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.