Lighters:
Child-resistant
Lighters Protocol Testing Program
Thank
you for your interest in our Child-Resistant Lighter Protocol
Testing program. We have tested thousands of children
since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
began considering regulations for disposable and novelty
lighters. We are in contact with the CPSC and have the
knowledge and ability to supply the information that the
agency requires when the testing is completed.
To
begin the testing you need to:
·
Provide 6 surrogate lighters that are identical to the product
that will be on the market, that do not create a flame.
They must make some indication that the lighter has been
activated (usually a tone). At the end of our testing
with the children, the surrogates must be stored so they can
be made available to the CPSC if they are requested. The
surrogates must all be the same color and permanently
numbered.
·
Take force measurements of the surrogates and submit that
information to us, and we will include it in the final report.
(The maker of the surrogate lighters will take these
measurements for you.)
·
Additional information is required from you to include in the
report. This information will be required from you along
with the initial force measurements before testing can
begin (i.e., manufacturing sites, lighter identification such
as model name, model number, description of ignition
mechanism, description of child resistant feature, fuel used,
dimensions & tolerance of production lighter, and
dimensions of surrogate lighter). We will also need you
to send us one production unit (empty) to be included with the
report.
The
regulations require the lighter to pass at 90% with a panel of
100 children and 85% with a panel of 200 children. If
the lighter does not pass at 90% using one 100-panel*, an
additional panel of 100 children is required with an overall
85% pass rate.
It
takes about 6 to 8 weeks to complete a test and submit the
report AFTER the surrogates have been made. We
send a report to the CPSC for you. They will send you a
letter saying they received the report. You may not hear
anything else from them; however, you should assume you might
begin importing 30 days from the submission of the report.
Please note that the CPSC does not “certify” your
lighters and nor does Great Lakes Marketing.
In
some cases,
you may want to test a small number of children to learn if
the lighter system will work. We recommend that you make
two surrogates and we test 10 older, male children. This
is only done if you are not sure if your lighter will pass and
want a pre-test.
Costs:
We require 50% of the invoice to be paid upon project
authorization (before we begin testing) and the final 50%
after the first 50 children are completed. Please be
advised that you will be charged on a per child basis for any
additional children tested due to the malfunction or repairs
required on the surrogates.
If
two or more different lighters are submitted for testing at
the same time, the cost for each test is reduced by 10%.
We do not experience any economies in testing unless the
lighters are submitted at the same time. No child can
test more than one lighter.
Consulting:
Great Lakes Marketing has been testing child-resistant (CR)
lighters and packaging for the CPSC throughout the years.
This experience translates into helpful information for our
clients. We enjoy answering questions about your lighter
or package evaluation and giving you the benefit of our
testing experience.
Call
or email for more Information, to request a Cost Quote or to
Initiate CR Protocol Evaluations.
Contact
either:
Lori
Mitchell Dixon, PhD, Principal
Phone:
419-534-4710 (direct)
Email:
ldixon@GLM.com
Phyllis
Korte, Coordinator of Child-Resistant Protocol Evaluations
Phone:
419-481-1052 (direct)
Email:
phyllis@GLM.com
Great
Lakes Marketing
3103
Executive Pkwy, Ste 106,
Toledo,
Ohio 43606-1311
Phone:
419-534-4700
(main)
Fax:
419-531-8950
General
Email: info@GLM.com
