Operating Cords - Safety Requirements

The Second Provisional Safety Standard Safety for Corded Window Covering Products lists the following requirements for the Operating Cord (what you pull to raise and lower the shade).

The Operating Cord must meet one or more of the following:

• Have no operating cords which are accessible - this means that the lifting mechanism is either motorized, or uses a roller-spring system, much like a roller shade.
  
• Have one or more separate operating cords - a single "cord" can actually be a braided cord containing all of the lift cords, or can be one cord.
  
• Contain a cord release device in the loop or headrail that meets requirements - this requirement does not apply to my on-line directions since I don't use any loop lift systems.
  
• Contain a permanently attached cord retraction device that meets requirements.
  
• Contain a cord shear device that meets requirements.
  
• Contain a cord shroud device that meets requirements.
  
• Contain a cord tension device that meets requirements.

If the Operating Cord contains a cord connector the exposed loop above the cord connector and the bottom of the headrail shall be less than 3” (7 mm) when the shade is fully lowered (or in the case of a Top-Down shade, fully raised – in other words, when the window is completely covered) AND the shade shall include a Warning Tag when the shade is delivered that states a strangulation hazard will exist when the shade is raised. I use a knot as a cord connector. There are three easy ways to make your Operating Cord compliant:

• Tie a knot with all lift cords as they exit the top of the shade, making sure that the knot is less than 3" from the bottom of the headrail. Braid the cords together and attach the ANSI/WCMA 5.2.2 Cord with Cord Connector Warning Tag to the operating cord (if you are selling the shade). This warning tag is available in our Web Store. You should also install a cord cleat.
  
• Tie a knot with all lift cords as they exit the top of the shade, making sure that the knot is less than 3" from the bottom of the headrail. Leave the cords separate and attach the ANSI/WCMA 5.2.2 Cord with Cord Connector Warning Tag to the operating cords (if you are selling the shade). This warning tag is available in our Web Store. You should also install a cord cleat.
  
• Do NOT knot the lift cords together at the top of the shade and leave the cords separate and attach the ANSI/WCMA 5.2.1 Individual Tassel Cords Warning Tag to the operating cords (if you are selling the shade). This warning tag is available in our Web Store. You should also install a cord cleat.

All of the "that meets requirements" involve testing that the cord shear/shroud/tension/retraction device will release or break with 10 pounds of pressure and eliminate a hazardous loop. You will note an interesting point, or at least this is my interpretation of the Standards: Shades cannot contain a hazardous loop that will not break or release with the amount of force that could be applied by a small child. Having a single cord that could potentially be wrapped around one's head is NOT part of the new Standard. The shade cannot have a permanent HAZARDOUS cord LOOP when the shade fully covers the window. If you are using a cord connector (knot), there is a loop formed when the shade is raised. However, you can easily wrap those cords up out of the way using a cord cleat.