Manufacturers are Cutting the Cord On Their Window Treatments

As of December 2018, all newly manufactured stock window treatments should be cord-free or have short, inaccessible pull cords. Sunburst applauds this decision, as it comes after negotiations between the Window Covering Manufacturers Association and the American National Standards Institute, and covers any pre-manufactured window coverings. And while the new safety standards don’t recall old corded treatments, some people in San Antonio have viewed the announcement as an opportunity to change their old shades and blinds.

 

Why The New Window Treatment Safety Standards?

In the past few decades, cords on window treatments have been included in 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 one report finding that there were almost 17,000 window cord injuries during a fifteen-year period. Extra cord safety products, such as cord shorteners and fasteners, tried to solve the problem, but consumers did not utilize them as manufacturers anticipated.

What Do The New Regulations Cover?

Every stock (ready-made) window treatment made for stores or online should now be cordless or have inaccessible cords. This accounts for over 80% of all window covering products purchased in the U.S. and Canada. Custom-made window treatments don’t have the same constraints; however, cords can only hang down to 40% the length of the treatment and should default to a tilt rod rather than a tilt cord. These regulations are only on window treatments constructed after December 19, 2018, and current coverings have not been recalled.

What Are Your Choices Regarding Cordless Window Treatments?

With the new standards, people are now pursuing various cord-free options when acquiring or replacing their corded coverings. Check out a few cord-free options:

• Plantation Shutters: These popular window treatments cover the window with sturdy louvers and usually employ a center tilt-rod. Plantation Shutters have been know as the most durable window covering option and are made with either solid wood or a faux wood composite that doesn’t warp, crack, splinter, or chip. Plantation shutters have always been free of cords, so these treatments have always been known for safety.

• Barn Door Window Coverings: Instead of opening vertically using a cord or tilt rod, barn door window treatments attach to a track above the window and slide apart sideways. You can part your barn doors a tad to bring in some light, or slide them to the edge of the track for a statement piece.

• Cord-free Shades and Blinds: Some window treatments have modified their mechanics to employ internal cords that don’t hang loose. Other treatments operate by motors, which raise and lower coverings via remote control. Different shades simply raise or lower to their desired height by tugging the bottom bar. These coverings are available in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns, and are offered in many semi-translucent fabrics that can look like of sheer draperies.
  

Let Sunburst Help You Cut The Cord On Your Window Coverings

If you need to replace your corded hazards with a safer treatment, your San Antonio Sunburst representative can help. We will show you many safe window treatments, and we can assist you in finding one that looks great in your windows. Book your free in-home consultation by calling 210-876-0377 now.