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What is the New Window Blind Safety Standard?
All window blinds, unless custom made, must be cordless.
The safety standard allows for corded, custom-made blinds due to specific needs for the elderly, disabled, those short in stature, and windows in hard to reach locations.
Why Cordless?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that one child a month, typically 3 years and younger, dies from strangulation by window blind cords. This mortality rate makes window blind cords one of the greatest threats to this age group.
The CPSC worked with the Window Coverings Manufacturer Association (WCMA) over the past decade to make the cords safer and also educate consumers on the threats of window blind cord strangulation.
Collectively they determined this strategy was not effective and met with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to draft a new window blind safety standard.
What Window Blind Types does this Safety Standard Cover?
Horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, roman shades and any other roll-up blinds that utilize a cord and pulley system.
When does the new safety standard go into effect?
All window blinds produced after December 15, 2018 must be cordless unless they are custom.
How can I ensure our blinds are compliant by that date?
Send an email to cordlessinfo@abetterblind.com with your name, company name and phone number. We’ll set up a quick 15 minute call to review and confirm we can meet your needs.
A Better Blind has cordless, 2” horizontal window blinds in stock today. They will ensure your homes meet this new safety standard.
Continue Reading to Understand why the agencies chose to differentiate between custom and stock blinds…
Custom vs Stock
When the new safety standard was being developed, the agencies involved tried to determine how best to capture the largest portion of blinds being supplied in the market place today.
Stock Blinds Defined
The majority of blinds installed in homes today are 2” Fauxwood White Horizontal Blinds like the blind you see on the right.
Large retailers, like Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as window blind manufacturers and installers, keep these in stock due to high demand. When a consumer purchases these stock blinds from a retailer they can take it home in the stock size or have the retailer cut it down.
When an order is submitted to a window blinds supplier or installer, the same process happens. If the order matches the stock size, that blind is shipped without modification, and if it does not match, the blind is modified to match the ordered size.
Custom Blinds Defined
The safety standard defines custom as a window blind being made – in whole – when a consumer requests corded blinds for their home.
The window blinds they’ll receive were not in stock waiting to be modified for this order. They were made specifically for their custom request.
Why limit the safety standard to stock blinds only?
According to the agencies’ findings, 80% of the window coverings sold are window blinds in stock at retailers, manufacturers or installers.
Are the window blinds I purchase custom or stock?
It is highly likely your current blinds are considered stock items. It is best to reach out to your supplier or installer to confirm.
When does the new safety standard go into effect?
All window blinds produced after December 15, 2018 must be cordless unless they are custom.
How can I ensure our blinds are compliant by that date?
Send an email to cordlessinfo@abetterblind.com with your name, company name and phone number. We’ll set up a quick 15 minute call to review and confirm we can meet your needs.
A Better Blind has cordless, 2” horizontal window blinds in stock today. They will ensure your homes meet this new safety standard.
Continue Reading to see the new requirements for custom made blinds…
Custom Blinds Requirements
The new safety standard defines custom as a window blind being made – in whole – when a consumer requests corded blinds for their home.
The window blinds the consumer receives should not be in stock prior to their order. The window blinds should be made specifically for their custom request.
Typically a consumer would request corded window blinds due to specific needs for the elderly, disabled, those short in stature, and windows in hard to reach locations.
The agencies communicated that a sales rep should discuss the dangers of corded blinds in any areas where children reside.
Custom Blinds Warning Tags & Cord Length
The agencies understood that despite best efforts, a consumer may receive custom corded window blinds. Due to this they put in place two key requirements.
(1) The cord cannot be longer than 40% of the height of the blind
(2) The cord must have the tag shown on the right attached
When does the new safety standard go into effect?
All window blinds produced after December 15, 2018 must be cordless unless they are custom.
How can I ensure our blinds are compliant by that date?
Send an email to cordlessinfo@abetterblind.com with your name, company name and phone number. We’ll set up a quick 15 minute call to review and confirm we can meet your needs.
A Better Blind has cordless, 2” horizontal window blinds in stock today. They will ensure your homes meet this new safety standard.
Continue Reading to see how the new cordless blinds work…
How do Cordless Blinds work?
A new mechanism is installed in the headrail. This mechanism allows for smooth lifting and lowering by grabbing the center of the bottomrail of the blind and pushing up or pulling down.
The slats will be tilted open and closed with a wand. The safety standard does not allow for a corded tilt option.
New Cordless 2″ Fauxwood Blind
New Cordless Wand Tilt
