New Requirements for Corded Window Coverings – What You Need to Know
As we covered last year, cordless window coverings are here to stay and will become the only option for personalizing and beautifying your windows and doors.
As of May 1 of 2022, the Government of Canada will not allow any blinds, draperies, or shades with an exposed cord of any kind to be sold in Canada.
The reason? Safety. Child safety and pet safety are of utmost importance. In this article, we’ll cover what these new regulations for corded window coverings mean and how manufacturers and retailers like Ruffell & Brown will adapt to these changes. We’ll also cover which products are changing and which are being officially retired.
New Corded Window Coverings Regulations in Canada
With window covering regulations changing on May 1, 2022, many products will be affected.
The rules regarding cords and small parts on corded windows will have to be modified to meet these new standards. This means that many products will have to be replaced or adjusted, and a select few will have to be discontinued completely.
Our most popular manufacturer, Hunter Douglas, will stop accepting orders for discontinued products by April 15, 2022.
Starting on April 16, they will not be accepting orders for products that do not meet these new window covering standards.
For a business to successfully grow, it needs to change with modern times. This is why the safety of consumer products needs to be taken seriously.
That can be a challenge in any industry, but finding the right solution is what separates an industry leader from the rest. At Ruffell & Brown, we’ve been preparing for these changes for many months and are confident that these new regulations for window coverings will not affect our business or the satisfaction of our consumers.
What Window Coverings Are Changing?
The following products will be replaced with more innovative designs. These intelligently designed products meet new window covering standards while retaining all the beauty and convenience that you’d expect from us.
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While these changes may seem overwhelming, our team of professionals at Ruffell & Brown will guide you every step of the way.
What Window Coverings Are Discontinued?
These window coverings may be missed, but it’s important to know when to retire products that can’t be replaced or meet new safety standards.
The following products will be discontinued as of April 15, 2022.
Alustra Woven Textures Roman Shades:
- Top-Down/Bottom-Up
- Cordlock Operating System
- EasyRise™ Operating System
Alustra Woven Textures Roller Shades:
- Hardwired Somfy Motorization
Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds
- Cord and Wand Control
- Cord and Chain Control
Design Studio
- Roman Shades with EasyRise Operating System
- Drapery with PowerView Automation
- Drapery with Cord Control
- Roller Shades with Custom Clutch
Designer Banded Shades
- Custom Clutch Operating System
Designer Roller & Designer Screen Shades
- Hardwired Somfy Motorization
- Designer Screen Patio Shades
- Blockout System with Custom Clutch
Duette & Applause Honeycomb Shades
- Top-Down Design Option
- Top-Down/Bottom-Up Design Option
- All ⅜” pleat fabrics
- EasyRise Lift System
- SkyLift™
- Operable Sidelights
- Simplicity™
- EasyView® Arch (*stationary specialty shapes remain available)
- TrackGlide™ Standard ¼” Track (*Extended track remains available)
- Cut-Outs
EverWood Alternative Wood Blinds
- Cord tilt
- Cut-outs
- Decorative tapes
- de-Light™ light and privacy feature
- Multiple blinds on one headrail
Modern Precious Metals Aluminum Blinds
- ½″ slat size
- 1″ slat size (.006 and .008 gauges)
- 2″ Reveal® with MagnaView®
- Cord tilt
- Cut-outs
- Decorative tapes
- de-Light light and privacy feature
- MagnaView tilt feature
- Multi-color blinds
- Multiple blinds on one headrail
Parkland Wood Blinds
- Cord tilt
- Cut-outs
- Decorative tapes
- de-Light light and privacy feature
- Multiple blinds on one headrail
- Operable specialty shapes
Pirouette Window Shadings
- EasyRise Lift System
Provenance Woven Wood Shades
- Cordlock Operating System
- EasyRise Operating System
- Top-Down/Bottom-Up
- Vertical Drapery with Cord Control
Silhouette & Nantucket Window Shadings
- EasyRise Lift System
Skyline® Gliding Window Panels & Alustra Woven Textures Skyline Panels
- Cord Control
- Returns on Sleek Metal Valance
- Box Valance
- Room Divider Kit
Solera Soft Shades
- EasyRise Operating System
- Top-Down/Bottom-Up
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds & Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds
- Cord and Wand Control
- Cord and Chain Control
- Fabric Vanes with Bottom Chains
- Motorized Tilt Only
- Vertical Specialty All Systems
Vignette Modern Roman Shades
- Stacking Style – All Operating Systems
- Rolling Style with EasyRise Lift System
- Rolling Style UltraGlide and EasyRise Two-On-One Headrail
Child Safety Tips For Window Coverings
If you haven’t made the switch to cordless window coverings yet, it may be time to do so. After all, keeping your children safe is a top priority.
In the meantime, if you do have corded window coverings in your home, here are some helpful safety tips:
- Make sure all cribs, beds, furniture, and toys are moved away from windows and window cords
- Keep window cords well out of reach of children
- Install a tie-down device or cord cleats up high on the wall
- Remove any dangling cords by making pull cords as short as possible
- Permanently anchor continuous-looped bead chains and cords
- Ensure that cord stops are installed properly
- Adjust the limit in the movement of inner lift cords
Adapting to Safer Window Treatments
Keeping your children and pets safe in your home gives you ultimate peace of mind. At the same time, our vast selection of custom window and door coverings offer the best of convenience and style.
At Ruffell & Brown Window Covering Centre, our team of design experts will help you find the best window coverings for your interior space that also comply with the new Health Canada corded window covering regulations. Explore our incredible selection of stylish products, and inquire about professional installation.
For more information about cordless window coverings and so much more, come visit our Victoria showroom or book a free consultation today!
