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Child Safety

Make it Safe, the BBSA window blind child safety campaign

Renaissance is a member of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) and supports its Make it Safe campaign. Looped cords and chains on internal blinds can strangle babies and young children, so the law sets clear requirements for every blind supplied and installed in homes and public buildings.

What the law requires

BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014 defines a safe internal blind under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. It applies in all homes, all public buildings, and any area of a commercial building where children aged 0 to 42 months are likely to be present. It sets:

  • limits on cord and chain lengths
  • safety devices fitted at the point of manufacture
  • testing of every safety-critical component
  • warning notices on the blind and instructions left with the customer

Choose Safe by Design first

A Safe by Design blind has no exposed operating cord or chain. Specify one of these first in children’s bedrooms, nurseries, healthcare settings and family accommodation:

  • spring-operated roller blinds
  • wand-operated vertical blinds
  • tensioned pleated blinds
  • motorised blinds

When a cord or chain is needed

If a corded blind is the right choice for the window, it must carry a safety device:

  • chain-break connectors that separate under load and clip back together after inspection
  • cord and chain tensioners fixed so the cord is held permanently taut
  • cleats fixed at least 1.5m from the floor, with the cord wound in a figure of eight after every use
  • breakaway devices on the rear lift cords of Roman blinds

For installers and specifiers

  • Offer Safe by Design options first.
  • Where a safety device is needed, agree with the customer how and where it will be fitted.
  • Fit every device securely, leave the warning notices on the blind and the instructions with the customer.
  • Show the customer how the blind and its safety device work.

The BBSA’s full surveyor and installer guidance is at makeitsafe.org.uk.

Download

Make it Safe: window blind safety brochure (BBSA, 2024, PDF)Download

Planning blinds for a project with young children on site? Talk to our team on 0113 250 4499 or sales@rca-uk.com.