On the surface, blinds, cords, and chains may look harmless, but what many don't know is that they can present a hazard to your children and vulnerable adults. This is why medical facilities, care homes, and schools ensure that they follow the protocols for blinds and fabrics to guarantee the safety of the individuals in the area.
As mentioned earlier, cords and chains may seem to be the most mundane element in blinds and curtains. But what we tend to forget is that they're prone to becoming entangled, and in some cases, children may be unable to free themselves from the loops and ties.
Unfortunately, in some cases, these accidents can lead to severe injuries, or worse, death. For this reason, a safety standard was introduced, saying that new blinds must be designed with safety as its top priority and are supplied with appropriate safety devices.
Whether you're looking for cubicle curtains or blinds for your home, here are some things you need to consider. In this article, we'll dig deeper on how to prevent cord accidents and the different safety laws and regulations you need to know before choosing blinds and fabrics. Let's take a look!
All About Preventing Blind Cord Accidents
Blind cord accidents can come as a surprise to many, but don't worry because there are ways to prevent these disasters from happening. A great way to avoid blind cord accidents is to choose a blind that doesn't have looped cords.
Choosing a blind that is operated with a looped cord or chain isn't recommended. Although you can easily cut the chains, they can still get entangled and form a new loop, still posing the same threats in its original state.
Using chain tidies can help eliminate the danger and be fitted to the blinds that's fair enough for children to reach. Chain breaks can also hold chains together and could separate under a specific load. Lastly, a chain breakaway can be fitted to separate the blinds, allowing the control chain to hang freely.
Fortunately, all blinds are covered within safety standards, and safety devices can be installed at any point. Regardless of what type of blinds or curtains you're planning to get — whether it be cubicle curtains or blinds for your home — choosing the safest option would be the smartest move.
Do Blinds and Fabric Safety Laws and Regulations Apply to All Properties?
Anyone fitting a blind, including DIY installations, should meet the regulations for safety. With that being said, interior designers should also be aware of the protocols, especially when they plan to include blinds in their designs.
Buildings that need to follow these regulations are all residential properties and homes. Additionally, publicly accessible spaces, such as schools, hospitals, waiting rooms, dental practices, health centres, and other commercial buildings where children or vulnerable adults may be present should also adhere to these laws.
The British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA), the British Standards Institute (BSI), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), the UK Government, and the EU were all involved in creating these standards. Here are some regulations you can expect:
- Include safety devices to prevent cords or chains from forming a hazard;
- Test all safety items of internal blinds;
- Test blinds with safety devices;
- Install safety devices on blinds when installed;
- Include warnings and instructions in packaging and point-of-sale;
- Maximum cord and chain length should end a minimum of 1.5 metres and above the finished floor level.
The Bottom Line: Follow Blinds and Fabrics Safety Laws to Guarantee Everyone's Safety
Keeping your home, office space, or establishment safe from any accidents is vital, especially when you have children and vulnerable adults present in the area. Thankfully, there are safety regulations that individuals must follow when you install blinds and curtains in the space.
So if you're planning on installing cubicle curtains, keep these laws and safety devices in mind. This way, you can prevent unfortunate events and severe injuries from happening in your space.
Why Choose Direct Fabrics?
If you're looking for high-quality fabrics for your blinds, reach out to Direct Fabrics. We are a top supplier of fabrics for hotels, care homes, schools, and more. Additionally, we also manufacture and install soft furnishing across the UK. Check out our products today!