SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is advising stakeholders that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published two notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) aimed at reducing the threat of strangulation from window cords.
Issued on January 7, 2022, the NPRs covers both standard and custom window coverings. They are:
- Amended: Substantial Product Hazard List: Window Covering Cords
- New: Safety Standard for Operating Cords on Custom Window Coverings
If adopted, the first NPR will amend 16 CFR 1120 to include two new definitions, creating consistency with the definitions in the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products:
- ‘Stock window covering’
- ‘Custom window covering’
16 CFR 1120 lists consumer products which have characteristics that present a substantial hazard to users The CPSC has determined these hazards can effectively be mitigated against via a product design that conforms to mandatory applicable industry standard, a requirement before sale or import.
Under the NPR, stock window coverings will be considered a substantial product risk if they fail to conform to one or more of three readily observable characteristics in the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products:
- Operating cord requirements in sections 4.3.1.1 (cordless operating system), 4.3.1.2 (short static or access cord), or 4.3.1.3 (inaccessible operating cord)
- Inner cord requirements in sections 4.5, 6.3, 6.7, Appendix C, and Appendix D, and
- On-product manufacturer labels in section 5.3
Custom window coverings that fail to comply with one or more of two readily observable characteristics in the same American National Standard will also be deemed a substantial product risk:
- Inner cord requirements in section 4.5, 6.3, 6.7, Appendix C, and Appendix D, and
- On-product manufacturer labels in section 5.3
The second NPR will be published under the designation 16 CFR 1260. If adopted, it would require operating cords on custom window coverings to comply with the same performance requirements as operating cords on stock window coverings – see the same American National Standard section 4.3.1.
For more information on the requirements and impact of these two NPRs, see SGS’s original SafeGuardS 054/22.
SGS Furnishings Services
SGS provides a full range of solutions to support home furnishing product manufacturers deliver safe and compliant products to global markets. Services include product design analysis, component and product testing, auditing, inspection and retail store checks. In the end, it’s trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Home Furnishings and Houseware Services.
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For further information contact:
Allen Moldovan
Technical Specialist – Hardlines
Tel: +1 (201) 207-8503
Email: cp.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail
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