ASTM F3681-24: The New Beach Umbrella Safety Standard and Why Anchor Works Leads the Pack

We weren’t built to pass a test. We were built to fix the problem.

Umbrellas flying down the beach aren’t just annoying—they’re dangerous. That’s why ASTM F3681-24 was created.

This new standard, issued by ASTM and backed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, outlines what it means for a beach umbrella and anchor system to be secure—not by marketing claims, but by real-world testing.

What the Standard Says

To be compliant, a product must pass one of two tests:
• Mechanical Pull Test: anchor must resist a 75 lb upward force, simulating lift in 30 MPH winds
• Wind Tunnel Test: umbrella and anchor system must stay in place for 30 minutes at 30 MPH
Canopy size must be 45 sq ft or less.
If a system doesn’t meet this, it’s not compliant. Period.

Why It Matters

This standard separates setups that hold from setups that don’t.

That matters if you’re a parent bringing your kids to the beach.
It matters if you run a resort and need your umbrellas to stay put without constant adjustments.
And it matters because there’s finally a way to hold products accountable.

Still, the standard is voluntary—and brands can self-certify.

So while you’ll start seeing more companies claiming “compliance,” we say:
Ask questions.
• What test did they pass?
• Was it done right?
• Who actually tested it?
If they can’t answer, that’s your answer.

Today’s customers are choosing to spend consciously. They want products that are built with purpose and made to last, not mass-produced and slapped with vague claims. That mindset matters here.

This isn’t just a product category—it’s a safety issue.
Each year, over 3,000 people are injured by beach umbrellas, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Some of those injuries are fatal.
They’re also preventable.

A safety standard is long overdue, and the market is finally catching up.
We’re here to make sure it doesn’t fall short again.

We Didn’t Build to Check a Box. We Built to Get It Right.

We’ve been working on AnchorONE for years—long before the standard was published.
Because we didn’t build this to pass a test. We built it to solve a real problem.

Anchor Works founder, Derek Conlon Sr., is a retired union construction worker.
He built our childhood home in Ireland, along with countless homes and buildings meant to last.
When he saw how unsafe beach umbrellas were, he got to work.
We’re still building—just with a different kind of foundation.

If you can get it right, why wouldn’t you?
That’s one of our values:
“Freedom is the opportunity to do what is right.”

Tested to Perform. Not Just Talk.

In 2024, we brought our system to the A2 Wind Tunnel in North Carolina, where setups are tested under real wind conditions.

We tested AnchorONE with our MarketStyle umbrella.
It held steady through the required 30 MPH—and kept going.
No signs of failure until 44 MPH.

We also tested our 16" commercial base with an 8-foot commercial-grade umbrella.
That system held up to 38 MPH before failure.

Meanwhile, other “wind-resistant” setups failed at 20.
Some never even made it through 30.

We don’t just talk wind resistance.
We prove it.

This Isn’t Just Business. It’s Personal.

We’re a family company. We like building. We like solving problems.
And we’ve had fun doing it—because we know this system will serve people.

We’re not here to cut corners.
We’re here to offer beachgoers something better. Something they can trust.

No gimmicks.
No chasing umbrellas.

Just a system that stays put and does what it says.

Anchor Works. Real wind resistance. Built with integrity.