Planning to import or manufacture camping tents for sales in the United States? In this guide, we explain what you must know about various safety and flammability standards, labeling, certification, and testing requirements.
More specifically, we take a closer look at the CPSIA and standards such as CPAI-84 and ASTM F3431.
Content Overview
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CPSC Guidance for Sporting and Camping Equipment
We could not find a specific CPSC standard that covers camping tents. However, the CPSC has a guidance page sporting and camping equipment, which also cover comping tents. The guidance page explains that, in general, consumer products should not pose a flammability risk.
General-use camping tents
The CPSC explains that “CPAI-84 – A Specification for Flame-Resistant Materials Used in Camping Tentage” sets a flammability testing protocol for general-use camping tents. It also explains that, while camping goods meant for children are excluded from ASTM F963-17 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, they still need to comply with mandatory children’s product requirements (e.g. CPSIA).
Outdoor tents
The CPSC claims that importers or manufacturers of products that consumers are likely to use near a flame source, such as outdoor tents, should make sure that their product is not highly flammable.
As such, they should conduct testing against one of the testing protocols:
a. CPAI-84 – A Specification for Flame-Resistant Materials Used in Camping Tentage
b. 16 CFR Part 1500.44 – Method for determining extremely flammable and flammable solids
c. ASTM F963-17 – Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety
Note that the guidance page does not which testing protocol is more relevant for children’s products.
ASTM Standards
We found two ASTM standards that cover camping tents. Complying with relevant ASTM standards is often a necessary step to ensure that your product is safe, even when these standards are not incorporated in any regulations. Note that other standards for camping tents may exist.
| Standard title | Description |
| ASTM F3431 – Standard Specification for Determining Flammability of Materials for Recreational Camping Tents and Warning Labels for Associated Hazards | This standard contains requirements and test methods for outdoor recreational camping tents.
It contains controlled small flame methods of testing tent materials and is meant to specify which materials do not pose a flame and injury risk. The standard also includes warning label requirements. |
| ASTM F2441 – Standard Practice for Labeling of Recreational Camping Tents and Bivouac Sacks | This standard requires recreational camping tents and bivouac sacks to bear permanent and obvious warning labels.
It specifies two kinds of warning labels for:
|
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)
The CPSIA regulates children’s products, which are items designed and intended for children aged 12 and younger. This includes children’s camping products such as tents.
Although we could not find any specific standards under CPSIA that cover children’s tents, such products would still be subject to general children’s product requirements, such as:
- Adherence to relevant safety requirements (e.g. flammability, substance restrictions)
- Testing by a CPSC-accepted accredited lab
- Provision of a Children’s Product Certificate
- Tracking label
16 CFR PART 134 – Country of Origin Marking
You are required to affix a country of origin marking onto products imported into or manufactured in the United States. You can attach the marking to the product in several ways (e.g. pressure-sensitive label) so long as it is obvious, readable, and permanent.
For instance, if the entirety of a tent is manufactured in Vietnam, its country of origin label should read “Made in Vietnam”.
In another instance, if the components of a tent came from Vietnam but were assembled in China, then the country of origin label could read: “Assembled in China from components of Vietnam”
California Proposition 65
California Proposition 65 restricts the use of certain substances in consumer products sold in California. The materials used to make tents, such as polyester, may contain restricted substances, such as:
- PFOA – used as a flame retardant and a water repellant
- TDCPP – used as a flame retardant
- TCEP – used as a flame retardant
California Proposition 65 also requires importers and manufacturers to affix a warning label to their products if they are unsure if the product complies with relevant substance restrictions. The label should contain:
- A warning symbol
- The word “WARNING”
- The warning statement
California Code of Regulations – Chapter 2 – Tents, Awnings and Other Fabric Enclosures
Chapter 2 of the California Code of Regulations applies to tents, awnings, and fabric enclosures. Specifically, Article 4 sets requirements for flame resistance and labeling for tents.
Note that we are listing this regulation as an example of state regulation that specifically cover tents. However, other states may also have similar regulation.
19 CCR 332 – Flame resistance
Tents sold in California are required to be made from:
a. Nonflammable material; or
b. Flame-resistant fabric approved by and complying with the State Fire Marshal’s requirements in CCR Title 19 Chapter 8; or
b. Fabrics compliant with the flame resistance requirements in the CPAI-84 standard
19 CCR 335 – Labeling of tents
Large tents and small tents have different labeling requirements. We briefly summarize the differences below.
Note that, as small tents are defined as tents designed to host less than 10 people, most of camping tents would follow under this category.
| Tent type | Requirements |
| Large tents | Each top and sidewall section should have a durable label containing:
a. The Seal of Registration b. Name, registration number of approved chemical used, and date of treatment (if the fabric is treated) c. Trade name and registration number of the approved fabric and the production date (if registered fabric) You may print, stamp, or stencil the label directly to the fabric. |
| Small tents | Small tents are required to bear a permanent label bearing either the information necessary for large tents, or the following:
|
Lab Testing
You should get your products tested to prove product compliance. While some regulations require product testing (e.g. CPSIA), for others testing is a practical necessity to ensure product safety. If your product passes flammability and other relevant testing, you receive a report indicating product compliance.
| Regulation | Lab testing |
| CPAI-84 – A Specification for Flame-Resistant Materials Used in Camping Tentage | CPAI-84 sets methods for testing the flame resistance of fabric and pliable materials used in camping tents. |
| 16 CFR Part 1500.44 – Method for determining extremely flammable and flammable solids | This method requires to use a candle flame to burn the sample until it ignites, and calculate the rate of burning of the sample. |
| ASTM Standards | Camping tents should undergo lab testing per relevant ASTM standards. This may include:
|
| Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) | The CPSIA mandates that products meant for children aged 12 and younger meet relevant requirements, such as substance restrictions, flammability, and more. |
| California Proposition 65 | Tents should undergo testing to ensure their materials do not contain substances restricted by California Proposition 65, such as:
|
| California Code of Regulations | 19 CCR 332 requires tents to undergo flammability testing, for example using the CPAI-84 standard, before their sale in California. |
Camping tent testing companies
Here are some companies that claim they can test camping tents in the United States.
- Intertek
- TÜV Rheinland
- SGS
- Vartest
- Diversified Testing Labs
