Roman Blinds Recalled by John Lewis

John Lewis announced the recall of some of their made-to-measure roman blinds last week, amid concerns that the rear cord-safety devices do not function as intended. This is a responsible action by the retailer that should be applauded, and which highlights the need for the highest professional standards. This also reminds us that, if in doubt, it is much better to be safe than sorry. Only bespoke made-to-measure roman blinds delivered or fitted between 14 March 2014 and 28 May 2014, or 7-day made-to-measure roman blinds delivered or fitted between 14 March 2014 and 30 June 2014 are affected. Because roman blinds require cords running down the back in order to operate, there are key features that need to be incorporated for child safety: Break cord device which prevents any looped cord acting as a ligature for a small child Rear cords should be separated by no more than 200mm via any ringlets Rear cords should be positioned 150mm away from the edge of a blind to make them inaccessible Any lift cord should never hang down below a point 600mm above the ground Any lift cord should not hang down lower than 1.5m above floor level even when tied to a cleat This should not be viewed in a negative way, as use by consumers will differ between households, as well as in the way that the blind is designed or installed. Responding to customer feedback and real-world experience by installers is the only way to be sure whether the blind design can be improved. In a completely unrelated matter, the BBSA reports that Essex Trading Standards investigated a metal venetian blind that had been professionally installed in a consumer's home where the product was missing safety warnings and instructions. It is vital that any cord operated blind is left with warning labels that demonstrate the operation of the product, as well as compliant instructions.