Silent Gliss Child Safety

As our children grow, so does theirs curiosity with the world around them.  Everyday household objects could become a potential danger to infants. 

Silent Gliss puts safety first and has developed products that can reduce the risk of accidents.  Their products not only enhance the look of any interior, they are designed with safety in mind.

When is Child Safety required?

Child safety legislation BS EN 13120:2009+A1:2014, BS EN 16433:2014 and BS EN 16434:2014 was published by BSI on 28 February 2014 and has to be complied with when:

Criteria 1

The blind/curtain track contains cords, chains or tapes that could form a hazardous loop, this could be the operating cord or chain or the cords which form the inner structure of the blind.

Criteria 2

The product is intended to be installed in premises where children 0-42 months are likely to have access or be present (all domestic applications).

Criteria 1 = Yes / Criteria 2 = Yes

Criteria 1 = Yes / Criteria 2 = No

A product with a hazardous loop but is not intended to be installed where children are present can be produced and installed without compliance to the legislation. Any order for a “non-compliant” product will need to be supported by a Silent Gliss Risk Assessment completed by the person responsible for the building. If approved, the products shall be accompanied with the notice on the right. This “non-compliant” leaflet will be included in the packaging with the product.

Criteria 1 = Yes / Criteria 2 = Yes
If the product has a hazardous loop and will be installed where children are likely to be present then child safety compliance is necessary. The product will have to be fitted with either an integral or non-integral safety device, the length of operating chains will be controlled and labelling will be mandatory.

What types of safety devices are available from Silent Gliss?

There are a number of options available to make a Silent Gliss products safe.

1. Operating cords and chains – breakaway systems

Child Safety Device
A breakaway system is some form of device which causes the hazardous loop to break under an applied weight of 6kg.

The Silent Gliss Child Safety Device is a purpose designed integral safety device for operating cords and chains. The two-part device will separate should a weight of 6kg be applied causing the hazardous loop to ‘break away’ from the blind or curtain track.​

This device is an optional extra and needs to be specified at the time of ordering.
The Silent Gliss Child Safety Device is available at a cost of £14.40 for :

•       Silent Gliss 4905 Chain Operation Roller Blind

2. Operating cords and chains – fixed tensioning systems

The cord retainer is a fixed tensioning device which ensures operating cords and chains are kept taut therefore not creating a hazardous loop. They need to be fixed to a surface (normally a wall) at the maximum distance possible from the headrail. The Safety Retainer Silent Gliss 10400 is supplied with all cord and chain operated systems as standard unless the integral child safety device is selected

Length of operating cords and chains

The length of the operating cord or chain is determined by:

      • The safety device being used
      • The drop of the blind/curtain
      • The installation height

To ensure compliance with the new legislation it is now critical to know the fitting height in order to calculate the cord or chain drop.
Where the fitting height is ‘not known’ the legislation gives clear direction as to what drop is allowed.
 

      Maximum operating cord length – breakaway systems (Child Safety Device)

            Installation height known = minimum of 60cm from the ground

            Installation height unknown = maximum of two thirds of blind/curtain drop

      Maximum operating cord length – fixed tensioning systems (Cord Retainer)

            Installation height known = minimum of 150cm from the ground

            Installation height unknown (blind/curtain drop < 250cm) = maximum of 100cm 

            Installation height unknown (blind/curtain drop > 250cm) = blind/curtain drop less 150cm

Practical and simple precautions

Please help by taking these simple precautions in your home:

1. Examine every blind or corded track in your home.  If any blind has a looped control cord or chain then 'Make It Safe' - use a safety device such as a Silent Gliss cord retainer
2. Make sure that all blind/curtain track cords or chains cannot be reached by children
3. Remember - even if children do not live in the home they may visit
4. Do not put sofas, chairs, beds or play pens near to window blinds as children love to climb.

 
For more information please follow the links below

/PDF/Silent_Gliss_Child_Safety_Brochure.pdf

/PDF/Child Safety Practice Guide.pdf