Fitness Product Regulations in the United States: An Overview

Gym machines and other fitness equipment are subject to a relatively complex set of product standards and regulatory requirements. This guide serves as an introduction to ASTM standards, UL standards, substance restrictions, FCC regulations, country of origin marking, and other compliance requirements for fitness products sold and operated in the United States.

Gym Machines and Equipment

Gym machines and equipment are subject to ASTM standards that set mechanical safety and other requirements. While these standards are generally voluntary, it is still essential to ensure that gym machinery and other gym equipment sold and used in the United States meet strict safety requirements.

Ensuring compliance with these standards requires that your product is:

1. Designed in a way that is mechanically and structurally safe

2. Designed to meet the outlined performance requirements

3. Labelled with sufficient safety signs, instructions, and warnings

4. Tested according to the specified test methods

In practice, this means that technical drawings must be adjusted based on ASTM F2276-23 and other applicable standards, while label files must be designed according to the requirements outlined in ASTM F1749-15.

General standards

ASTM F2276-23 – Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment

ASTM F2571-15(2020) – Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Fitness Equipment

ASTM F3101-21a – Standard Specification for Unsupervised Public Use Outdoor Fitness Equipment

ASTM F3023-18(2025) – Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Design and Performance Characteristics of Stationary Upright and Recumbent Exercise Bicycles and Upper and Total Body Ergometers

ASTM F2810-15(2020) – Standard Specification for Elliptical Trainers

Strength equipment

ASTM F3105-20 – Standard Specification for Externally Loaded Strength Training Equipment, Strength Training Benches and External Weight Storage Equipment

ASTM F2216-17a(2025) – Standard Specification for Selectorized Strength Equipment

Design and inclusive use

ASTM F3021-23 – Standard Specification for Universal Design of Fitness Equipment for Inclusive Use by Persons with Functional Limitations and Impairments

ASTM F3022-23 – Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Universal Design of Fitness Equipment for Inclusive Use by Persons with Functional Limitations and Impairments

Safety signs

ASTM F1749-15(2020) – Standard Specification for Fitness Equipment and Fitness Facility Safety Signage and Labels

Fitness Equipment

Product standards also apply to fitness equipment that is not defined as gym machinery. Here are some examples of such products:

• Foam rollers
• Exercise mats
• Dummbells

Some of these products are covered by standards listed in the previous section of this guide. That said, product standards do not exist for all types of fitness equipment. When this is the case, you still have the following options:

a. Apply ASTM F2276-23 and other relevant standards to the extent possible

b. Conduct a risk assessment and identify other methods to ensure that your product is safe to use

Electronic Fitness Equipment

Electronic gym machinery and fitness equipment are subject to both regulatory requirements and product standards.

47 CFR Part 15 – FCC Requirements

Part 15 sets requirements for radio frequency devices, which can include electrical gym machines and other fitness equipment. Most devices are classified as either intentional or unintentional radiators.

Unintentional radiators

Explain what this is / Link to fitness products:

• Electronic fitness equipment
• Electronic gym machines

You learn more about requirements for unintentional radiators in this guide.

Intentional radiators

Explain what this is / Link to fitness products:

• Bluetooth enabled threadmills
• Bluetooth enabled fitness wearables

You learn more about requirements for intentional radiators in this guide.

UL Standards

There are various UL standards applicable to fitness products. While these are generally voluntary, they do set essential safety and performance requirements that are deemed essential in the United States.

• UL 961 – Standard for Electric Hobby and Sports Equipment
• UL 1647 – Motor-Operated Massage and Exercise Machines
• UL 62368-1 – Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment – Part 1: Safety Requirements
• UL 1310 – Class 2 Power Units
• UL 1012 – Power Units Other Than Class 2

Battery-Powered Fitness Products

Battery-powered fitness products and wearables can contain various types of batteries. These are subject to both regulations and recommended safety standards.

