New Roman Shade Standard…What do all those words mean?
For those of you who are not educated in this kind of wording, it looks as though the letter written by the CPSC was ignored and the new standard was created by the industry.
We as well as many other parents and activists are sad to see this happen. Developing a new standard is not going to save the lives of children. We need to see change in the PRODUCT! Now it seems that they don’t have to change their product at all. They just created a safety standard so that the product did not have to change.
For those of you who are technical in this department….here is the wording for the new roman shade standard.
4.4 The product shall reduce the hazard posed by accessible inner cords by meeting one or more of the following requirements:
4.4.1 The product shall have no inner cords.
4.4.2 The product shall have inner cords that are not accessible
4.4.3 The product shall have accessible inner cords that meet the requirements in 6.6.
4.4.3.1 For products that incorporate an inner cord stop device on the cord(s), the device(s) shall be positioned 6 in. (153 mm) or less below the head rail, when only the bottom rail is in the fully lowered position.
4.5 In addition to meeting 4.4, the inner cords of Roman style shades shall meet one of the following requirements:
4.5.1 They shall not be accessible.
4.5.2 If they are accessible, they shall incorporate a cord release device that prevents a free standing loop from forming
4.5.3 If they are accessible and do not incorporate a cord release device, all the following shall apply:
4.5.3.1 The vertical ring to ring (or cord guide to guide) spacing shall not be greater than 8 in. (204 mm), and
4.5.3.2 The cords on the side of the shade shall be 2 in. (51 mm) or greater from the edge of the product, and
4.5.3.3 The product shall include a bottom bar or hem of sufficient weight and rigidity to eliminate a free standing loop when the lift cord is pulled and released from any point above the first ring/guide above the tie-off point.
6.6 Accessible Inner Cord Accessible inner cords shall adhere to the following:
6.6.1 Pull Force This is the force necessary to create a free-standing 4 in. (102 mm) cord loop. With the blind in the fully lowered position, and the cord lock not actively engaged, a 10 lbf (32N) minimum-pull force shall be applied to each inner cord 2″ (51 mm) above the bottom of the blind, in a downwards direction.
6.6.2 Maximum Cord Loop The maximum loop created by the above pull force shall be no more than 6″ (152 mm) long. (Equivalent to a 4 in. (102 mm) diameter loop).
6.6.3 Products That Incorporate An Inner Cord Stop Device On The Cord These products shall be tested in the following order and meet the following requirements:
6.6.3.1 Operational Test With the inner cord stop device securely attached to the cord, the venetian blind shall be raised and lowered smoothly 1000 times (non-venetian 3000 times), with an interval of at least 15 seconds between each cycle. The inner cord stop device shall move less than 1″ (25.4 mm) from its original position on the cord. (If the cord fails, replace.)
6.6.3.2 UV Stability cycles after the UV treatment; Subject the materials used in the inner cord stop device to AATCC TEST Method 16-1998, for 500 hours or equivalent. After completion, perform 100 cycles in accordance with 6.6.3.1. Upon completion, the inner cord stop device shall move less than 1in. (25.4 mm) from its original position on the cord and the device shall still be operable.
6.6.3.3 Impact Test Products that do not incorporate the cord-lock requirements outlined in AWCMA 1029-86 (see B 1.3) for the cord lock stopping the “free fall” of the blind, shall be capable of withstanding 1,000 “free fall” impacts from the fully raised to the fully lowered position, on a maximum sized blind.
6.6.3.4 Compression Test The inner cord stop device shall not break from being subjected to a 25lb compression test, specified in ASTM F963-96Aa.
6.6.4 Stock Blinds Blinds that are made to standard sizes, and then fitted by the consumer to varying sized windows, shall have an inner cord stop device that shall be adjustable. The adjustable inner cord stop device shall be pre-attached to the cords, and set to the maximum drop of the blind. Instructions for adjustment shall be included with each blind sold.
6.6.5 Products That Do Not Require an Inner Cord Stop Device. Products that do not require an Inner Cord Stop Device, are as follows:
6.6.5.1 Where the cords are not accessible.
6.6.5.2 Where it is not possible to create a free standing 4in. (102 mm) diameter loop, after the above pull forces have been applied, in accordance with 6.6.1.
5.2.8 Roman Style Blind
This warning tag must be attached to the lower most section of lift cord on the back side of a Roman style product and be visible from the front of the shade upon installation.