Child Safety
Due to
continuing concerns over child safety in relation to blind cords and chains, a
new European standard (EN 13120) will be released towards the end of February
2014. This new standard imposes several new restrictions on how a window blind
can be manufactured, with particular emphasis on the lengths of the control
cords and chains (please see table below).
EN 13120 applies to all blinds that are to be supplied to domestic
buildings and those commercial buildings where children (up to 42 months) may
be present.
Unless
otherwise specified at the time of order:-
·
All
roller blinds and Vision blinds will be made with breakaway chain connectors.
·
All
vertical blinds will be supplied with cord and chain tidies.
·
All
venetian blinds will be supplied with cord cleats
·
The
control length on all blinds will comply with the table below
If you wish
to utilise a different child safety system than those stated above, other
options include:-
·
Spring roller blinds, including Senses and Prefect Fit
Spring roller blinds, including Senses and Prefect Fit
·
Motorised
roller blinds (POA)
·
Wand
control vertical blinds (POA)
·
Want
control vertical blinds
·
Tensioned
Perfect Fit venetian blinds
·
Wand
control panel blinds
Operation
|
Installation Height
|
Cord/Chain Length
|
Operating loop with
breakaway connectors
|
Known
|
Distance from floor to bottom of controls
shall be at least 0.6m
|
Not Known
|
No more than 2/3 drop of blind
|
|
Operating loop with
chain tidy
|
Known
|
Distance from floor to bottom of controls
shall be at least 1.5m
|
Not Known < 2.5m
|
Length of controls shall be < 1m
|
|
Not Known > 2.5m
|
Length of controls shall be < drop
of blind – 1.5m
|
|
Pull Cords
|
Known
|
Distance from floor to bottom of controls
shall be at least 1.5m
|
Not Known < 2.5m
|
Length of controls shall be < 1m
|
|
Not Known > 2.5m
|
Length of controls shall be < drop
of blind – 1.5m
|
BLINDS SHOULD NEVER BE FITTED WITH CORDS/CHAIN
OVERHANGING A CHILD’S BED OR COT
