Child safety sun protection
What does child safety for sun protection mean?
Child safety for blinds is important because roller blinds and other indoor sunshades often have hanging cords or ball chains that can pose a safety hazard to small children. There are European requirements and standards for function and safety that aim to reduce the risk of accidents with cords, ropes, and chains. The requirements affect both how blinds should be designed and how they should be installed.
In this guide, we will review what this means in practice, including requirements for child safety devices and installation height, as well as examples of blinds that are designed without cords or chains.
Fastening device for ball chains/cords
According to current requirements, sun blinds with cords or ball chains must be delivered with a safety device that prevents cords or chains from hanging freely and posing a risk to small children. All our sun blinds are delivered with such a fastening device, which is mounted on the wall or window to keep the ball chain or cord in place. For child safety to work, it is important that the safety device is installed according to the instructions.
Installation height and child safety
The mounting height affects where the operating mechanism (cord or ball chain) is located and is therefore important for child safety. To reduce the risk of young children reaching cords or chains, the operating mechanism must be placed out of reach in accordance with applicable safety requirements.
Mounting height is the distance from the floor to the point where the sun blind is installed. For custom-made sun blinds with cords or ball chains, the mounting height is used to adjust the length of the operating mechanism, so that it is located at a child-safe distance. As a guideline, cords and chains should not extend too far down from the floor in the sun blind's various positions, and if the installation height is unknown, the operating mechanism must either be limited in length or secured with an approved safety solution.
Cordless and chainless sun protection
If you want to completely avoid dangling cords or chains, there are child-safe blinds and shades without cords and chains. For example, you can choose a cordless roller blind or a Venetian blind without control cords. These solutions can be operated by pulling the blind or shade itself by hand to the desired position. Another option is a motorized roller blind, which is controlled by remote control or via an app.
Common questions about child safety
What does mounting height mean for sun protection?
Mounting height is the distance from the floor up to the point where the blind is installed. The mounting height determines where the chain will be located and how long it needs to be to be out of reach of small children according to current safety regulations.
Example: If the blind is installed 200 cm from the floor, the chain will be 50 cm long (200 cm – 150 cm = 50 cm), so that the lowest part of the chain is at a child-safe distance.
For custom-made blinds, the mounting height is used to adjust the chain length. If the mounting height is unknown, a standard chain of 100 cm may be supplied in some cases.
For more information on how to measure the mounting height, you can read our measurement guide for roller blinds.
Why is the mounting height important for child safety?
The mounting height is important for child safety as it determines where the ball chain or adjustment cord will be when the blind is installed. The purpose is to ensure that the chain or cord is out of reach of small children relative to the floor. This is important even if the chain or cord is secured with a safety device, as an incorrect mounting height can still result in the operating mechanism being too low.
Do the child safety requirements apply to all types of sun protection?
Yes, child safety requirements apply to sun protection products that have dangling cords or beaded chains, as these can pose a risk to young children. This includes several types of internal sun protection, such as roller blinds, pleated blinds, vertical blinds, and Roman blinds. The exact requirements depend on the product's design and how it is operated.
Who is responsible for ensuring the sun protection is correctly installed and child-safe?
According to current requirements, the retailer is responsible for complying with the regulations for the length of ball chains and cords and for ensuring that the sun protection product is delivered with the correct safety device. This also applies to professional sun protection installers, who need to comply with requirements for both mounting height and the installation of safety devices. If you install the sun protection product yourself, it is your responsibility to follow the installation instructions and safety recommendations to ensure the sun protection product is child-safe in your environment.
Are there any sunscreens that are completely free of cords and chains?
Yes, for extra child safety, there are sun blinds designed completely without cords or chains, such as a roller blind without a beaded chain or a venetian blind without cords. These solutions can be operated by pulling the sun blind to the desired position by hand. Another option is motorized sun blinds controlled by remote control or via an app.