If you manufacture, import or sell new or second hand curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products for interior use this information is important to your business.

Fair Trading introduced the Fair Trading Regulation 2007 Corded Internal Window Coverings to reduce the risk of death and injuries to young children and babies from strangulation by exposed cords and chains of interior curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products. The law in part refers to the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products ANSI/WCMA A100.1-1996.

The law covers any interior drapery hardware or window covering products operated by a looped cord, looped bead chain or any other type of flexible looped device other than that used solely as a tie-back for the covering and includes the following products:

• curtains
• cellular shades
• horizontal blinds
• venetian blinds
• vertical shades
• roll-up blinds
• roller shades
• roman shades
• vertical blinds
• traverse rods
• tracks.

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The law requires all interior curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products operated by a looped cord, looped bead chain or flexible looped device to:

• carry a warning label or a hang tag (see below) and, with the exception of custom-made for professional installation curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products, should also be accompanied by written information explaining, how to install the product, its safety device, how to operate the safety device and the generic warning (see sample below).
• be designed so that any exposed looped cord, looped bead chain or other flexible looped device cannot be within 1600mm from the base of the curtain, shade, blind, traverse rod, track or similar product when the product is fully lowered.

The product does not have to meet the 1600mm requirement if its exposed looped cord, looped bead chain or flexible looped device:

• is not able to form a loop with a circumference greater than 300mm (for example, because the product includes an effective way for the exposed looped cord, looped bead chain or other flexible looped device to be secured or retracted).
• has a cord release device that passes the release test set out in Appendix A of ANSI A100 for cord release and cord shear device. Any devices that are intended to entirely detach from the looped cord, chain or flexible looped device must not be an ingestion or inhalation hazard for young children (this means that the device must not fit into a small parts test cylinder, similar in size to a 35mm film container, as mentioned in the small parts test of AS/NZS ISO 8124-1:2000 Safety of Toys).
• has a tension device that meets the requirements of clause 6.5.4 of ANSI A100. This means that the tension device must hold the cord or bead loop taut and close to the product (or mounting surface) in a way that makes the tension device’s position fixed and not moveable, so as to make the cord or bead loop less accessible to young children.

Safety devices that can be used include:

• cord release device (eg. breakaway tassel)
• cord tension device
• cord retraction device
• cord shroud.

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Bottom rail

As a minimum requirement of the law a bottom rail warning label must:

• have the word ‘WARNING’ on the label in capital letters not less than 8mm high. The rest of the message should be in upper and lower case with letters not less than 3mm in height.
• include the graphic image.
• be located on the bottom rail of the interior curtain, shade, blind, traverse rod, track or similar product.
• be printed in a strong contrasting colour from the rail.

For products without bottom rails the label should be placed somewhere visible to consumers. Example of the bottom rail warning label is shown below.

Hang tags

While hang tags need not remain on the product indefinitely the law requires that they be attached at the time the interior curtain, shade, blind, traverse rod, track or similar product is supplied to the consumer.

There are two types of hang tags:

• the generic warning hang tag which contains a graphic image and general information on child safety. The law requires the generic warning hang tag to comply with clause 5.1.2 of ANSI A100, but to refer to ‘cots’ instead of ‘cribs’
• the operational hang tag which explains the operation of a specific safety device – if a safety device is included.

The required generic warning hang tag and a recommended sample of an operational hang tag are shown below.

The same tag may be used for both the generic warning hang tag and operational hang tag provided the warning and explanation are kept distinct from each other and the warning and the explanation are clear and legible. 

There is no wording set out for operational tags in the law. However, examples can be found in clause 5.2 of ANSI A100. It is recommended that the words ‘always keep cords out of reach of young children’ be included. 

Interior curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products with individual tassel cords are not covered by the law. However, a warning is recommended for such products so that consumers are alerted to the dangers of loops forming if the individual cords are tied together.

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Suppliers should note the following Fair Trading recommendations:

• Where parts of curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products for interior use are replaced, they must be replaced with ones that ensure the product complies with the law.
• The law does not distinguish whether a product is in the raised or lowered position. The 1600mm measurement is from the lowest point the base can go of the curtain, shade, blinds, traverse rod, track or similar product for interior use, whether it is in the up or down position.
• Cords on the rear of roman blinds do not have to meet the requirements of the law eg. 300mm cord loop circumference and safety devices. However, other cords on roman blinds have to meet the requirements.
• Fair Trading will accept a product that meets the requirements of the 2002 version (ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2002) of the American Standard as meeting the requirements of the NSW law provided suppliers can show their product meets the requirements of the 2002 version.

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It is the responsibility of suppliers of curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products for interior use and operated by a looped cord, looped bead chain or any other type of flexible looped device, to ensure their products comply with the law. Persons supplying products that do not comply with the law are liable to prosecution and face fines of up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations.

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Curtains, shades, blinds, traverse rods, tracks or similar products for interior use and operated by a looped cord, looped bead chain or any other type of flexible looped device that do not comply with the law are subject to recall.

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Copies of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-1996 and AS/NZS ISO 8124 can be purchased from SAI Global by phoning 1300 654 646.

Contact the Office of Fair Trading Safety and Standards Branch on 8467 4469 for any manufacturer or supplier questions on interior curtains, blinds and tracks.