Blinds that work without chains or cords are 'child safe by design'

Child-safe devices

Any of our blinds that use cords or chains come with child-safety devices. Dependent on the blind type, these features can include breakaway tassels, consolidators and clips that snap under pressure (but can easily be put back together).

In every case you'll also get child-safety devices for the controls of your blind to wrap around.

• Wood, fauxwood, free-hanging pleated and Venetian blinds come with a cleat for the cord controls to be wrapped around. This child-safety device must be fitted to the wall or window frame at a height at least 1.5 metres from the floor.

• The bottom of all free hanging cords must be cut to at least 1.5 metres from the floor.

• Any cords that extend below 1.5 metres due to using the blind, (Slat tilt cord will go below 1.5 m when the slats are in the closed position, or the raise cord will go below when the blind is in the raised position), a cleat is required to be fitted 1.5m or higher above the floor adjacent to the end of the cord.

• Roller and Roman blinds come with a safety 'P' clip, that keeps the chain controls permanently taut. This child-safety device must be fitted to the wall or window frame at the point where the control has been fully extended, which must be no lower than 1.5 metres from the floor. Roller or Roman blinds may also have a chain with two break away links which are 200mm apart on the chain, this can be free hanging but the bottom of the chain must be a least 60cm from the floor.

 

Child-safety tips

You should always fit the right child-safety device for your blinds. Also, you should follow these tips:

• Beds, cots or furniture should never be placed near a window where children can climb on to the blind.

• Never tie cord controls together.

• Never stick or tape together consolidators or breakaway devices to prevent them from opening.

• Chain-operated blinds need a safety 'P' clip for the controls to loop around.

• Cord-operated blinds need a safety cleat attached to the wall 1.5 metres from the floor.