On the eve of the new school year, departmental experts decided to figure out and what is it, the right backpack for the student? And at the same time check, how modern products meet regulatory requirements.
For research employees of the department purchased school backpacks on the websites of manufacturers and online stores Ozon and Auchan. Their cost ranged from 709 to 12,500 rubles for one unit of goods.
Most of the satchels made in China, but the experts also met samples from Russia, Germany, Japan, and Serbia. In some cases, it was not possible to establish the country of origin of products.
In assessing the quality and safety of school backpacks, experts focused on the recommendations of the Rospotrebnadzor, the provisions of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union 007/2011 "On the safety of products intended for children and adolescents", and the requirements of SanPiN 2.4.2.2821 (Appendix 1 and 14) epidemiological requirements for goods subject to sanitary and epidemiological surveillance.
How to choose a school backpack
Weight
Normally, the weight of a backpack for primary school students should not exceed 700 grams, and for middle and high school students - 1 kg.
Straps
Choosing a backpack for a primary school student, pay attention to the width of the straps. At the top, it should be at least 3.5-4 cm and at the bottom 2-2.5 cm. Narrow straps will cut into the body, causing inconvenience to the child. The total length of the element is about 60–70 cm.
The lining on the shoulder straps must be made of ventilated fabric, otherwise, the skin under them will sweat. Check the fasteners - they should be firmly fixed to the fabric and adapted for adjustment in length.
Back
According to the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union, the back of a backpack must be form-stable, rigid, inflexible. But these rules apply only to school bags for primary school students.
In the design of the back should be included inserts made of plastic or metal, ensuring its rigidity. The outer layer should be made of fabric with a soft pad of mesh material.
Capacity
According to experts, a school backpack should have two compartments or one large with an additional pocket or liner. Textbooks and notebooks can be stored in the main part of the satchel, and in the extra part - a pencil case and office.
The size
Too big pack - even if light - can hurt the child’s posture. For a primary school student, a backpack of the following sizes is recommended (an increase of 3 cm is allowed):
Back wall length - from 30 to 36 cm;
Front wall height - from 22 to 26 cm;
Product width - 6−10 cm.
Security
An important indicator is the presence of reflective materials on the backpack, thanks to which the child can be distinguished on the road from a distance. According to the requirements of TR CU 007/2011, student portfolios and satchels should have reflective tapes on the front and side surfaces and the upper flap. Colors should be as contrasted as possible. These rules apply to backpacks for students of all ages.
Marking
On the product label, the manufacturer must indicate the purpose of the backpack - for example, "school" or "student's" - and the recommended age (6+ or 12+).
Toxicity
Pay attention to the smell from the backpack. According to the increased requirements of the Roskachestvo standard, it should be completely absent. Although "Uniform sanitary-epidemiological and hygienic requirements for goods subject to sanitary-epidemiological supervision (control)" allow its presence, provided that it is not sharp. "Chemical" smell can be a signal about the use of low-quality dyes.
Manufacturers Verification
The results of the study showed that there is no perfect backpack, even in the high price segment. But all samples were safe in terms of toxicity and content of harmful substances, strong and reliable.
A number of backpacks made with violations. Thus, the weight of TM Mattel, Erich Krause and Dazzle production satchels for children of three, six and seven years, respectively, exceeded the permissible norms by at least 100 grams.
The experts also found violations in the labeling of goods. Manufacturers often did not indicate the purpose of the backpack. Information on the recommended age was either missing or distorted. So, some models were designed for first graders, but their weight is suitable only for high school students.
2024 ©