Safety

At Franklin & Ben, we design with every consideration of your experience with our products in mind. On the top of our priority list is the safety of your child. We surpass national and international safety standards to provide you with the best quality product possible. Additionally, we take into account things like lasting quality and durability to ensure that your furniture pieces grow with your changing family's needs.

We Surpass Safety Standards
REQUIREMENT ASTM/CPSC STANDARDS Franklin and Ben
Slats/spindles static load strengths 80 lbs 135+ lbs
Total lead content in paint <.009> <.001>
Total lead content in surface coating <.009> <.001>
Total lead content in substrate <.01> <.001>
Phthalates <.1> undetectable

Materials

We produce our cribs, dressers and changers using high-quality, solid Poplar hardwood or sustainable New Zealand pine. Because hardwood is denser than softwood, it is more durable and less likely to dent or scratch. With its straight-grained, fine even texture, Poplar's smooth surface takes paints and stains beautifully and creates an easy-to-clean surface. Furthermore, Poplar's composition allows it to readily accept nails and screws without splitting, making it perfect for crafting durable, long-lasting furniture. Unlike other hardwoods, Poplar and pine are renowned for their fast growth and renewability. Select furniture pieces encompass birch veneer panels. Birch veneers are a hard and sturdy wood that are less prone to splitting, cracking, dents, and scratches. Additionally, its unique grain patterns lend natural beauty to our furniture pieces. When construction requires the use of medium density fiberboard (MDF), Franklin & Ben uses only materials that are TSCA compliant. All surface coating and finishes are lead safe. The foam used in cushions is free of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs).

Stains & Paints

Our products are finished in non-toxic multi-step staining and painting process. The paint used for all of our products are formaldehyde and lead safe; the formaldehyde level for all of our furniture is undectectable. Paint is considered safe when it has toxic materials under 300 parts per million (ppm). In order for a company to claim low toxicity, it must have no more than 90 ppm. Franklin & Ben products come in at less than 10 ppm. We perform annual paint tests in order to maintain consistent quality, exceeding JPMA regulations. In addition, Franklin & Ben products have zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds), testing at less than 5 g/L.

 

  • Our products are all formaldehyde and lead safe; the formaldehyde level for all of our furniture is undetectable.
  • Paint is considered safe when it has toxic materials under 300 parts per million (ppm). In order for a company to claim low toxicity, it must have no more than 90 ppm. Franklin and Ben products come in at less than 2ppm.
  • We perform annual paint tests in order to maintain consistent quality, exceeding U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations.

Certifications and Standards

  • CPSIA Section 101

Full-Size Cribs

  • Mattress supports are built with strong and safe TSCA Compliant MDF, which provides optimum support.
  • Metal inserts with lock washers and self-locking nuts are used, instead of wood screws. 16 CFR 1219, ASTM F1169
  • As required, slats are a maximum of 2 3/8" apart. Each slat withstands at least 135lbs of pressure, exceeding the minimum of 80 lbs. 16 CFR 1219, ASTM F1169
  • After third party testing, 25% of our full-size crib models are tested quarterly to adhere to all guidelines.

Certifications and Standards

  • ASTM F1169
  • 16 CFR 1219
  • SOR/2010-261 certified (all cribs)

Tips

  • Stop using our full-size cribs when your child begins to climb or reaches 35"
  • Crib mattresses should be at least 51.625"L x 27.25"W, with thickness not exceeding 6"

Changers & Dressers

  • All of our changing tables and dressers include an optional anti-tip kit, to help secure the item to the wall as a form of safety enhancement.
  • Some of the major requirements for Changer and Dresser standards include testing for structural integrity, tip-proof stability with anti-tip kit, barriers, entrapment and enclosed openings and shelves. ASTM F2388, ASTM F2057

Certifications and Standards

  • ASTM F2388 (changing tables)
  • ASTM F2057 (dressers)

Tips

  • Our changing tables have a maximum weight capacity of 30 lbs

Upholstered Rockers

  • All material and finishes are lead safe
  • The foam used is Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) free

Certifications and Standards

  • CPSIA Section 101
  • CPSIA Section 108 : Phthalates
  • TB116 - Flame Retardance of Upholstered Furniture
  • TB117 - Flame Retardance of Resilient Filling Materials

Testing and Quality Control

  • All our products are sent to a 3rd party CPSC-certified lab for testing to ensure compliance with ASTM standards.
  • After third party testing, 25% of our full-size crib models are tested quarterly to adhere to all guidelines.
  • Our annual paint tests have allowed us to achieve consistent quality and enabled us to exceed U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission paint safety standards.
  • We have created our own rigorous quality control program to stay ahead of industry standards. A quality control team at our production site individually checks and hand packs each piece to ensure the highest quality of craftsmanship before products leave our factory doors. Items are inspected and assembled again by another team upon arrival in the US.

GREENGUARD Gold Certification

The GREENGUARD Gold seal certifies that our furniture has been independently tested and verified to meet rigorous standards for chemical emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde or phthalates.

 

GREENGUARD Gold offers some of the world's most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of VOCs into indoor air which can be a major source of indoor air pollution and may contribute to health problems in children such as asthma and allergies. Products carrying the seal have been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and more than 360 VOCs and certified as low-emitting by this independent, trusted 3rd party.

California Proposition 65

What is the California Proposition 65 Warning?

 

Products with this precautionary warning label are furniture that include upholstery, cushions, or pads and were manufactured before May 2019. As of May 2019, our 3rd party testing partner has expanded their scope of testing and is now able to certify these products are no longer required to list the CA Prop 65 warning label as a precaution. We made no changes to our sourcing; products produced before this date are made with the same materials and at the same factories, so we can assure you that all of our cribs and wooden furniture do not contain any of the chemicals listed. All of our cribs meet ASTM standards in addition to CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) standards and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) 101 and 108.


We test all our products on a yearly basis to ensure that they are safe to use, and are compliant with the most current voluntary standards and federal regulations. These acts regulate lead and phthalate levels in children's products, and all our products are lead and phthalate safe.

 

To learn more about CA PROP 65, please visit http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html