Sale of Hazardous Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Order 2008 (TAS)

Sale of Hazardous Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Order 2008

The Products Safety Committee makes the following order under section 8 of the Sale of Hazardous Goods Act 1977 .

PART 1Preliminary1Short titleThis order may be cited as the Sale of Hazardous Goods (Hot Water Bottles) Order 2008 . 2CommencementThis order takes effect on the day on which its making is notified in the Gazette. 3InterpretationIn this order – ferrule means a metal or plastic ring designed to assist in achieving a water tight seal for a hot water bottle; filling aperture means the opening in the neck block of a hot water bottle through which water may enter; hot water bottle means a container that – (a) is made from PVC or rubber; and (b) is designed to be – (i) completely or partly filled with hot water; and (ii) sealed with a stopper; and (iii) used for the purpose of warming parts of the body or a bed; and (c) includes – (i) a ferrule; and (ii) a filling aperture; and (iii) a neck block; and (iv) a stopper; neck block means the top of a hot water bottle when the hot water bottle is being filled; PVC means polyvinyl chloride; stopper means a device that is designed to be inserted into the neck block of a hot water bottle to trap water in the body of the hot water bottle. PART 2Specifications for Hot Water BottlesDivision 1Restriction on sale4Restriction on sale of hot water bottlesA person must not sell a hot water bottle unless it complies with the specifications in this Part. Division 2Physical properties5Rubber hot water bottles – capacity and thickness (1)  If a rubber hot water bottle has a capacity of less than 2 000 millilitres, the rubber material that is used to make the body of the bottle must have a minimum thickness of 1.4 millimetres. (2)  If a rubber hot water bottle has a capacity of 2 000 millilitres or more, the rubber material that is used to make the body of the bottle must have a minimum thickness of 1.5 millimetres. 6PVC hot water bottles – capacity and thickness (1)  If a PVC hot water bottle has a capacity of less than 800 millilitres, the PVC material that is used to make the body of the bottle must have a minimum thickness of 1.5 millimetres. (2)  If a PVC hot water bottle has a capacity of 800 millilitres or more, but less than 2 000 millilitres, the PVC material that is used to make the body of the bottle must have a minimum thickness of 1.7 millimetres. (3)  If a PVC hot water bottle has a capacity of 2 000 millilitres or more, the PVC material that is used to make the body of the bottle must have a minimum thickness of 1.8 millimetres. 7Filling characteristics (1)  A filling aperture of a hot water bottle must be 18 millimetres or more in diameter. (2)  If the filling aperture is less than 20.3 millimetres in diameter, the hot water bottle must be equipped with an integral filling funnel that – (a) has a minimum capacity of 60 millilitres when a stopper is fitted; and (b) extends beyond the height of the stopper. (3)  In this clause – integral filling funnel means a funnel that is designed to assist the safe filling of the hot water bottle. Division 3Stoppers8General test for stoppersA hot water bottle must have a stopper that, when tested in accordance with tests 1 and 2 in Part 2 of Schedule 1 , must not – (a) allow any visible leakage around the stopper; or (b) show any visible damage. 9Test for separation of screw stopper (1)  A screw stopper, when tested in accordance with the procedure set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1 , must not allow leakage or separation between the following: (a) the stopper and the ferrule; (b) the ferrule and the neck block; (c) the neck block and the body of the hot water bottle. (2)  There must be no other visible defects that could impair the integrity of the hot water bottle. Division 4Performance10LeakageThe body of a hot water bottle must show no visible leakage when inflated with air to a minimum pressure of (14 ± 0.5) kilopascals and immersed in water for a minimum time of 5 seconds. 11Seam testThe seams of a hot water bottle must withstand a minimum tensile force of 72 newtons when tested in accordance with the procedure set out in Schedule 2 . 12Pressure test (1)  A hot water bottle must show no visible leakage when tested in accordance with the procedure set out in Schedule 3 . (2)  There must be no other visual defects that could impair the integrity of a hot water bottle when tested in accordance with the procedure set out in Schedule 3 . Division 5Informative labelling13Warning messages (1)  A hot water bottle must be marked with the warning message: “Do not use boiling water”. (2)  The warning message in subclause (1) must be – (a) a permanent mark on the hot water bottle; and (b) prominently displayed on the hot water bottle. (3)  In addition, a hot water bottle must be accompanied by – (a) the warning message, in capital letters: "WARNING – HOT WATER BOTTLES CAN CAUSE BURNS. AVOID PROLONGED DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SKIN"; and (b) if – (i) the hot water bottle is designed to be partly filled, the warning message: "This hot water bottle is designed to be partly filled"; or (ii) the hot water bottle is designed to be completely filled, the warning message: "This hot water bottle is designed to be completely filled." (4)  If a hot water bottle is made of natural rubber it must also be accompanied by the warning message: "This hot water bottle is made of natural rubber". Schedule 1Tests for stoppers

