Blind safety standards help protect young children from the risks posed by window blind cords and chains. Blinds are among the most practical window dressings in a UK home, but looped cords and chains can pose a strangulation hazard. Tragically, accidents involving blind cords have happened in British homes. If you are buying, replacing or fitting blinds, it helps to understand what the safety requirements mean for your home.
The standard behind the rules
The article’s key reference for internal blinds is BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014. It sets out performance and safety requirements, including measures intended to reduce the risk of cords and chains forming a dangerous loop within reach of a child.
Blind safety standards affect everyone in the supply chain, from the company that makes the blind to the shop that sells it and the professional who installs it. For homeowners, this means checking that new blinds come with the appropriate safety features built in or included, together with fitting instructions.
1. Cord and chain lengths are restricted
One of the central requirements is control over how long cords and chains can be and where they hang. Long, loose cords dangling close to the floor create a risk. Cord and chain lengths, control positions and safety devices must be considered together when fitting a blind.
Where a cleat is used to wrap excess cord, it should be fixed at least 1.5 metres from the floor. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep the cord secured out of children’s reach.
2. Safety devices must be supplied with the blind
Where cords or chains present a loop hazard, suitable safety measures are needed. These generally fall into two groups.
In-built safety devices are incorporated into the blind’s operating system. Examples include:
- Chain-break connectors, which separate when the specified load is applied to a looped chain.
- Breakaway tassels on cords, which come apart under load rather than holding firm.
Separate safety devices need to be fitted and used correctly to work. These include:
- Chain or cord tensioners, which secure a continuous loop to the wall or window frame.
- Cleats, which hold wound-up cord high on the wall.
- Cord tidies, which manage excess cord.
Many roller blinds use a continuous chain loop, making the correct safety arrangement an essential part of installation.
A separate device only protects children if it is installed and used correctly. Homeowners should never leave a required tensioner in the box or skip a cleat because it looks untidy. Following blind safety standards means treating these components as part of the blind, rather than optional accessories.
3. Safety-critical parts must be tested
It is not enough for a blind to simply include a safety device. Safety-critical components need to perform as intended. A breakaway connector that never breaks, or a tensioner that pulls loose from the wall, offers no reliable protection.
Product testing and correct installation both matter. Fixings must suit the wall or window-frame material, and components should be fitted according to the supplied instructions.
4. Clear warnings and instructions are required
New blinds must carry appropriate safety warnings and come with clear instructions. These warnings remind owners about the risk cords and chains pose to young children and explain how the safety devices should be fitted and used.
Instructions are especially important for anyone installing a blind themselves, because a safety device fitted incorrectly may not work as intended. Keep the instructions for future reference and follow the manufacturer’s guidance when checking or replacing components.
5. Professional installers have responsibilities too
Professional fitters should consider child safety in every home, including properties where children do not currently live. Children visit grandparents, friends and relatives, and household circumstances can change.
Professional installers should fit the required safety devices as part of the job. If you are choosing the best custom blinds UK suppliers have to offer, check that the company measures and fits blinds with these requirements in mind, rather than leaving safety devices for you to sort out later.
Ask the fitter to demonstrate how the controls and safety devices work before the installation is finished.
Blinds that are “safe by design”
Some window dressings avoid accessible operating cords and chains altogether. Options to discuss with your supplier include:
- Cordless blinds, which you raise and lower by hand.
- Blinds with concealed or tensioned operating systems designed to prevent accessible hazardous loops.
- Motorised blinds, operated by remote control, wall switch or smart device.
- Wooden and plantation shutters, which do not use operating cords.
For nurseries, children’s bedrooms and family living spaces, products without accessible cords or chains can simplify the choice. However, check the complete product design rather than assuming that a particular operating style automatically establishes compliance.
Motorised blinds can remove the need for loose operating cords and chains, while suitable cordless blackout blinds offer light control without that operating-cord hazard. Window shutters are another popular alternative, providing light and privacy control without operating cords.
What about older blinds?
Older blinds may lack modern safety features, and many homes still have them. If you have corded or chained blinds, take practical steps to reduce access to hazardous cords:
- Fit a suitable cleat at least 1.5 metres above the floor and secure the cords every time, following the product instructions.
- Ask the manufacturer or a competent fitter about a compatible tensioner for any continuous chain or cord loop.
- Move cots, beds, sofas and chairs away from windows so children cannot climb up to reach cords.
- Never tie cords together or leave them knotted, as this can create another loop.
- Consider replacing older blinds with products that avoid accessible cords and chains, especially where children sleep or play.
Do not assume that adding an arbitrary safety accessory makes an older blind compliant. The device must be suitable for the blind and installed correctly.
Choosing blinds that meet blind safety standards
When shopping for new blinds, ask a few simple questions. Which applicable blind safety standards does the product meet? Which safety devices are included, and will the installer fit them? Is an option without accessible cords or chains available for this window?
A reputable supplier should explain the product’s safety features and installation requirements clearly. Choosing made-to-measure blinds that are professionally measured and fitted can help ensure that cord lengths, control positions and safety devices suit each window.
When updating your window dressings, consider how they fit into the wider design and practical needs of each room. For more ideas on interiors and home improvements, explore PAD Magazine, while keeping child safety central to your choice of blinds.
Final thoughts
Blind safety standards address a preventable risk to young children. For homeowners, the practical priorities are choosing an appropriate product, controlling access to cords and chains, fitting the required safety devices and following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Whether you choose corded blinds with suitable safety measures or an alternative without accessible operating cords, understanding the product’s requirements helps you make a more informed choice for your home and family.
About the author
Rohit Sood is the CEO of SoudCoh, a Melbourne-based digital marketing agency founded in 2024. He leads a team specialising in SEO, Google Ads, social media marketing and web design, helping home improvement and service brands in the UK, Australia and beyond turn online searches into real enquiries.
