FULL FRAME: Installation What Can Installers Expect After New Cord Safety Standards?

What Can Installers Expect After New Cord Safety Standards?

BY ROGER MAGALHAES

As you may know, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has proposed significant changes to the operating cords on custom window coverings. The proposed rule would require operating cords on custom window coverings to meet the identical requirements for operating cords on stock window coverings set forth in 2018.

The current American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard requires stock window coverings to have no operating cords (cordless), inaccessible operating cords or operating cords shorter than 8 inches in any position.

The industry has made repeated attempts to work cooperatively with the CPSC on the most recent revision to the ANSI/Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) safety standard. Instead of continuing to work with the industry, last November, the CPSC published its final rule with a 180-day effective date despite the CPSC’s staff recommendation for a one- or two-year effective date.

As we stand, the WCMA has filed a lawsuit against CPSC challenging the new rules. The case is in court at the moment.

Meanwhile, our friends up north have experienced a similar situation in their market; however, differently than in the U.S., the new rules were implemented in Canada in May.

Based on the feedback from fellow Canadian installers, the installation landscape has changed a bit. Here are some of the highlights:

■ Order sizes have decreased because cordless and motorized products are more expensive and not everyone can afford them.

■ Shutters and automated treatments have increased in volume. People still need to cover their windows, so alternative products are on the rise. ■ Installations are faster and quicker.

Installers don’t have to deal with holddowns, cord tensioners or the need to adjust cord lengths anymore, so the time necessary to complete installs has decreased considerably. ■ In Canada, there was a deadline for dealers to place orders for corded products and another deadline to have them installed. If those deadlines are missed, dealers and installers could face hefty fines and audits. We expect a similar scenario in the U.S.

■ When it comes to repairs, if the installer is able to restore the current blind or shade to its original condition, it’s fine; however, if a remake is necessary, the manufacturer must produce a replacement using the new standards.

This may cause additional aggravation in situations where clients have multiple shades in the same room by creating a different look.

As we say, “necessity is the mother of invention” and our industry will develop better and safer products to comply with the new regulations. My suggestion to all pros out there (including installers) is to look at the brighter side: the potential of new business opportunities and even new technologies coming to the market.

If you are open-minded and willing to embrace the new, the journey will be lighter and more pleasant. The updated standards may even bring prosperity for the ones developing products and services to meet the new demand. Find a niche and run with it. As we say at Trading Up: Never stop learning! V

Roger Magalhaes is the founder of Trading Up Consulting, which provides installation training for window fashion professionals. Magalhaes has more than 15 years of experience as a professional window treatment installer in the Boston area. He is also the installation instructor for the Window Fashion Certified Professional FastTrack program and is the president of Window Coverings Association of America. » TradingUpConsulting.com

SPEAKER

Take Roger Magalhaes’ WFCP Installation Certification course on Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also hear him speak during the session “Deliver a Top-Notch Installation Experience” on Friday, April 21, at 9 a.m. and the “Installer’s Toolbox” session at 10:30 a.m.