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Blind Care and Safety Guidelines

 In order to meet with child safety regulations, our blinds have the following features, please read these carefully and ask us if you have any questions:

 

Roman Blinds: Corded Battens

 

  • The cleats to hold the blind cord must legally be fitted 1.5m from the floor. You must ensure that you fully wind the cord in a figure of 8 around the cleats so that the end of the cord is not left dangling.
  • The cords that run down the back of the blind through the brass rings, are held by a toggle (also known as a cord adjuster). This toggle enables the position of the cord held within it to be varied during fitting.
  • This toggle may be sewn to the last pocket, or may be held in position by the brass ring on the last pocket. This toggle has a spring within it. If the toggle is depressed, the strings can be released. This may cause unevenness in the blind’s appearance and the blind may not correctly function. The blind can be re-set easily by depressing the spring and threading the cord back through the toggle(s). The cords can be adjusted when down for evenness, or the acorn can be untied, the strings brought together, and then re-tied.
  • The cord is deliberately not tied around the toggle, in order to meet the safety regulations. Because of this, over time, the cord may slip through the toggle and cause the blind not to function correctly.
  • We can offer a visit to re-set your blind if you would prefer us to do this, which is charged at a standard rate.

 

Image of the bottom toggle sewn to the last pocket:

 

Roman Blinds: Chain Sidewinders

 

  • Older chain sidewinders will have a ‘P’ clip that attaches a fixed chain to the wall at 1.5m from the floor. This must be retained in this way in order to keep the chain safe as there is no alternative safety mechanism in the headrail to detach the chain.
  • Newer chain sidewinders will have a safety mechanism with the headrail. The most commonly used one currently by The Hackney Draper features the release of the internal ‘wheel’ that holds the chain, when the chain is placed under undue pressure (if a child were to pull on this heavily), as this image shows:
  • The internal wheel can be easily clicked back in by the Client.
  • Alternative systems with breakaway parts may also have been supplied historically. If you are unsure, please check with us.
  • Chains with this safety mechanism can be fitted legally as low as 60cm off the floor but we find in general a height of around 125cm is comfortable to use.
  • However, if you feel your child will play with the chain, we can take this up to 150cm off the floor at the fitting.
  • The chains need to be used carefully and must not be over-pulled. 
  • Each cord on the back of the blind aligns with a spool held within the headrail.
  • The cords are held at the bottom of the blind by a toggle. This toggle may be sewn to the last pocket, or may be held in position by the brass ring on the last pocket. This toggle has a spring within it. If the toggle is depressed, the strings can be released. This may cause unevenness in the blind’s appearance and the blind may not correctly function. If the toggle is released in conjunction with headrail use, this may result in the cords being wound up within the headrail itself.
  • The chains need to be used carefully and must not be over-pulled. This may result over time, in the cord slipping through the toggles and cause the blind to not function properly. Furthermore, the cord may twist itself within the headrail and cause further internal damage. In rare cases the chain may break in two.
  • You may find it difficult to untangle the blind. We can offer a visit to re-set your blind (and repair your chain if needed), if you would prefer us to do this. This is charged at a standard rate.

 

 Roller Blinds: Chain Sidewinders

 

  • Your roller blind will have a plastic connector that connects two ends of the chain. Under undue pressure the chain is designed to split apart, (for safety), and it can be easily re-connected with the plastic connector.
  • Please be careful with your chain and do not over-pull it.
  • We are able to repair your chain if required, this is charged at a standard rate.