Manufacturers are Cutting the Cord On Their Window Treatments

As of December 2018, all newly manufactured stock window coverings should be cord-free or have compact, inaccessible pull cords. Sunburst applauds the announcement, as it comes after conversations between the Window Covering Manufacturers Association and the American National Standards Institute, and covers any pre-manufactured window treatments. And while the new safety regulations don’t recall corded blinds or shades, some people in Washington DC have viewed the regulations as an opportunity to replace their unsafe window treatments.

 

Why The New Window Treatment Safety Standards?

In the past few decades, corded window treatments have been included in the Top 5 Hidden Hazards In The Home by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children and infants can get intertwined in the cords, leading to injury or strangulation, with a study finding that there were almost 17,000 window cord injuries over a fifteen-year period. Extra cord safety products, such as cord cleats and wind-ups, attempted to alleviate the hazard, but families did not install them as manufacturers expected.

What Do The New Regulations Cover?

Every stock (ready-made) window treatment available in stores or online should now be cordless or have inaccessible cords. This includes over 80% of all window covering products sold in America and Canada. Custom-made treatments will not have the same requirements; however, cords can only be 40% the length of the treatment and should default to a tilt rod rather than a tilt cord. These regulations only affect window treatments made after December 19, 2018, and previously made coverings have not been recalled.

What Are Your Choices Regarding Cordless Window Treatments?

With the new regulations, consumers are now looking at the entire range of cord-free choices when acquiring or replacing their blinds and shades. Luckily, there are a lot of products that are cordless, such as:

• Plantation Shutters: These family-friendly treatments cover the window with large louvers and usually utilize a center tilt-rod. Plantation Shutters can be seen as the sturdiest window covering option and are made with either solid wood or a faux wood composite that doesn’t warp, crack, splinter, or chip. Plantation shutters have always been cord-free, so these treatments have always been seen as a safer option.

• Barn Door Shutters: Instead of raising up and down using a cord or tilt rod, barn door window treatments attach to a track over the window and slide apart sideways. You can part your barn doors a tad to let light through, or slide them completely apart for a statement piece.

• Cordless Shades and Blinds: Some window treatments have modified their make-up and now use hidden cords that don’t hang loose. Others employ motors, which open and close treatments without touching the treatment. Different shades simply raise or lower to their desired height by lifting the bottom bar. These treatments come in different colors, textures, and patterns, and are even available in several semi-translucent models that offer the same ambiance of sheer draperies.
  

Call Sunburst To Help You Cut The Cord On Your Shades and Blinds

If you want to upgrade from corded hazards with a better option, your Washington DC Sunburst representative is here to help. We will show you a vast selection of safe choices, and we can help you find one that works best for your rooms. Book your free in-home consultation by calling 240-339-2588 today.