Safety guide
Wall Anchors and Furniture Tip-Over Safety
Why dressers and bookcases tip, what the STURDY Act changed, and how to anchor furniture into different kinds of wall.
Why furniture tips
A dresser or bookcase pivots on its front edge. Open drawers, a TV on top, or a child pulling on a drawer to climb all shift weight forward past that edge. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission runs its Anchor It! campaign because tip-overs of furniture, TVs and appliances seriously injure and kill young children every year.
What the STURDY Act and ASTM F2057 require
The STURDY Act (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth) became law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. It directed the CPSC to set a mandatory stability standard for clothing storage units such as dressers and chests.
Under that law, the CPSC published a final rule in the Federal Register (88 FR 28403) that incorporates ASTM F2057-23, the voluntary standard for clothing storage unit stability, by reference. Among other things, the standard tests units with drawers open and loaded, simulates the weight of a child, and requires warning labels.
Anchoring into different walls
| Wall type | Best fixing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drywall over wood studs | Screw into the stud | Find studs with a stud finder; they are commonly 16 inches apart on centre |
| Drywall, no stud where you need it | Rated toggle or strap-toggle anchor | Check the anchor's load rating; avoid plastic expansion plugs |
| Plaster and lath | Screw into the stud behind | Drill slowly to avoid cracking the plaster |
| Concrete or block | Masonry anchor and masonry bit | Use the anchor size the restraint kit specifies |
| Metal studs | Toggle designed for steel studs | Ordinary wood screws will not hold |
Fitting the restraint
- Use the restraint that came with the piece, or a tip-over kit rated for furniture.
- Attach it to a solid part of the furniture, usually the top rail or a side panel near the top, never the thin back panel alone.
- Fix the wall end into a stud or a rated anchor, slightly higher than the furniture bracket so the strap pulls back and up.
- Take up slack so the unit can't lean forward more than a small amount.
- Anchor the TV separately or place it on a low, stable stand.
- Store heavy items in the lowest drawers, and teach children not to climb.
Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Anchor It! campaign
- CPSC, Clothing Storage Units business guidance (STURDY Act rule)
- Federal Register, 88 FR 28403: Safety Standard for Clothing Storage Units
- ASTM International, F2057-23 Standard Safety Specification for Clothing Storage Units
- Public Law 117-328, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (includes the STURDY Act)