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Blind Cord Safety: UK Regulations Every Parent Should Know (2026)
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Blind Cord Safety: UK Regulations Every Parent Should Know (2026)
Blind cord safety is a legal requirement in the UK, not just good practice, and every corded blind in your home should meet it.
Blind cords and chains can pose a serious risk to young children, and UK law has required all new blinds to be child-safe since February 2014.
The short answer: since 2014, every blind sold in the UK must either have no cords or chains at all, or come fitted with an approved safety device such as a cleat, tensioner or breakaway connector, in line with British Standard BS EN 13120 (see the official gov.uk guidance on blind cord safety).
If you have older roller, Roman or vertical blinds from before 2014, they may not meet current standards. Below we explain what the law actually requires, which safety devices do what, and how to check whether your existing blinds need attention.
Blind Cord SafetyWhat Each Device Actually Does
| Safety Device | What It Does | Best Used On | Where It’s Fitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cord Cleat | Wraps and secures excess cord out of reach | Roller, Roman and vertical blinds with looped cords | Fixed to the wall or frame, at least 1.5m above floor level |
| Cord Tensioner | Keeps a looped cord permanently taut against the wall | Vertical and some roller blinds | Fixed at the base of the cord run |
| Breakaway Connector | Splits apart under pressure so a loop cannot hold | Roman and Venetian blinds with continuous cord loops | Built into the cord loop itself |
| Cordless / Spring-Operated Mechanism | Removes the operating cord entirely | Any blind style, especially in children’s bedrooms | No fitting required – built into the blind |
Choosing Cordless as Standard
The simplest way to remove the risk entirely is to choose a cordless blind from the outset. Spring-loaded and wand-operated mechanisms give you the same light control as a corded blind, without any cord or chain in reach of a child.
We fit cordless mechanisms as standard on most of the styles we supply, at no extra cost, and always recommend them for bedrooms, nurseries and playrooms.
Chainless Vertical Blinds
For vertical blinds, a chainless operating system removes the looped chain that traditionally runs along the base of the slats, replacing it with a wand or cordless control.
It keeps the smooth, easy-tilt operation vertical blinds are known for, while removing the main child-safety concern altogether.
UK RegulationWhat BS EN 13120 Requires
Since February 2014, all blinds sold in the UK have had to comply with British Standard BS EN 13120, which covers internal window blinds. In practice this means a new blind must either be supplied without a cord or chain, or be fitted with a safety device – a cleat, tensioner or breakaway connector – at the point of sale.
These requirements remain in place post-Brexit and are enforced by Trading Standards. If you buy blinds from a reputable UK supplier today, they should already comply.
Government guidance (gov.uk) also recommends keeping cots, beds, highchairs and play pens away from any window with a corded blind, and securing spare cord in a figure-of-eight on a cleat after use.
Existing BlindsA Quick Safety Checklist
- Check every blind cord or chain in the home – can a child reach it from the floor, a bed, a windowsill or a piece of furniture?
- If a cord forms a loop, fit a cleat or tensioner to hold it permanently taut and out of reach.
- Move cots, beds, highchairs and play pens away from any window with a corded blind.
- In a child’s bedroom or playroom, consider replacing older corded blinds with a cordless design, such as our electric blinds.
- After use, secure spare cord in a figure-of-eight on the cleat.
FAQs – Blind Cord Safety
Are all new blinds sold in the UK required to be child-safe?
My blinds are older than 2014, are they still legal?
What is a cord tensioner and do I need one?
Do cordless blinds cost more?
Do you fit safety devices as standard?
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