Blind cord safety

Blind and curtain cords look harmless, but they're a known strangulation risk for young children. The ACCC says some young children have been strangled playing near, or trying to use, blinds and curtains. Australia has mandatory standards for the supply and installation of corded internal window coverings.

This is general information. We don't publish prices or recommend particular brands or businesses.

The two mandatory standards

The ACCC explains there are two mandatory standards:

• a supply standard covering labelling and cord safety components;
• an installation standard covering how corded coverings must be installed in homes.

Corded internal window coverings must come with warning labels on the packaging, a warning label or swing tag on the cord, and installation instructions.

Installation requirements

Under the Competition and Consumer (Corded Internal Window Coverings) Safety Standard 2014, corded internal window coverings in homes must be installed so that:

• a loose cord can't form a loop 220 mm or longer less than 1,600 mm above floor level;
• any cord safety components specified in the instructions are used;
• cleats are installed at least 1,600 mm above the floor;
• cord guides installed lower than 1,600 mm withstand a 70 N force for 10 seconds and keep the cord tensioned.

Practical steps

The ACCC suggests you:

• secure any loose or looped cords out of children's reach;
• where possible, cut looped cords and fit tassels;
• where looped cords are needed, secure them with cleats or tension devices;
• fix tie-downs and tension devices to the wall or frame so children can't remove them.

Room layout

Move cots, beds, high chairs and furniture away from windows so children can't climb up to cords.

Older blinds

Check every window. The ACCC installation guide suggests metal devices where possible, as plastic may become brittle.

Homes with young children

If young children live in or visit your home, cord safety should shape your choices. The ACCC warns that some young children have been strangled playing near or using blind and curtain cords. Choose cordless, spring-operated or motorised systems where you can. Make sure any cords or chains are secured with devices fixed to the wall or frame, and move cots, beds, high chairs and climbable furniture away from windows. Check every window, including in rooms children rarely use.

Motorised options

Motorised blinds and curtains are operated by a remote, wall switch, app or timer. They remove cords and chains altogether, which many households with young children value, and they make large or hard-to-reach windows easier to use. They can be scheduled to open and close with the sun to help with comfort. Ask suppliers about power options (battery, rechargeable or hard-wired), how they are charged, what happens in a power outage, and the warranty on the motor. Hard-wired motors involve electrical work, which must be done by a licensed electrician.

Measure-and-install yourself?

Some retailers sell made-to-measure coverings that you measure and install yourself. This can suit confident DIYers, but you take responsibility for measuring accurately and installing safely. Read the instructions before you order, check you have the right fixings for your walls, and use a ladder safely. If the coverings have cords, install the supplied cord safety devices exactly as instructed so the installation meets the national standard.

Keep good records

Keep a simple record for each room: product, fabric or material and colour, supplier, date installed, care instructions and warranty. Photograph the labels or swing tags before you remove them, and keep the cord safety warning labels and instructions. These records help if you need a repair, a matching replacement, or to make a warranty claim, and they're useful if you sell the home.

A quick checklist

Before you order:

• decide what each covering needs to do;
• choose the mount type;
• measure carefully, in millimetres;
• see samples at home;
• get like-for-like written quotes;
• check the business and its ABN;
• confirm lead times, warranty and terms;
• plan for cord safety.

If you rent

If you rent, check your rental agreement and talk to your rental provider or agent before drilling holes or replacing window coverings. Consumer Affairs Victoria has information about the changes renters can and can't make. Removable options, such as tension rods or freestanding screens, may suit some situations. Keep any original coverings you remove, and take photos so you can restore the property at the end of the tenancy.

Questions to ask yourself first

Before you start, think about what you want your window coverings to do. Is the priority privacy, darkness, glare control, warmth, looks or easy cleaning? How often will each covering be opened and closed, and by whom? Are there young children in the home? Do any windows have handles, winders or unusual shapes? Do you rent or own? What's your timeframe? Short answers to these questions make it much easier to compare products and quotes, and to explain what you need to suppliers.

Where our information comes from

We base the safety and energy information in this guide on official sources, including ACCC Product Safety Australia, the Federal Register of Legislation, YourHome, Sustainability Victoria, energy.gov.au and Consumer Affairs Victoria, listed at the end of the page. Practical tips about products are general guidance only. Requirements and guidance change, so we show the date we last checked the page. Before relying on any detail, follow the source links.

Use the measuring planner

Our free measuring planner helps you list each window, record inside or outside mount sizes, and print a tidy sheet to take to suppliers. It reminds you about cord safety, and nothing you enter leaves your browser. It doesn't apply manufacturing deductions; suppliers do that based on their products.

Getting help from suppliers

Good suppliers will explain options clearly, bring samples, measure carefully and put everything in writing. Don't be afraid to ask questions, including why they recommend a particular product, what alternatives exist, and how the covering will be fixed and operated. Ask to see examples of similar installations. If a supplier can't answer clearly, or pressures you to sign on the spot, take your time and get another quote. A clear, unhurried conversation is usually a good sign that the rest of the process will go smoothly too.

Living with your choice

Once coverings are installed, give yourself a few weeks to see how they work through different weather and light. Notice whether rooms feel warmer, darker or more private, and whether coverings are easy to use. If something isn't operating properly, contact the supplier early rather than waiting. Small adjustments, such as tension on a chain or alignment of a shutter panel, are often simple to fix soon after installation. Make a note of anything you'd do differently for the next room.

Accessibility and ease of use

Think about who will be operating each covering. Heavy blinds, high windows and stiff controls can be hard for some people to use, including older people and people with limited reach or grip. Motorised controls, wands, lighter fabrics and splitting wide windows into smaller coverings can make daily use easier. Ask suppliers to demonstrate controls before you order, and consider where switches or remotes will be kept.

Sustainability

Choosing durable coverings, caring for them well and repairing rather than replacing can reduce waste. Ask suppliers whether replacement parts are available, whether fabrics can be cleaned, and what happens to old coverings when they are removed. Coverings that help reduce heating and cooling needs can also help lower energy use, as YourHome and Sustainability Victoria explain. Avoid vague environmental claims and ask suppliers to explain any they make.

Key points

• Blind cords are a strangulation risk for young children.
• Loose cords must not form loops of 220 mm or more below 1,600 mm.
• Cleats go at least 1,600 mm above the floor.
• Fix tension devices to the wall or frame.
• Move furniture away from windows.