Regulations will ban most window blinds
Health Canada aims to prevent children from being strangled by cords
New Canadian regulations governing window coverings with cords have industry representatives feeling exasperated.
The new rules went into effect in May with safety in mind, as Health Canada looks to prevent tragedies involving children being strangled in window blind cords. The federal government estimates there’s an average of one such death a year in Canada.
The industry insists safety is at the forefront for manufacturers and retailers as well, but says the new rules are too restrictive and will result in the majority of existing products being banned.
For the next few months, the government is focusing on education rather than enforcement.
“I in no way would condone unsafe products,” said Kevin Fellner, president of Covers Designers’ Edge, a small manufacturer based in London with five retail locations including Kitchener. “It’s not an insignificant issue. For Health Canada to take a good, hard look at it is not something that I would disagree with.”
But Fellner said a “flawed approach” has led to rules that are overreaching.
“I think what they’re going to do is prevent a lot of the safe and effective products that we already have from being sold in Canada,” he said.
Most products had already done away with dangling operating cords — replacing them with wands, for example — but the new rules also apply to “cordless” products that still have inner or rear cords. Electrical cords for motorized blinds are also now included in the new regulations that restrict reachable cords of any type to a maximum length of 22 centimetres; cords can’t form loops greater than 44 cm in circumference either.
Cords can be longer if they require a pulling force of more than 35 Newtons, beyond a child’s normal ability, to draw them out, and they retract to less than 22 cm when the force is removed.
The rules apply to all custommade and off-the-shelf products sold in Canada. And manufacturers say the revised pull force requirements are too strict.
“If Health Canada does not make amendments to the corded window covering regulation, cordless and motorized products which adhere to the highest safety standards will be permanently eliminated from the Canadian market,” Ralph Vasami, executive director of the Window Covering Manufacturers Association, said in an email.
“Based on a recent survey of manufacturers across Canada, more than 88 per cent of the window blinds manufactured and sold in Canada would not comply with Health Canada’s regulations as currently written. Entire stock product lines of horizontal vinyl, aluminum and faux wood product lines will be eliminated from the market.”
Fellner said the situation will hurt manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
“This is an industry that’s populated by mom and pop operations throughout the country, and if everybody suffers somewhat, they may just close up,” he said.
The association estimates that
as many as 4,000 jobs could be lost in Canada as a result of the changes, with more than 200 small and medium-sized manufacturers and retailers reporting they’ll be negatively affected.
For its part, Health Canada says there are products available in Canada today that meet the requirements; others may need a redesign.
“The purpose of the regulations is to help eliminate the strangulation hazard for children associated with corded window coverings without prohibiting any innovation that achieves this objective,” the department said in a statement.
“There are safe and affordable window coverings that meet the requirements and that are easy to use and available for all sizes of windows. Even corded units can meet the regulations by using devices such as cord sheaths and cord retractors, as well as other options such as motorization.”
Some motorized blinds are battery or solar-powered, and don’t require a power cord.
The Canadian rules are stricter than those in the United States — further complicating things, Fellner said, as international manufacturers likely won’t tailor a product line to our standards.
“These companies are not going to pay attention to the Canadian regulations, quite bluntly, because it’s a pretty small market … They’re not going to change everything that they do for Canada.”
Health Canada said its regulations further protect the safety of young children, noting that American standards differ between custom and stock offthe-shelf products.
“In Health Canada’s view, similar risks posed by products that serve similar functions should be regulated in the same manner.”
Associated warnings will have to be included on products, packaging and instructions.
Health Canada said it will continue to seek input and work with the industry to answer questions and help stakeholders comply with the new rules, but industry representatives say communication has been poor to date.
Fellner said he’d like to see the regulations completely redone; the manufacturers association is seeking changes that include maintaining previous test procedures and having power cords exempted from the rules.
“The amendments we are requesting are not controversial, and will ensure that innovative, safe products are not banned from the market,” Vasami said.