Recall: Wooden Bunk Beds Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Originally issued November 10, 1998, Revised July 9, 2001 Release # 99-018

Company Phone Number: 800) 989-6141 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

Note: Phone number change.

CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Recall of Wooden Bunk Beds

WASHINGTON, DC - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), five bunk bed manufacturers are recalling more than 37,000 wooden bunk beds. The beds have spaces on the top bunk that present potential entrapment and strangulation hazards to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap a child's head.

CPSC is not aware of any deaths associated with the beds being recalled by these five manufacturers. However, since 1990, 39 children have died from becoming entrapped in wooden or metal bunk beds with similar spaces on the top bunk. Thirty-seven of those children were 3 years old or younger. Since 1994, more than half a million hazardous bunk beds have been recalled.

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. The manufacturers are participating in this recall to improve the safety of the beds and to meet the requirements of the voluntary standard. The manufacturers also will send consumers permanent labels to be placed on the beds to warn not to put children under the age of 6 on the upper bunk. CPSC and the manufacturers continue to urge parents and caregivers not to put children under the age of 6 on the top bunk.

Consumers should stop using the recalled beds immediately and call the company for a replacement guardrail, retrofit kit or instructions that will eliminate the potential entrapment hazard. The recalled beds were sold through flea markets and in specialty and furniture stores, including Workbench furniture store. If consumers are not sure of the bunk bed manufacturer or have any questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.

Manufacturer	Models (Twin Beds)	Distribution	Locations
Fine Pine Vinemont, AL (800) 874-5737	1010, 1030, 1180 1130 (formerly 56) and 1060 (formerly 32)	1990-1998	Nationwide
New England Woodcraft Forest Dale VT (802) 247-8211	Bed NE 120, 1020, 1120, Ladder NE 144, and 1144	1994-1997	Nationwide
J.I.M. Manufacturing Los Angeles, CA (800) 989-6141	Sprindle Oaxaca Solid	1986-1998	Southern California and Nevada
I.E.M. Furniture City of Commerce, CA (800) 869-1688	2121D 2121N	1996-1998	Nationwide
Padilla's Furniture Los Angeles, CA (323) 232-2310	03370 Literas 100	1996-1998	Southern California

If any identification information is on the bed, it would be the manufacturer's name. If the manufacturer's name is on the bed, it would be on the inside top frame of the bunk bed, such as on the guardrail, head or footboard. It also could be underneath the bottom bunk.