Blinds, curtains and window fittings
The mandatory standard includes an important transitional provision that gives suppliers the option of complying with a relevant state or territory regulation. This option is only available after 30 December 2010 and ends on 30 June 2011.
Australian homes often have blinds, curtains and other window coverings that are manipulated by cords or chains.
Corded internal window coverings are window coverings that can be used inside a building and are either:
- window coverings, such as curtains or blinds with a cord, or
- fittings used with a window covering, such as a traverse rod or track.
These include, but are not limited to:
- curtains
- blinds
- shades
- traverse rods
- tracks.
On this page:
Top
Hazards
Strangulation
Children can become entangled in blind or curtain cords if they try to use, play with or play around window coverings. Even with raised coverings, children can climb onto window sills or furniture to access the cords. Cords or looped cords that become tangled around a child’s neck can very quickly cause strangulation.
Cords can also strangle infants sleeping or playing in cots placed near a window where cords are within reach, or hang into the cot.
Mandatory standard
The US CPSC has reported 200 deaths attributable to blind or curtain cords between 1991 and 2005. Since 2006, there have been five deaths and 16 near strangulations associated with Roman shades. Roll-up blinds have been associated with at least three deaths since 2001. There are regular recalls of these products due to safety risks both in Australia and overseas.
The purpose of this mandatory standard is to introduce a national safety standard for corded internal window coverings to reduce the incidence of, and potential for, death and injuries to young children. The mandatory standard requires that:
- corded internal window coverings supplied after 30 December 2010 must be provided with warning labels that highlight the strangulation hazard to children
- corded internal window coverings must be accompanied by installation instructions and any components specified in the installation instructions.
Does this apply to your business?
Under the ACL supply includes:
- in relation to goods - (including re-supply) by way of sale, exchange, lease, hire or hire-purchase and
- in relation to services - provide, grant of confer.
- manufacturers
- importers
- distributors
- retailers
- hirers.
The mandatory standard applies to all corded internal window coverings supplied from 30 December 2010.
Complying with the mandatory standard
Corded internal window coverings have been associated with hundreds of deaths and many near strangulations. It is an offence to supply corded internal window coverings that do not comply with the requirements of this mandatory standard. For complete information about the mandatory requirements, we strongly recommend you read:
- Trade Practices (Consumer Product Safety Standard - Corded Internal Window Coverings) Regulations 2010
- Explanatory statement and regulation impact statement—corded internal window coverings
Suppliers may also find the following helpful in understanding aspects of the mandatory standard:
- Regulation impact statement — Cord or Chain Operated Internal Window Coverings
- Frequently asked questions on complying with the national corded internal window covering regulations.
Penalties and consequences
Supplying corded internal window coverings that do not meet requirements of mandatory standards can make you liable for product recalls and fines. For more details, view Penalties and consequences.
Some key requirements
The requirements noted below are key requirements only. They may help to give suppliers a general idea of the detail they must look up in the mandatory standard. This information may also assist consumers when they are choosing or inspecting new and existing corded internal window coverings.
While we provide some advice on this page to help you understand aspects of the standard, suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
Corded internal window coverings
The supply of a corded internal window covering must be accompanied by:
- if the window covering is in retail packaging - a warning label on the retail packaging
- a warning label or swing tag attached to the cord
- installation instructions
- any components specified in the installation instructions as necessary for cord safety requirements.
If a cord guide is supplied with a corded internal window covering, the cord guide must be designed:
- to remain firmly attached to a wall or other structure specified in the installation instructions when subjected to a tension force of 70 N applied in any direction for l0 seconds
- to prevent the possibility of a cord forming a loop 220 mm or longer at a height of less than 1,600 mm above floor level.
Warning on retail package
The warning label must contain the words:
'WARNING: CURTAIN AND BLIND CORDS HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND MUST BE INSTALLED SO THAT THEY ARE NOT A STRANGULATION HAZARD. FOLLOW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS'.
The words must be:
- legible
- in red upper case letters at least 5 mm high
- on a white background.
Warning on cord
The warning label or swing tag mentioned in paragraph must contain the words:
'WARNING: Young children have died by wrapping loose curtain and blind cords or chains around their necks. Secure cords or chains with cord guides or keep them out of reach by winding them around a cleat. Move cots and furniture away from window covering cords or chains. Do not remove this label'.
The words specified must be:
- legible
- with the word 'WARNING' in upper case letters at least 5 mm high and the other words in lower case letters at least 1.5 mm high.
Installation instructions
The installation instructions must include:
- a statement that, to avoid creating a possible strangulation hazard for children, the corded internal window covering must be installed in such a way that a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 mm or longer at a height of less than 1,600 mm above floor level
- practical suggestions on how to install the corded internal window covering
- a statement that a cord guide may be installed lower than 1,600 mm above floor level if the cord is sufficiently secured or tensioned to prevent a loop 220 mm or longer from being formed
- a statement that if a cord guide is installed lower than 1,600 mm above floor level it must be designed to prevent a child from being able to remove the cord
- a statement that if a cleat is used to secure the cord it must be at least 1,600 mm above floor level because a child is capable of unwinding a cord from a cleat.
