On Monday, June 13, 2011, CPSC opened a new state-of-the-art National Product Testing and Evaluation Center. The new lab has 2 ½ times more testing space than CPSC’s old facility, which was a former military missile site that CPSC first occupied in 1975. Here are some photos from the grand opening.
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CPSC Laboratory Grand Opening
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CPSC scientists and staff await the grand opening ceremony.
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CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum welcomes Sen. Durbin aide Diana Hamilton, Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Rockville, Md., Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio to CPSC’s new testing facility.
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Rep. Chris Van Hollen said, “Americans have a right to go to the store and expect products to be safe. … That’s what [CPSC staff] do.”
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Chairman Tenenbaum and Rep. Van Hollen cut the ribbon. CPSC commissioners Nancy Nord and Thomas Moore look on.
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CPSC Director of Laboratory Sciences Andy Stadnik shows Rep. Van Hollen the new testing facility.
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CPSC chemist Joanne Patry talks about testing products for lead.
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This Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometer (DART-MS) tests for chemicals in products in seconds. Staff scientists simply rub the product with a glass rod and place the rod in front of a gas flow as shown. This new machine helps CPSC scientists get results more quickly and efficiently.
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Helmets are lifted on a rail system and dropped for an impact test to make sure that the helmets you wear meet safety standards.
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Mechanical engineer Ian Hall shows a helmet to Chairman Tenenbaum, while Rep. Van Hollen, Sen. Dick Durbin’s aide Diana Hamilton, CPSC commissioners Anne Northup and Nord, and CPSC International Programs Director Richard O’Brien look on.
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To test parking brakes on ATVs and ROVs, CPSC scientists have a new floor panel that lifts and tilts. Here, mechanical engineer Brian Baker measures the angle of the floor.
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Director of Laboratory Sciences Andy Stadnik shows a tool developed by CPSC staff to screen cigarette lighters for compliance at ports and retail locations saving time and shipping costs each year.
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This baby walker was seized at import, failed CPSC’s test and never made it to store shelves. A weighted doll is placed in the walker and a test is run to see if the walker will stop safely or, instead, potentially fall down stairs or ledges.
