Manufacturers are Cutting the Cord On Their Window Treatments

As of December 2018, newly manufactured stock window treatments should be cordless or have compact, inaccessible pull cords. Sunburst welcomes the announcement, as it comes after conversations between the Window Covering Manufacturers Association and the American National Standards Institute, and encompasses any pre-manufactured window coverings. It should be noted that these regulations don’t recall used treatments, but, some people in Virginia Beach have used the statement as an opportunity to change their unsafe window coverings.

 

Why The New Window Treatment Safety Standards?

Since the 1960s, corded window treatments have been deemed one of the Top 5 Hidden Hazards In The Home by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Toddlers and infants can get tangled up 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. Independent cord safety products, such as cord shorteners and fasteners, attempted to solve the problem, but families did not install them as manufacturers expected.

What Do The New Regulations Cover?

Each stock (ready-made) window covering sold in stores or online must now be cordless or have inaccessible cords. This involves over 80% of all window treatment products purchased in America and Canada. Custom-built treatments will not have the same requirements; however, cords can only hang down to 40% the length of the covering and must default to a tilt rod instead of a tilt cord. These requirements are only on window treatments manufactured after December 19, 2018, and previously made treatments have not been recalled.

What Are Your Choices Regarding Cordless Window Treatments?

With the new regulations, people are now looking at the entire range of cordless choices when acquiring or replacing their window treatments. Check out a few cordless options:

• Plantation Shutters: These popular treatments cover the window with sturdy louvers and usually employ a center tilt-rod. Shutters are the longest-lasting window covering option and are made with either real wood or a faux wood composite that won’t warp, crack, splinter, or chip. Plantation shutters have never employed a cord, so this product has always been known for safety.

• Barn Door Window Treatments: Instead of opening up via a cord or tilt rod, barn door shutters attach to a track over the window frame and slide side to side. You can part your barn doors a tad to let light through, or slide them to the edge of the track for a statement piece.

• Cord-free Shades and Blinds: Some corded window treatments have modified their designs and now use hidden cords that shouldn’t hang loose. Some employ motors, which open and close coverings without touching the treatment. Many shades open and close to their desired height by tugging the bottom bar. These shades are available in a multitude of colors, textures, and patterns, and are even available in several semi-translucent options that offer the same ambiance of sheer draperies.
  

Sunburst Can Help You Cut The Cord On Your Shades and Blinds

If you want to upgrade from corded shades and blinds with a more child-friendly choice, your Virginia Beach Sunburst representative is only a phone call away. We will show you an array of cordless window treatments, and we can guide you in finding one for your family. Book your free in-home consultation by calling 757-210-6448 now.