Safety advocate asks Atlantic City to post beach‑umbrella warning signs after national standard

A safety advocate who survived an umbrella impalement urged Atlantic City to post warning signs at beach access points, and described a national standard and Consumer Product Safety Commission testing that define anchoring requirements for beach umbrellas.

Edward Quigley, who said he was impaled by a wind‑borne umbrella in 2015 and later worked on a technical standard, explained that an ASTM task group developed tests and that the Consumer Product Safety Commission incorporated the standard by reference into guidance. "The standard was published in April of 24, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission picked it up," he said, describing joint testing by CPSC engineers and the task group.

Quigley said the task group selected a 30‑mph wind threshold for testing because gusts to that speed can occur and because 30 mph generally prompts beachgoers to leave. He also explained the technical anchor requirement he described: "A standard beach umbrella that's 7 and a half feet across at the canopy takes 75 pounds of resistance to keep it secure in the sand when there's a 30 mile per hour wind." Quigley said he has a donor who can provide 12x18 aluminum signs and asked that the city consider placing them at beach access points and on the back of lifeguard stands.

Council members thanked Quigley for the information. No formal action or funding was approved; the request was entered into the public record for administration consideration.