacturers are aware of any deaths associated with the products listed below.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled beds immediately and call the company or contact the retailer for a replacement guardrail, retrofit kit, or instructions to help eliminate the potential entrapment hazard. If this cannot be done (for example, firm is out of business) the product should be destroyed or discarded. If consumers are not sure of the bunk bed manufacturer or have questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, Replace 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 (Dispose, Replace) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.