PUYALLUP, Wash., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Teeter, manufacturer of inversion tables and inversion therapy products for over 30 years, announced that new safety testing and certification requirements have been implemented by UL specifically for inversion tables.
UL revised their current Standard for Safety for Massage and Exercise Machines, UL 1647, to fill a void that exists in quality testing standards for inversion tables. Though this specification is now fully operational, the option to pursue UL Listing remains voluntary. To date, Teeter offers the only inversion tables on the market to have passed these specifications.
Roger Teeter, founder and president of Teeter, says, “One inversion table may look the same as the next, but what may not be immediately obvious are vital design features for user protection and reliable function. The updated UL Listing 1647 is the safety and performance standard I’ve been advocating for in the inversion industry for over 30 years. The fact that we voluntarily submitted our products for review and they are now authorized to bear the UL mark is something to be proud of.”
UL’s standard was developed to evaluate the unique function of the inversion table and simulate “real world” use. Notable requirements for inversion table performance include:
- Simulated-use test of 30,000 cycles under maximum rated user weight
- Strength testing dependent on factors of maximum rated user weight (requiring a 4-times safety factor)
- Endurance testing requiring 30,000 cycles of operation for the ankle closure device
- “End-Stop Test” to ensure structural integrity under extreme conditions (inverts table 50 times at top speed loaded with maximum rated user weight)
- Stability testing at various loads and stages of inversion
- Uniform label and warning guidelines
- Unscheduled quarterly inspections by UL at the factory to determine whether a manufacturer is continuing to follow standard requirements
Teeter inversion tables listed to UL 1647 and currently available to consumers include: Teeter Hang Ups EP-550, Teeter Hang Ups EP-550 Sport, Teeter Hang Ups EP-650, Teeter Hang Ups EP-850, Teeter Hang Ups EP-950, Teeter Hang Ups NXT-R, Teeter Hang Ups Contour L3, Teeter Hang Ups Contour Power, Teeter Hang Ups FitSpine System, and Teeter Hang Ups FitForm.
Why is the UL Listing important?
The disparity in product quality among inversion tables was emphasized by a 2010 report published by Dynamark Engineering, a product-testing firm that specializes in mechanical analysis and forensic engineering. Modeled after the UL 1647 safety standard, Dynamark’s performance tests were conducted on a selection of widely distributed models. In endurance and strength tests, ALL competing models experienced catastrophic failure resulting from torn or broken metal, falling far short of the UL standard. Only Teeter Hang Ups surpassed the minimum safety requirements.
UL’s commitment to consumer safety is clear from this statement on their website: “As consumers, we make important decisions every day about the products we purchase and use in our homes … Underwriters Laboratories is committed to the safety and protection of all consumers in their daily lives.”
Consumers now have the power to look for inversion tables that bear the UL Listing Mark, confident in their knowledge that UL rigorously tests representative samples to determine their compliance with the requirements of the new standard.
Doug Edwards, owner of The Comfort Store, says, “When customers ask our sales force why we like Teeter Inversion Tables the best, we tell them, ‘Because we value quality.’ The fact that Teeter brand inversion tables are UL Listed means a lot to us because we value our customers’ safety.”
About Teeter
With over 2 million users, Teeter Hang Ups leads the inversion market as the definitive inversion products brand. Founded in 1981 by Roger and Jennifer Teeter, Teeter is the longest continuous manufacturer of inversion products in the world, committed to creating the highest-quality, easiest-to-use inversion products for home and commercial use. Visit http://www.teeter-inversion.com.
About UL
UL is a premier global independent safety science company with more than 116 years of history. Additional information about UL may be found at http://www.UL.com.
Contact
Kimberly Grotzke, Marketing Dir.
800.847.0143, [email protected]
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SOURCE Teeter
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