Retailer Safety:
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What retailers are allowed to sell Speks products?
Speks products are sold in thousands of retail locations worldwide. Due to the nature of our magnet products, stores that sell exclusively children’s products should not carry Speks magnet items unless they maintain a clearly designated section intended for older consumers, such as a “Kidult” section.
For the avoidance of doubt, this restriction applies specifically to Speks magnet products. Non-magnet products, including Gump stress balls and other items that are independently tested and age-graded for younger users, may be sold in accordance with their stated age recommendations, including products suitable for ages 3 and up.
By purchasing Speks magnet products, retailers agree not to advertise, display, promote, offer for sale, or sell such magnet products to or for use by persons under 14 years of age. Retailers further agree to merchandise magnet products in a manner consistent with their 14+ age grading and to ensure clear separation from children’s products.
We reserve the right to cease sales of magnet products to any retail location found to be marketing or selling them in a manner inconsistent with these requirements. We will not knowingly sell magnet products to, or accept orders for magnet products from, retailers who sell exclusively children’s products without a clearly defined section intended for older consumers.
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How should Speks products be sold in retail stores?
Retailers offering Speks' magnet products must agree to display Speks along with other ages 14+ products and not with children’s products. Examples of appropriate places to advertise or display Speks would be alongside kites, adult puzzles, science or modeling kits, or on a front counter next to fidget or adult impulse products.
Speks’ magnet products consist of rare earth neodymium and ferrite magnets. While Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards, Speks’ products are not intended for children and should never be sold to anyone under the age of 14.
General Product Safety:
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Who are your products for?
Speks’ products are designed by adults for adults and are safe with proper use for anyone over the age of 14. However, our products should never be given to anyone under the age of 14.
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Do your products meet all safety standards and regulations?
While Speks’ products are not intended for children, Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards.
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Why can magnets be dangerous?
Swallowed magnets can damage internal organs and have resulted in death and serious injury. This is serious stuff. Speks must be kept away from ALL children and loose magnets should never be put near the nose or mouth. Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control centre immediately if you think magnets were swallowed.
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Can Speks damage hard drives or magnetic keys?
While it’s true that strong magnets, in theory, can corrupt hard drives or other magnetic devices, we are unaware of any incident where any damage has been caused. While we don't advise placing Speks’ products directly ON computers or hard drives, having them in the vicinity of a computer or on your desk is generally considered to be safe.
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Can I play with your products if I have a pacemaker?
Strong magnets should be kept away from pacemakers. While we are unaware of any Speks’ products affecting pacemakers, please consult with your medical professional to be sure our products are safe for you.
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Can pets play with Speks’ products?
No. All magnetic Speks’ products should be kept away from pets.
Speks Magnet Ball Safety:
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What ages are Speks magnet balls for?
Speks magnet balls are for anyone 14 years of age or older. That means nerds, early adopters, head honchos, nail-biters, cuticle-pickers, all-day fidgeters, aspiring architects, design snobs, and everyone in between. Just keep them away from ALL children.
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What are Speks Magnet Balls made from?
Speks are made from the rare earth element, neodymium along with some iron and boron and coated with a nickel plating and polymer paint.
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Weren’t magnet balls banned a few years ago?
In 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned magnets with a much higher magnetic strength than Speks. Speks have a magnet strength of about 90% less than those magnets and were not part of the ban. Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards.
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Do Speks magnet balls meet all safety standards and regulations?
Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards.
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Why are there so many warnings on Speks magnet balls and why are loose magnets considered to be dangerous?
Although we’ve designed all Speks' products with safety in mind, it is possible that ingestion of any loose magnets could still cause serious injury. Swallowed magnets can damage internal organs and have resulted in death and serious injury. This is serious stuff. Speks' products must be kept away from ALL children and loose magnets should never be put near the nose or mouth. Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control centre immediately if you think magnets were swallowed.
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What’s the difference between Speks and other magnet set brands like Buckyballs or Neocube?
Speks magnet balls were designed with safety in mind. While most brands of magnet ball sets are 5mm in diameter, Speks are less than half of that size. Because of this, the magnetic flux index (a fancy way of measuring strength) is less than 50 kg²mm². This is many orders of magnitude below other magnet sets containing magnets with a magnetic flux index of 300-500 kg²mm² that have caused intestinal perforations in the past. Specifically, accredited 3rd party tests of Speks magnet balls report a flux index of well under 50 kg²mm².
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How should Speks be safely played with and stored?
Speks should be played with on a table or desk, safely out of reach from children. After playing with Speks, store them in the carrying case that comes in every set. Make sure to collect all magnets when you’re finished using them and they are not stored in a place easily accessible to children.
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What should I do if I suspect that magnet(s) were swallowed or ingested?
Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control centre immediately if you think magnets were ingested, as x-rays and prompt surgical removal may be required. Do not wait for symptoms to appear as it may become too late for medical intervention.
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Is there anything my medical professional should know when considering treatment options for magnet ingestion?
If you suspect any loose magnets were swallowed or inhaled, contact your medical professional right away. If the product involved was a Speks magnet ball, you can let them know that the flux index (fancy language for “strength”) of the magnet is under 50 kg²mm² and thus Speks may not need to be treated in the same way as much stronger magnets. Please always follow the guidance of your medical professional.
Geode Safety:
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Does Geode meet all safety standards?
Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards.
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Why are there so many warnings on Geode, and why are magnets considered to be dangerous?
Although we’ve designed Geode with safety in mind, it is possible that ingestion of any loose or liberated magnets could still cause serious injury. Swallowed magnets can damage internal organs and have resulted in death and serious injury. This is serious stuff. Geode must be kept away from ALL children. Discard the product immediately if any piece becomes loose or liberated. Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control centre immediately if you suspect magnets were swallowed.
Crags Magnetic Putty Safety:
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What are Crags Magnetic Putty made of?
Crags consist of ferrite magnetic stones in a metal tin.
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Do Crags meet all safety standards?
Speks UK products have been independently tested and meet the requirements of EN71-1:2014+A1:2018 (Mechanical & Physical Properties) and EN71-2:2020 (Flammability), in accordance with European toy safety standards.
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Why are there so many warnings on Crags and why are loose magnets considered to be dangerous?
Although we’ve designed Crags with safety in mind, it is possible that ingestion of any magnets could still cause serious injury. Swallowed magnets can damage internal organs and have resulted in death and serious injury. This is serious stuff. Crags must be kept away from ALL children and should never be put near the nose or mouth. Seek immediate medical attention or contact the poison control centre immediately if you think magnets were swallowed.
