PART 1750—STANDARD FOR DEVICES TO PERMIT THE OPENING OF HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE Authority: Pub. L. 84-930, sec. 3, 70 Stat. 953 (15 U.S.C. 1213). Source: 38 FR 34729, Dec. 18, 1973, unless otherwise noted. § 1750.1 Definitions. As used in this part: (a) Act (b) Commission (c) Device (d) Effective date (e) Household refrigerator (f) Opened (g) Shelving § 1750.2 Transfer of functions. Effective May 14, 1973, section 30(c) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (86 Stat. 1231; 15 U.S.C. 2079(c)) transferred functions under the Refrigerator Safety Act from the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. § 1750.3 Scope and application. This standard shall apply to devices furnished with household refrigerators manufactured and introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce after the effective date (October 30, 1958) which enable such refrigerators to be opened from the inside. The requirements of this standard shall apply to household refrigerators in their normal operating position only. The releasing feature(s) of the device shall be accessible from all spaces which (a) are bounded by interior walls or shelving, (b) are directly accessible when the exterior hinged door(s) is (are) opened, and (c) have a minimum dimension of 20.3 centimeters (8 inches) or more and a volume of 56.6 cubic decimeters (2 cubic feet) or more either with all shelving in place or as the result of the removal or the rearrangement of any or all of the shelving. § 1750.4 General requirements. Household refrigerators shall be equipped with a device enabling the doors thereof to be opened easily from the inside, either by the application of an outwardly directed force to the inside of the door or by the rotation of a knob similar to a conventional doorknob. The device shall not render the refrigerator unsatisfactory for the preservation of food under any or all normal conditions of use. § 1750.5 Detailed requirements. (a) Releasing forces. (1) Shall permit the refrigerator door to be opened on the application of a force equivalent to one which, if directed perpendicularly to the plane of the door and applied anywhere along the latch edge of the inside of the closed door, shall not exceed 66.7 newtons (15 pounds); (2) Shall permit the refrigerator door to be opened on the application of clockwise or counterclockwise turning moment of not more than 0.57 newton-meter (5 inch-pounds) to a knob on the door through an angle of rotation of 45° ±15° in either direction; or (3) Shall function automatically to permit the door to be opened with a force of 66.7 newtons (15 pounds) or less applied as described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section whenever space(s) exist(s) or is (are) created with dimensions and volumes exceeding the dimensions and volumes imposed by § 1750.3. (b) Description and location of knob(s). 1/4 3/4 (c) Wear. (d) Protection against adverse effects from spillage, cleaning, defrosting, and condensation. (e) Devices which permit door to be opened as a result of forces or turning moments applied to movable components inside the refrigerator. (f) Power supply. § 1750.6 Tests. It is the intent of this standard that where tests are not specified, the general and detailed requirements shall be checked by inspection, simple measurement, and by consideration of pertinent standard commercial practices. Compliance with the requirements of § 1750.5 (a), (c), (d), and (e) shall be checked with the aid of the following tests: (a) Test for releasing force on door. (b) Test for knob torque. (c) Tests for strength of device components which affect the safety features of the device. (2) A turning moment of 2.26 newton-meters (20 inch-pounds) shall be applied for 50 successive operations in a clockwise direction, followed by 50 successive similar operations in a counterclockwise direction, to components designed to permit the door to be opened as a result of the application of a turning moment to them. The turning moment shall be applied to the outer periphery of the component provided. The gage used for registering the moment applied shall have a calibrated accuracy within ±0.044 newton-meter (±0.4 inch-pound) when measuring a moment of 2.26 newton-meters (20 inch-pounds). The finest graduations on the dial of the gage shall correspond to a moment increment not greater than 0.044 newton-meter (0.4 inch-pound) and the full-scale range of the gage shall not exceed 4.52 newton-meters (40 inch-pounds) in each direction from the null reading. The turning moment applied in each operation shall be applied for a period of time sufficient for the component to come to rest after completing the extent of movement for which designed. A pushing force of 89.0 newtons (20 pounds) shall be applied for 50 successive operations, followed, if applicable, by 50 successive similar operations with a pulling force, to components designed to permit the door to be opened as a result of the application of a force to them. Areas which may be, in service, subjected to pushing or pulling forces which create maximum stresses (for example, points on the outer periphery of components designed to transmit a turning moment, or unsupported portions of members or areas designed for transmitting a force) shall be subjected to test. The gage used for registering the force applied shall have a calibrated accuracy within ±1.8 newtons (±0.4 pound) when measuring a force of 89.0 newtons (20 pounds). The finest graduations on the dial of the gage shall correspond to a force not in excess of 1.8 newtons (0.4 pound) and the full-scale range shall not exceed 177.9 newtons (40 pounds). (3) Upon being subjected to the tests prescribed by paragraph (c)(2) of this section, no device component on which the safety features of the device depend shall break, crack, permanently deform, or show other visible damage. The device must satisfy the requirements of § 1750.5(a) after being subjected to the tests in paragraph (c)(2). (d) Simulated use test. § 1750.7 Provision for changes in the standard. (a) Section 5 of the act provides for the possibility of changes in the commercial standard first established pursuant to section 3 of the act and allows a period of 1 year and 90 days for compliance with such changes after they are published. (b) Any person wishing to propose a change in this standard shall submit to the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207, the proposed change. Before a change is recommended, the Consumer Product Safety Commission shall secure advice and consultation from public or private sources including particularly the household refrigerator manufacturing industry and the Division of Maternal and Child Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. The Commission shall then take such action as it deems appropriate. [38 FR 34729, Dec. 18, 1973, as amended at 51 FR 10, Jan. 2, 1986; 52 FR 406, Jan. 6, 1987]