Anti-tip brackets

What are anti-tip brackets and why are they needed?
Anti-tip brackets are small metal devices designed to prevent freestanding ranges from tipping. They are normally attached to a rear leg of the range or screwed into the wall behind the range. A unit that is not equipped with these devices may tip over if enough weight is applied to its open door, such as that from a large Thanksgiving turkey, or even a small child. A falling range can crush, scald, or burn anyone caught beneath.

According to the 2021 Product Instability Report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were some 900 tip-over incidents involving appliances, including ranges and stoves. 28 of those incidents involved fatalities, most of them children. Out of curiosity, a small child might stand on an open range door in order to see what is cooking on the stovetop and accidentally cause the entire unit to fall on top of him, along with whatever hot items may have been cooking on the stovetop. The elderly also may be injured while using the range for support while cleaning.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) created standards in 1991 that require all ranges manufactured after that year to be capable of remaining stable while supporting 250 pounds of weight on their open doors.
 
Bracket Inspection
InterNACHI-certified inspectors are trained to look for and confirm proper installations of an anti-tip bracket on free-standing ranges.    

The inspector may be able to see a wall-mounted bracket by looking over the rear of the range. For ranges with removable drawers, the drawers can be removed and a flashlight used to search for the bracket. A visual confirmation does not guarantee that the bracket has been properly installed.

To determine if the bracket is properly installed and connected, the inspector can firmly grip the upper-rear section of the range and tip the unit. If equipped with an anti-tip bracket and the bracket is properly installed and connected, the unit should not tip more than several inches before coming to a halt. Before tipping the range, the appliance should be turned off and all items removed from the stovetop. This test can be performed on all models and it can confirm the functionality of a bracket.

If no anti-tip bracket is detected or a bracket is present but improperly installed, the inspector should recommend that proper correction or installation is made.

Clients can contact the dealer or builder who installed their range and request that they install a bracket. For those who wish to install a bracket themselves, the part can be purchased at most hardware stores or ordered from a manufacturer. 
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Conclusion
Anti-tip brackets are an important and inexpensive tool to help homeowners keep their loved ones safe. Your InterNACHI inspector is trained to confirm the presence and proper functioning of the anti-tip device in your kitchen.