New Safety Standards for Window Treatments

At Budget Blinds of Greater Colorado Springs, we take the safety of your children and pets seriously. We offer and install products that not only adhere to the 2015 Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) “Best for Kids” certification program, but also the 2018 ANSI/WCMA Window Covering Safety Standard that requires that the majority of window covering products sold in the United States and Canada to be cordless or have inaccessible or short cords.

New Safety Rule

In November of 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published their Final Rule for Custom Window Coverings in the Federal Register. This new rule mandates the elimination of free hanging operating cords, free hanging tilt cords, cord connectors, and the use of Continuous Cord Loop (CCL) with Tension Device operating systems on all window treatment products. The Rule applies to both residential and commercial applications and goes into effect May 30, 2023. 

After that date, custom window covering manufacturers must eliminate free-hanging cords, notably tilt cords and operating cords (i.e., cord lock systems), and eliminate continuous cord loop (CCL) operating systems for horizontal blinds. The biggest difference between this rule and the 2018 ANSI standard, is that the new Rule goes even further and eliminates all accessible cords longer than 8”, including CCL systems under tension, limits the exposed cord in a retractable wand system to 12”, and requires compliance with the Rule. A CCL system is permitted if the loop is covered by a so-called rigid shroud. The new rule permits Top Down Bottom Up shades, retractable cord or wand systems. 

Window Treatment Control Options

Budget Blinds of Greater Colorado Springs is committed to providing you the best in custom blinds, shades, shutters, drapery and home automation. We continue to provide a vast array of control options that will accommodate your style, and lifestyle, needs. These include:

- Motorization/Automation

- Cordless

- Motorized wands

- Retractable cord

- Wand tilt (on horizontal blinds)

Warranty Work or No Questions Asked Guarantee Claims:

Window treatments available to you prior to May 30, 2022 that require warranty work after that date may not be serviced or remade with the same operating system. For example, if you have a warranty issue on a cord lock operated treatment, the manufacturer will not remake that treatment with a cord lock, but rather a system that complies with the new Rule. Further, if a repair is required, Budget Blinds of Greater Colorado Springs may not have access to parts necessary to perform the repair. This may require a remake, which will be performed in compliance with the new Rule.

The CPSC Final Rule is in place with the goal of further improving child safety and we, along with our manufacturers, are working towards the May 30, 2023 deadline to be compliant with the ruling. All products and brands from Budget Blinds of Greater Colorado Springs have always met all applicable safety standards, and will continue to do so going forward.

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to reach out to your Style Consultant or call our office at 719-301-7171.