New Tent Flammability and Labelling Rules

Summary#

The federal government published new Tents Regulations: SOR/2024-217 on November 20, 2024. The rules update how tents and some children’s play tents are tested and labelled for flammability, and aim to keep people safer while reducing the need for flame retardant chemicals.

What it does#

• Replaces the old tent rules with the new Tents Regulations, which use the Canadian testing and labelling standard CAN/CGSB-182.1-2020 for tent fabrics and components.
• Lets the regulations automatically follow later final updates to that standard (so newer test methods apply without changing the law).
• Keeps a required warning label and specific flammability tests for tents, and sets special rules for flooring materials.
• Moves some children’s play tents that are not intended as outdoor shelters into the Toys Regulations. Those toys must meet the flammability parts of ISO 8124–2 and carry a permanent warning label and alert symbol.
• Amends the Textile Flammability Regulations to avoid overlap with the updated toys rules.
• Gives a transitional period: products that met the old rules can be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold for two years after the regulations come into force.
• When the referenced standards are later updated, the rules give:
  • for the CGSB tent standard: one year for manufacturers/importers and two years for advertisers/sellers to meet the new version;
  • for the ISO toy standard: 180 days for manufacturers/importers and one year for advertisers/sellers.

Who's affected#

• Tent and shelter manufacturers, importers and retailers in Canada. Health Canada estimates about 1 million tent products are sold in Canada each year.
• Companies that make or sell children’s play tents, play tunnels, teepees and similar “toys intended to be entered by a child.”
• Testing laboratories that test tent fabrics for flammability.
• Consumers: campers, families with young children who buy play tents, and other users of portable shelters (including people who use tents because they are unhoused).
• Small businesses in the tent supply chain. Health Canada’s analysis found the overall burden on small firms is expected to be low.

Why it matters#

• Safer tents: the updated test method is meant to better match modern tent materials (mostly lightweight synthetics), so the rules should more accurately identify risky fabrics.
• Fewer chemicals: the new standard is expected to reduce the need for manufacturers to treat fabrics with flame retardant chemicals, lowering potential exposure for users and workers.
• Clearer warnings: some play tents will now carry a mandatory, permanent label with an alert symbol telling caregivers to keep the product away from heat and open flame.
• Transition time: the rules include a two‑year transition so stores and makers can sell existing stock and adjust to the new requirements.
• Costs and benefits: Health Canada estimates the regulations will cost industry about $3.10 million in present value over 10 years, with estimated per‑tent one‑time costs of $0.43 and ongoing annual costs of $0.70 (about $0.40 million per year undiscounted). Health and safety benefits (fewer severe fires and reduced chemical exposure) are expected to outweigh these costs, though exact future benefits are uncertain.