Clauses 8 and 9

PART 1Filling hot water bottle prior to testingDivision 1Procedure for filling a hot water bottle designed to be partly filled 1.   Fill the hot water bottle to two-thirds capacity. 2.   Expel all the air by lowering the hot water bottle carefully on to a flat surface. 3.   Insert the stopper, ensuring that – (a) if the stopper is a screw stopper, the stopper is tightened to a torque of (2 ± 0.1) Nm; and (b) if the stopper is a push-in stopper, the stopper is pushed in fully. Division 2Procedure for filling a hot water bottle designed to be completely filled 1.   Completely fill the hot water bottle in an upright position until water appears at the opening. 2.   Insert the stopper, ensuring that – (a) if the stopper is a screw stopper, the stopper is tightened to a torque of (2 ± 0.1) Nm; and (b) if the stopper is a push-in stopper, the stopper is pushed in fully. PART 2Tests for stoppersDivision 1Test 1 1A.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be partly filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 1 of Part 1 and use water at a temperature of (85 ± 2)oC. 1B.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be completely filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 2 of Part 1 and use water at a temperature of (85 ± 2)oC. 2.   Place the hot water bottle in a horizontal position. 3.   Apply the following force, evenly distributed over the surface of the hot water bottle, for 5 minutes: 4.   Check the hot water bottle for any visible leakage of water. Division 2Test 2 1A.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be partly filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 1 of Part 1 and use water that has just gone off the boil. 1B.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be completely filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 2 of Part 1 and use water that has just gone off the boil. 2.   Invert the hot water bottle and suspend it vertically for 10 minutes. 3.   Remove the stopper and empty the hot water bottle. 4.   Repeat step 1A or 1B, and then steps 2 and 3 twenty times in a continuous period for up to 168 hours and check for any visible signs of leakage on each occasion the steps are repeated. 5.   Examine the stopper for any visible damage. PART 3Test for separation of screw stoppersDivision 1Torque wrench 1.   To comply with the procedure set out in Division 3 , use a torque wrench that – (a) is capable of being set to read an accuracy of 0.1Nm; and (b) has a suitable adapter that fits the screw stopper; and (c) provides the application for the torque through the axis of the screw stopper. Division 2Tensile machine 1.   To comply with the procedure set out in Division 3 , use a tensile machine that – (a) is capable of generating a tensile force of 0.5kN between the upper and lower platen; and (b) has an upper platen equipped with a tensile jaw capable of holding the screw stopper; and (c) has a bottom platen equipped with a jaw capable of securely holding the body of the hot water bottle without tearing any part of the hot water bottle. Division 3Procedure 1.   Ensure that the hot water bottle is at a temperature of (23 ± 2)oC. 2.   Insert the screw stopper and use a torque wrench to tighten to a torque of (2 ± 0.1) Nm. 3.   Use a tensile machine to apply a force of 0.5kN between the body of the hot water bottle and the stopper continuously for 5 minutes. 4A.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be partly filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 1 of Part 1 and use water at a temperature of (85 ± 2)oC. 4B.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be completely filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 2 of Part 1 and use water at a temperature of (85 ± 2)oC. 5.   Use the test apparatus referred to in Part 1 of Schedule 3 to apply the following force, as a continuous compressive force, to the body of the hot water bottle for 2 minutes ± 30 seconds: 6.   Inspect the hot water bottle for visible leakage and for any separation of the stopper. Schedule 2Seam test

Clause 11

1.   Cut from a hot water bottle, at right angles to and around the seam, 6 equally spaced test strips with a width of 12.5mm and a minimum length of 115mm. 2.   Insert each test strip, one at a time, in the jaws of a tensile machine and, using a rate of grip separation of 500mm per minute, apply sufficient force to break the test strips completely. 3.   Record the maximum force required to break each test strip. 4.   Report the median force required to break the test strips. Schedule 3Pressure test

Clause 12

PART 1Test apparatus 1.   To comply with the procedure set out in Part 2 , use test apparatus for which the upper and lower plates of the text apparatus must – (a) be smooth; and (b) be at least the size of the hot water bottle that is tested without contact from the neck of the hot water bottle; and (c) have smooth edges of approximately 3mm radius; and (d) be free from sharp corners; and (e) be capable of applying a load of from 0kN to 0.9kN in not less than 3 seconds. 2.   The test apparatus must – (a) apply a load from 0kN to 0.9kN in not less than 3 seconds; and (b) hold the load of 0.9kN for a minimum of 3 seconds; and (c) after performing the requirement in paragraph (b) , return the load to zero load in a minimum of 3 seconds; and (d) perform the requirements in paragraphs (a) , (b) and (c) sequentially at least 5 times in one minute. PART 2Procedure 1A.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be partly filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 and use water at a temperature of (23 ± 2)oC. 1B.   For a hot water bottle that is designed to be completely filled, follow the procedure set out in Division 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 and use water at a temperature of (23 ± 2)oC. 2.   Place the hot water bottle on the lower plate of the test apparatus. 3.   Apply a load on the upper plate from 0kN to 0.9kN in not less than 3 seconds. 4.   Hold the load at 0.9kN for a minimum of 3 seconds. 5.   Decrease the load from 0.9kN to 0kN in not less than 3 seconds. 6.   Perform steps 3 to 5 five hundred times. 7.   Examine the hot water bottle for leakage.

This order was made by the Products Safety Committee at a meeting held on 19 November 2008.

Chris Batt

Chairman

Martin Biceuskis

Member

Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.

Notified in the Gazette on 3 December 2008

This is administered in the Department of Justice.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the order) This order restricts the sale of hot water bottles that do not –

(a) meet minimum standards for thickness and other physical characteristics; and (b) pass certain performance tests; and (c) carry specified warning messages.