Window Blind Cord Safety
New blinds with looped cords must have child safety devices installed at the point of manufacture or sold with the blind.
Window blind cord safety. Temporary tuck cords up high. Window blind safety ideas. Changes to standards for blinds in 2014 have led to improved product safety.
Video demonstrates window blind cord safety options. To view these options watch the video. Consumers should know that these safety tips do not address all the cord hazards associated with many common window coverings.
There are a number of ways to improve the safety of the blinds in your home or in any home where your children might go grandparents holiday houses etc. This is especially important with older window coverings that may not meet the latest national standard for window cord safety. The window covering safety council wcsc is dedicated to educating parents and caregivers about the potential strangulation risks of window blind and shade cords and urges consumers to only use cordless window coverings or window coverings with inaccessible cords in homes with young children.
Consumer product safety commission cpsc staff is participating in voluntary standard activities to address strangulation hazards associated with cords on window covering products. After december 15 2018 products that consumers can pick up in a retail store or order online as ready made will not contain hazardous cords if the product is compliant with the ansi wcma a100 1 2018 standard. If professional installers are fitting your blinds they must fit the safety devices.
Children and window covering cords don t mix. A cord tensioner is a device specific to blinds and shades with a continuous cord loop lift system. If new blinds are operated by cords or chains and do not have an in built safety device follow the instructions supplied and make sure all safety devices are fitted.
A cord tensioner is a safety mechanism that can be installed on your wall or to your window frame. Every safety compliant window covering with a continuous cord loop will have a cord tensioner already attached. New regulations ban corded blinds to prevent injuries and deaths from blind cord strangulation new regulations have banned the sale of corded blinds in america.
American national standard for safety of corded window covering products ansi wcma a 100 1 provides requirements that address strangulation hazards associated with the continuous cord loops.
