CONSERVATORY BLIND CORD SAFETY
Looped cords have always been a risk for young children; so consider this carefully when buying your blinds. We ensure that every single blind that we sell is child safe and confirms with all child-safety regulations. In the majority of cases we will recommend that you use “Safe By Design” blinds. This type of blind does not need any potentially dangerous cords to operate.
The ‘Make It Safe’ campaign from the British Blind and Shutter Association has been at the forefront of educating the public and industry for years; which is why we recommend that people watch their helpful safety video. The video explains the risks of looped cords, as well as suggesting solutions.
There are millions of curtains and blinds fitted in the UK with looped cords; all of which pose a potential risk to young children, and even our pets. Above all, we encourage all homeowners to review their blinds, seek out alternative safety options and, above all, to be vigilant when supervising young children.
CHILD SAFETY REGULATIONS
The EU Directives EN 13120, EN 16433 and EN 16434 mean that it is effectively against the law to sell, supply or install any blinds with freehanging cords longer than 200mm (8”) unless very specific extra safety precautions are taken. This includes a requirement for cleats to be fitted at a minimum height of 1.5m (5′). Because these regulations fall under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and are European Law, they are enforceable in the UK by Trading Standards.
They also mean that all internal blinds must be correctly designed and installed to be safe within the property for which they are intended. This includes making sure that there are no sharp edges for a child to injure themselves, no small components that may cause a child to choke, and no obvious risk of strangulation from cords. All of this must then be backed up with correct warning notices, instructions and training for the customer in the correct use and care of any Child Safety devices. This therefore means that it is essential that you are aware of the need to be present at both survey and installation.
Although blinds installed before March 2014 are not required to meet specific regulations set out in EN13120, we provide past customers with a completely free service where we can review the Child Safety of your existing conservatory blinds. All you need to do is contact us requesting free cord safety advice.
FREE QUOTATION
Our sales team will provide expert advice with no hard-selling techniques. We’ll also be able to recommend you the best blinds for your needs; as well as offer a range of quotes for you to compare.
