by Plastic units aimed at anchoring clothing storage units to the wall can break over time
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning to consumers to stop using a defective anti-tip kit that can break over time, potentially resulting in tip-over incidents that can harm children and adults.
The notice involves the KareKlub plastic tip restraint kits commonly used for clothing storage units.
The CPSC said that it is aware of 15 incidents where consumers reported the tip restraints broke, including two incidents where a child was climbing on or jostling the unit.
The agency said it also tested the units and that they failed to meet the requirements of industry tip-restraint standard ASTM F3096-23. Thus, it noted that the units pose a false sense of security to consumers who believe that they will protect them from tip-over incidents involving clothing storage units or other furniture they attempt to secure to the wall.
The units were sold on Amazon.com for between $5 and $10 each, depending on how many restraints were included in the packaging. The CPSC said they contain two plastic brackets, including one that connects to the furniture and one that connects to the wall. They also have a plastic cable zip tie, two different pairs of screws — one of which is longer than the other — and two drywall anchors.
The agency has warned consumers to immediately stop using these defective plastic tip restraints, remove them from furniture and dispose of them. It also encouraged consumers to replace them and secure their furniture with tip restraints that are compliant with industry standard ASTM F3096-23.
For additional information on how to install these units to prevent tip-over incidents, consumers can visit the CPSC Anchor It! website, https://www.anchorit.gov/.
To avoid being implicated in a similar safety incident, retailers can ask their suppliers to make sure the anti-tip kits they use comply with the federal standard.
RSAs also can help educate consumers about the dangers of tip-overs and how these kits can prevent such incidents from occurring in their home, even if it simply means directing them to the CPSC Anchor It! website.
