[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7657]



[[Page 18059]]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


Petition Requesting Mandatory Fire Safety Standards for Candles 
and Candle Accessories (Petition No. CP 04-1/HP 04-1)

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission 
(Commission or CPSC) has received a petition (CP 04-1/HP 04-1) 
requesting that the Commission issue mandatory fire safety standards 
for candles and candle accessories. The Commission solicits written 
comments concerning the petition.

DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments on the 
petition by June 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the petition, preferably in five copies, should 
be mailed to the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207, telephone (301) 504-0800, or 
delivered to the Office of the Secretary, Room 502, 4330 East-West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Comments may also be filed by 
facsimile to (301) 504-0127 or by email to [email protected]. Comments 
should be captioned ``Petition CP 04-1/HP 04-1, Petition for Fire 
Safety Standards for Candles and Candle Accessories.'' A copy of the 
petition is available for inspection at the Commission's Public Reading 
Room, Room 419, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. The 
petition is also available on the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rockelle Hammond, Office of the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207; 
telephone (301) 504-6833, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received correspondence 
from the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) requesting 
that the Commission issue mandatory fire safety standards for candles 
and candle accessories including candleholders. Specifically, NASFM 
requests that the CPSC adopt standards substantially based on the 
requirements contained in ASTM International Provisional Specifications 
for Fire Safety for Candles (PS59-02).
    In addition, NASFM requests that the standards incorporate:
    1. Flammability performance requirements for candle accessories, 
including candleholders;
    2. End of useful life requirements for freestanding, tealight, 
taper, and votive candles;
    3. End of useful life requirements for votive candles and taper 
candles mounted in appropriate candleholders; and
    4. Miscibility and flash point requirements for gel candles.
    NASFM asserts that such standards are needed because of the 
inherent danger posed by candles with their open flames, coupled with 
the increase in residential fires caused by candles over the past 
decade. NASFM provided information concerning deaths and injuries 
involving home candle fires.
    The NASFM request that the CPSC adopt a standard substantially 
based on the requirements contained in ASTM International Provisional 
Specifications for Fire Safety for Candles (PS59-02), and additional 
requested items 1., 2., and 3. set forth above, is docketed as petition 
number CP 04-1 under the Consumer Product Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. 2051-
2084. The NASFM request for a standard addressing miscibility and flash 
point requirements for gel candles is docketed as petition number HP 
04-1 under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. 1261-1278.
    Interested parties may obtain a copy of the petition by writing or 
calling the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0800. The 
petition is available on the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov. A copy of 
the petition is also available for inspection from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, in the Commission's Public Reading Room, Room 
419, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland.

    Dated: March 30, 2004.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-7657 Filed 4-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P