• Part 1263 – Button cell or coin batteries
• UL 1642 – Standard for Safety for Lithium Batteries
• UL 2595 – Standard for Safety for General Requirements for Battery-Powered Appliances

21 CFR Part 890 – Physical Medicine Devices

21 CFR 890 sets requirements for the classification of exercise equipment and other devices that are intended for medical purposes, with either non-measuring or measuring functionalities. We found that it covers the following types of equipment:

a. Measuring exercise equipment, that is, equipment that includes measuring instrumentation (e.g., a pulse rate monitor).

b. Nonmeasuring exercise equipment (e.g., parallel bars, a mechanical treadmill)

c. Powered exercise equipment (e.g., a powered treadmill or a powered bicycle)

d. Powered finger exercisers, which are meant to increase the motion of the fingers

e. Electroencephalography (EEG)-driven upper extremity powered exerciser

f. Exercise components (e.g., weights, dumbbells, straps)

The specific requirements depend on the class of medical devices (e.g., Class I devices such as exercise components are exempt from the premarket notification procedures).

California Proposition 65

California Proposition 65 restricts chemicals and heavy metals in products sold and used in California. This generally also includes fitness products.

Examples

Examples of such substances include the following:

• DEHP
• DGRE
• Lead and lead compounds
• Nickel
• Cadmium
• Mercury and mercury compounds
• Hexachlorobenzene

Certain substances used to manufacture gym machinery and fitness equipment can contain substances restricted under California Proposition 65.

Substance risks

Here are some substance risks specific to various types of fitness products:

Fitness product	Risk
Dumbbells with a plastic coating	May contain excessive amounts of DEHP or other phthalates (in particular in PVC)
Gym machine paints	May contain excessive amounts of lead or nickel
Gym machine parts made of zinc alloys	May contain excessive amounts of cadmium

Country of Origin Marking

Country of origin marking is required for most products sold in the United States. The country of origin marking must identify the country where the gym machine was manufactured and is generally placed on the product.

Examples

• Made in China
• Made in Mexico
• Made in Germany

Made in USA

Note that additional requirements under Part 323 – Made in USA labeling apply to products marked as made in the USA. These requirements are briefly summarised below:

1. All significant processing of the product must be done in the United States

2. All or virtually all materials and components are made and sourced in the United States

Product testing

Testing is generally necessary to verify compliance with both voluntary standards and regulatory requirements. Here are some types of tests that may be applicable to fitness products:

1. Mechanical and structural safety testing

• Maximum load testing
• Sharp points
• Entrapment

2. Stability and tip-over risk

3. Ergonomic testing

4. Material testing

• Base material substances
• Substances in paints
• Substances in coatings

5. Electrical safety and EMC testing (electronic products)

6. Battery safety testing (battery-powered devices)

Further, I strongly recommend that you request a third-party review of the safety signage and other labels as part of the testing process. Replacing affixed signs and labels, should they turn out to be insufficient later on, can be very expensive.

FAQ

Are fitness products regulated in the USA?

As far as we know, there is not a single regulation or set of regulations specific to gym machinery and fitness equipment in the United States. However, fitness products must still be fundamentally safe for the user to reduce the risk of injuries (which can result in costly recalls and other negative consequences).

This can often be achieved by ensuring that your fitness products are designed to comply with ASTM standards and UL standards specific to fitness products.

Brands like Life Fitness and TechnoGym also design their products to meet the latest ASTM and other standards for fitness products. Further, established gym operators generally don’t even consider machinery and equipment that fails to meet relevant standards.

Bear in mind that unsafe products can be subject to forced recalls. It is therefore in your interest as an importer or manufacturer to ensure that your fitness products are safe and meet relevant safety standards.

Is testing required for fitness products in the USA?

Yes, testing is in practice necessary to verify that a particular gym machine or other fitness equipment meets applicable ASTM and other standards. Some standards also include specific test methods that must be followed.