Posted on 05/05/2015 4:28:33 AM PDT by markomalley
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a regulation for Christmas lights on Monday, deeming some holiday decorations a “substantial product hazard.”
“The Consumer Product Safety Commission … is issuing a final rule to specify that seasonal and decorative lighting products that do not contain any one of three readily observable characteristics (minimum wire size, sufficient strain relief, or overcurrent protection), as addressed in a voluntary standard, are deemed a substantial product hazard under the Consumer Product Safety Act (“CPSA”),” the final rule said.
The ruling applies to a variety of Christmas decorations, including “stars, wreathes, candles without shades, light sculptures, blow-molded (plastic) figures, and animated figures.”
However, “solar-powered products” are exempt.
The CPSC said the regulation is necessary because Christmas lights can be dangerous.
“A lighting string provided with decorative covers over the lamps is a decorative outfit,” the final rule said. “If not constructed properly, lighting powered by 120 volts can be damaged easily and can pose a risk of electrical shock or fire.”
The CPSC said there have been 258 deaths associated with Christmas lights between 1980 and 2013. However, fatal incidents have been on the decline, with an average of less than one fatal (0.9) incident a year since 2008. The number of people who die of alcohol poisoning in California every year is greater than the number of Americans who have been killed by Christmas lights in the past three decades.
The CPSC has a detailed definition of what constitutes a Christmas bulb.
“Lighting products within the scope of the rule are typically used seasonally and provide only decorative lamination,” the final rule said. “The products typically are displayed for a relatively short period of time and are then removed and stored until needed again.”
“[Underwriters Laboratories (“UL”), Standard for Safety for Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products, UL 588, 18th Edition] UL 588 section 2.43 defines the term ‘seasonal (holiday) product’ as: ‘[a] product painted in colors to suggest a holiday theme or a snow covering, a figure in a holiday costume, or any decoration associated with a holiday or particular season of the year,’” it explained.
The rule is listed as a “voluntary standard.” However, manufacturers and retailers can face civil and “possibly criminal penalties” for failing to report any products to the CPSC that do not meet the regulation’s requirements.
What’s next...banning Christmas?
Obama akbar!
Consumer Product Safety Commission
one more f-ing gub mint puss pile of onerous worthless rules and regulations they have no bid ness getting involved in.
Just one of a thousand or so gub mint fiasco’s that need shit canned along with their leaches known as employees.
Terrifying.
They will have to pry the old style lights from my cold, dead hands!
Or not. Hell, I haven’t put up the tree since the ex. left.
Thank God and Greyhound she’s gone!
CC
Well, I guess it’s back to real candles on the Christmas tree - I didn’t see those on the list. /sarc
Ban all cheap Chinese trash.
The lights we had when I was a kid were hot enough to melt the snow a couple inches around each bulb!
Just buy Festivus light. Problem solved.
[What’s next...banning Christmas?}
JOHN 3:19-21
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I'll use my Christmas lights all year. Problem solved.
Why aren't they banning Holiday lights? or whatever the PC term is nowadays for Dec 25. Suddenly it is fine to use the description "Christmas".
Is the electric Menorah still allowed?
What about those fake fireplaces which emit heat. Those are used seasonally and provide decorative lamination.
Kawanza lights, those that are black opaque glass or plastic are exempt.
Light bulbs in the olden days were useful. They provided heat and could be used to thaw frozen pipes. LEDs and squiggly light bulbs are just cool light and cold.
They should regulate hoodies
Murder inducing hoodies account to hundreds of murders each week
This proves it's all about control, not safety.
In related news, they will stop selling traditional water heaters in the next few weeks. If you need a new one and don’t want to pay more for the mandated tankless model, now is the time...
NOT MINE YOU BASTARD!
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