Latest Developments

Please be aware that in the spring 2014 new regulations came into force regarding Child Safety and window blinds and curtain cords and that installations MUST comply with EN13120. It will be mandatory to comply with the new regulations and there are no exceptions whether you have children in your house or not. I or any other person who fits curtains and blinds will be breaking the law if we do not comply. Please be aware that all the safety devices supplied by the manufacturer must be fitted - this is a LEGAL REQUIREMENT. The manufacturer must also provide tested and certified safety devices for all blinds that are not inherently safe. 

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I am proud to be a supporter of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) and fully endorse their Make It Safe campaign.

 

Since its launch, the Make It Safe campaign has pressed for safer window blinds and the promotion of safety for all window treatments.

 

The Make It Safe campaign has seen:

 

• The BBSA taking a leading role in the development of the European standards for window blinds specifically concerning child safety

• The creation and promotion of a website, retail promotional materials and internationally recognised videos promoting safer window treatments

• The provision of expert advice to regulators and those responsible for standard development, as well as assisting media and established safety organisations to appropriately promote safer window blinds

• The insistence of early adoption of safety regulations by all of its membership

 

The Make It Safe campaign is endorsed by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Child Accident Prevent Trust (CAPT) and referenced by many other organisations.

 

As an accredited member of the BBSA we have been closely involved in the Make It Safe campaign and the changes required in the way internal blinds are made, sold and professionally installed.

 

The regulations place a legal responsibility on all suppliers and professional installers to:

 

• Provide safety devices to reduce the risk of any cords or chains forming a hazardous loop

• Test all safety critical items of internal blinds

• Test blinds using safety devices

• Observe maximum cord and chain lengths

• Provide specific warnings and instructions

• Provide information on packaging and at point of sale

• Fit safety devices when professionally installing blinds

 

New Blinds and corded curtain tracks

 

There are extensive ranges of products that are safe by design, meaning that they do not use operating cords or chains or have concealed or tensioned cords. I strongly recommend that these products are always considered first when you are buying new blinds for homes or public buildings.

 

If you require curtain tracks or blinds that have operating cords or chains please note the new regulations will mean cord and chain lengths are determined by the European standard, and where a safety device is needed I will have to install the device, by law.

 

Making existing blinds safer

 

There are a range of safety devices which have been tested to the new mandatory standards and can help to make existing blinds safer. There are options for virtually every style of blind so you do not have to wait until you change your blind to make it safer.

 

General safety advice

 

• If fitting blinds yourself, please make sure that you follow the installation instructions carefully and make sure any safety devices supplied are correctly installed

• Do not place your child’s cot, bed, high chair or playpen near to a window blind

• Make sure all cords and chains are always secured out of reach of babies and young children

• Do not tie cords or chains together. Make sure cords or chains do not twist and create a loop

• Do not put other furniture near to a window blind as children love to climb

• Please ensure that all your curtain & blind's cords are safely wrapped around a cleat/safety device or made inaccessible to children

 

This page previously displayed safety devices which were available to make blinds safer. However the new regulations state that these devices should be tested by another standard (EN16434), and I have written to all my suppliers requesting confirmation that their safety devices comply, but until that confirmation is received, they have been withdrawn from this web-site

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Below are some helpful videos from the BBSA

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