On 5 April 2004 a product safety order came into effect in Western Australia specifying safety standards for “Curtain and Blind Cords” and affects installations after this date.
The order covers all window treatments that have looped bead chains, looped cords or any other type of flexible looped device.
These looped cords must be designed so that the lowest point remains at all times more than 1600mm above the lowest point that the base of the covering can reach when it is in its fully lowered position.
If the looped cord does extend lower than the required 1600mm it must be installed with a safety device, warning tags and labels.
Safety devices include:
- Tension devices;
- Cleats or hooks that can secure loose cords; or
- Break away plugs.
The product safety order requires that any tension device installed with the blind must be mounted in a manner that makes the tension device fixed and immobile. A simple pamphlet on how blinds should have been installed is on the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) website at:
http://bizline.docep.wa.gov.au/productsafety/docs/curtains.pdf
What we want you do to
Please check all of your curtain and blinds that were installed after 5 April 2004 and ensure that they have been installed correctly. Please respond to this message by accessing the voting buttons supplied as soon as possible. A member of the Product Safety Unit will then contact you to arrange a time for your blinds to be inspected.
We also want you to tell your family and friends about the issue and if they have a similar problem please also refer that matter to DOCEP at the Product Safety Unit on 08-6364 3208.
Making your existing blinds safe
If you have blinds or curtains installed prior to 5 April 2004, for the safety of your family, you should still make every effort to secure or remove all looped cords. You can do this by:
- affixing the blind cords with appropriate tension devices;
- cutting the looped cord and add a tassel or knob to the end of the cords. Make sure that you establish that the blind will still function correctly if you take this action;
- replace cords with wands; or
- shorten the cords so they end at least 1600mm above the ground.
