Child Safety
Welcome to our Child Safety page, where we invite you to explore how we prioritise your children’s safety without compromising on the beauty and functionality of your window coverings.
In this dedicated space, we will share our unwavering dedication to adhering to the latest child safety regulations, ensuring that your home remains a secure haven for your little ones.
Ensuring Child Safety
At Winchester Blinds, the safety and well-being of your children are our foremost priorities.
We understand the importance of adhering to the latest child safety regulations, specifically the BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014 standards updated in 2014. These regulations impose a legal responsibility on all traders to provide safe window covering products to their customers. Here’s how we ensure your peace of mind:
Our Commitment to Safety
We are fully committed to ensuring that all of our blinds comply with the EU regulations, especially in settings where children aged between 0-42 months are likely to have access.
This commitment is reflected in the design and installation of our blinds, as follows:
Cord Safety
For blinds equipped with corded or chain-operated mechanisms, we go the extra mile to meet the stringent EU legislation standards.
Our blinds are equipped with child-safe features such as breakaway connectors for roller blinds and tension mountings for roman blinds. This ensures that cords and chains are kept out of reach of little hands, minimizing the risk of accidents.
Alternative Mechanisms
Many of our blinds are available with spring-operated mechanisms and motorisation, eliminating the need for cords or chains altogether.
These blinds are inherently child-safe, providing both style and safety for your home.
Expert Installation and Education
We understand that safety features alone aren’t enough. That’s why our experienced team ensures that any safety devices are securely fitted during installation. We take the time to educate you on how these safety mechanisms work, so you’re confident in their effectiveness.
Additionally, we provide detailed instructions that you can refer to in the future, ensuring your child’s safety remains uncompromised.
Ready to Transform Your Windows?
Contact us today to explore our extensive range of child-safe blind options.
We are here to help you create a safe and stylish environment for your family.
Winchester Blinds is dedicated to providing window coverings that not only enhance your home’s aesthetic but also prioritise the safety of your children.
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FAQs
Since 28 February 2014, all homes, public buildings, and some commercial buildings in the UK where young children are likely to be present must comply with internal window blind safety requirements.
The safety requirements were introduced in response to accidents where babies and young children became entangled with internal window blind cords and chains. The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) initiated the ‘Make it Safe’ campaign in 2009 to raise awareness and promote safe installation and use of internal window blinds.
The relevant standards for internal window blinds include:
- BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014 – Performance requirements, including safety.
- BS EN 16433:2014 – Protection from strangulation hazards – Test methods.
- BS EN 16434:2014 – Protection from strangulation hazards – Requirements and test methods for safety devices.
All responsible persons of public buildings, including hotels, holiday lettings, guest houses, and certain commercial buildings where children aged 0-42 months are likely to have access or be present, must ensure compliance.
If your blinds were installed before the child safety regulations came into force in 2014, you can make them safer by introducing suitable retrofit safety devices that comply with BS EN 16434:2014. Contact a BBSA member or a Make it Safe Dealer for assistance.
The BBSA recommends choosing blinds that are ‘safe by design,’ meaning they do not use cords or chains to operate, or if they do, these are concealed or tensioned. You can seek help from a BBSA member or a Make it Safe Dealer for guidance.
In the absence of a standard for curtain tracks, the same safety requirements that apply to corded blinds also apply to corded curtain tracks.
Blinds with side chain/cord operation should have tensioning devices securely fitted at the maximum distance from the headrail to keep the cord/chain taut and at least 1.5m from the floor.
Blinds with pull cords can be equipped with accumulation devices for corded blinds, ensuring they are securely fitted at least 1.5m from the floor and near the headrail. Cord stops should also be installed as specified.
If your blinds have more than two pull cords (and less than five), a breakaway system is necessary to ensure safety.
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