- — January 2018: Regulation by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) requires stock window treatment products (pre-packaged products sold in retail stores and online) to be cordless or have inaccessible cords, however custom window covering products are not included in this requirement.
- — November 2022: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) votes to require custom window coverings to eliminate the use of products with free-hanging cords and other corded options.
- — June 2024: The WCMA and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) require most window coverings sold in the US—both stock products and custom—to be cordless or have inaccessible cords.
This new regulation applies only to newly manufactured and installed window treatments, so if the coverings in your home right now are corded, it’s not required that you update them. However, any future window coverings you install after June 1, 2024 should be cordless.
However, because of the strong safety advantages of cordless treatments, it’s a good idea to at least conduct a quick audit in your home if you have have pets and small children. Make sure that all cords are safely secured out-of-reach of children and pets!
- — Consider updating window treatments in nurseries, play rooms, and family rooms with cordless options.
- — Keep cribs, beds, and furniture away from window treatments with cords.
- — Some products can be retrofitted with non-corded controls or converted to cordless motorized controls.
- — Special order options are available to accommodate individual accessibility needs for certain window covering types, including some treatments with continuous cord loop or retractable cord operating systems.
The goal of the revised safety standard ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 is to improve home safety as window treatment technology advances by eliminating the use of free hanging operating cords.
“The revised standard is the strongest safety standard in the world. The elimination of free hanging operating cords, free hanging tilt cords and multiple cords into a cord connector on all custom window covering products is a direct result of ongoing industry innovation, technological advances, and new product development,” says the WCMA Executive Director, Ralph Vasami.
LET’S IMPROVE YOUR HOME SAFETY WITH CORDLESS CONVENIENCE
Our no-obligation complimentary design service will help you through all the ins and outs of selecting the perfect cordless window treatments for your home! Our expert designers can guide you through the available styles, the best materials for your needs, and take care of all the details. Plus, you get to see samples—once you have a few favorite styles picked out, our designers can send swatches right to your doorstep. Call today at 800-828-2003 and set up your Free Design Consultation.
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