Blind and curtain safety
There are mandatory safety requirements for blinds and curtains.
Risks and injuries
Window coverings (such as curtains, shades and blinds) with cords and chains can cause injury and death to young children and babies if they become wrapped around their necks.
Strangulation can occur when cords are too long or end in a loop:
- If a child slips, moves quickly or plays with a cord, the cord can act like a noose.
- Babies can reach through cot slats, grab a nearby blind or curtain cord and pull it into the cot and around their necks.
- Young children can strangle on dangling cords after climbing onto a bed or other pieces of furniture.
Safety requirements
There are two national mandatory standards that apply to blind and curtain cord safety.
These standards set out the installation and labelling requirements suppliers must adhere to when selling and installing corded blinds and curtains.
Installation
- Corded blinds and curtains must be installed in a way that ensures a loose cord cannot form a loop 220 mm or longer at or less than 1,600 mm above floor level.
- The blinds/curtains must be installed in accordance with the installation instructions on any retail packaging for the covering.
- A cleat used to secure a cord must be installed at least 1,600 mm above floor level.
Labelling
- The person installing a corded blind/curtain must attach a label to it, with the name and contact details of the person/company responsible for the installation.
- Warning labels or swing tags supplied with the corded blinds/curtains must not be removed.
Your consumer rights
As a consumer, you have the right to expect that the goods you buy are safe.
Australian Consumer Law requires safety standards to be met before certain goods are sold. These standards include:
- the way the good is made
- what it contains
- how it works
- the tests it needs to pass
- whether any warnings or instructions need to accompany it.
Penalties
The penalty for individuals is $2.5 million.
The penalty for a body corporate is the greater of:
- $50 million
- if the Court can determine the value of the 'reasonably attributable' benefit obtained, 3 times that value, or
- if the Court cannot determine the value of the 'reasonably attributable' benefit, 30% of the corporation's adjusted turnover during the breach turnover period for the contravention.
Be a savvy consumer
Follow these steps to keep blind and curtain cords out of children's reach, particularly those under six years old:
- Keep children away from all cords – move furniture, cots and beds away.
- Check all blind and curtain cords anywhere children are present – make sure they are out of reach.
- Make loose cords safe – use safety devices or cut the cord loop and attach a tassel at the end of each strand. Contact your local blind supplier or hardware store to find out what safety devices are suitable for your blinds.
- Choose safe blinds and curtains – check new curtains and blinds have warning labels and secure the cords out of reach. Ask the supplier to show you what safety features are available and make sure you use them.
Before you start, check that your blinds will still work with cut cords and that it won't void your warranty.
- Cut looped cords on the blind, curtain or venetians, just above the tassel.
- Remove any tassel and equaliser buckle.
- Attach a new tassel to each of the pull-cord ends.
- Knot the cord to hold the tassel (see illustration below).
Note: Pull-cords on certain vertical blinds or curtains require a continuous loop to work and cannot be cut. For these types of blinds or curtains, you will need to install a safety device that will secure the cords out of reach from children.
How to report a product safety concern
If you become aware of an unsafe situation or item, whether or not anyone has been injured:
- Alert the supplier about the issue.
- Report the matter to Product Safety Australia.
Making a complaint
When making a complaint, you should include:
- details of the issues you are experiencing
- copies of any correspondence that shows how you have tried to resolve the matter.
How NSW Fair Trading will handle your complaint
Your complaint will be reviewed to determine the most appropriate resolution. This may include:
- providing you with information to help resolve your complaint
- recording the complaint issues to assist in future compliance programs, or
- contacting the other party to try and resolve the dispute.
You can lodge a complaint:
Online
If you cannot resolve your matter, submit your complaint by using our form.
By mail
Post your complaint form and documentation to:
NSW Fair Trading
PO Box 972
Parramatta NSW 2124
Ask a question
If you are unable to find the information you need, you can call us between 8:30am to 5pm on Monday to Friday. You can also use our form to make an enquiry.