• Introduction – standards & regulation

• 13 top questions

• Q&A

BS EN 13120

BS EN 16433

BS EN 16434

28 July2011

2011-2012

Feb2014

BS EN 13120

BS EN 16433

BS EN 16434

28 July2011

2011-2012

Feb2014

Presumption of conformity

All internal blinds

0-42 months

Homes Public Buildings

Commercial Buildings

BS EN 13120 Overview Internal blinds presentingno hazardous loops andno hazardous cords aredeemed to satisfy thestandard

“Intended to be installed in premises where children aged 0-42 months are likely to have access or be present”

Cord Lengths

Schools

“In order to reduce the risk of strangulation and internal asphyxiation internal window blinds (and corded window coverings) shall be of an inherently safe design. Every possible means, based in the state of the art and technology, shall be considered for the safe design of the product, when used in all reasonably foreseeable environments where young children have access to or are likely to be present, such as, for example, homes, hotels, hospitals, churches, shops, schools, nurseries, and public places in general.”

EU Decision – 27 July 2011

Persons with a disability

There are no dispensations under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 for products supplied to persons that are registered as disabled.

Allowances for DDA, but must not compromise the child safety of the product.

Kitchen Sink

“If the installation height (H0) is specified, the distance from the floor to the bottom of the pull cord(s) (H1) shall be at least 1,5 m (see Figure 6): H1 > 1,5 m.”

Kitchen Sink

Breakaways

Breakaways

Breakaways

Romans

BS EN 13120

If inner cord(s) are accessible:

a) the maximum distance between two consecutive attachment / retention points of inner cords shall be less than or equal to 200 mm; and

b) it shall not be possible to insert the head probe defined in EN 16433 after having applied a vertical force of 50 N.

If either a) or b) is not fulfilled, the hazardous loop shall be eliminated when a mass of 6 kg is applied or within 5 s of application.

BS EN 16433

6.2.3 Inner cord(s) forming a hazardous loopThe test shall be carried out on the penultimate and the last panel with the internal blind in the fully extended position

Stairwells

1.5m

1.5m

Cottage Windows

2.2m

1.5m

“In the case of internal blinds with pull cord(s) as referred to in 8.2.3.3, the installation instructions shall state that:

— headrails shall not be installed less than 1,5 m from the floor, and

— the accumulation system shall be installed as close to the headrail as possible and, in all cases, not less than 1,5 m from the floor.”

Landlords/Holiday HomesLandlords therefore have a responsibility to ensure blinds installed in their properties containing cords or chains (which may be hazardous) are safe.

If the blinds cannot be made safe by the addition of a compliant safety device(s) they should be replaced.

Blinds installed by the landlord or his agent after February 2014 must be compliant with BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014.Blinds installed by the tenant should be checked to ensure they are compliant as part of the landlord/agent inspections.

Compliance is required irrespective of the age of the tenants.

This advice covers all residential environments and will include (but is not exclusive to) homes, holiday homes, mobile homes, caravans and boats.

Bay Windows

Soffit fit?Headrail fit?Glue, not screw?Warranty?

Tilt Cords

Pre-2014 repairs

Warnings and instructions

“The name or trademark of the manufacturer or importer or distributor shall be displayed on the internal blind”