Window Covering Safety Council Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Corded Bottom-Up Top-Down (BUTD)-Style Window Blinds and Shades

NEW YORK, November 22, 2013  – The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) in cooperation with Health Canada is announcing today a voluntary recall to repair certain corded bottom-up top-down (BUTD)-style window blinds and shades made in various dimensions, and colors.  The majority of these products are custom made.  The retrofit kits are also available to consumers in the United States.

BUTD window blinds and shades come in a variety of fabrics and dimensions.  Each has an intermediate rail located between the bottom rail and head rail of the shade. This intermediate rail has its own cord which can be located on either side of the blind or shade.  This design allows the fabric at the top to be lowered to manage light while maintaining the desired level of privacy for the user.  Health Canada has taken the position that corded BUTD products that use a cord joiner device on the intermediate rail operating cord which is not intended to separate when subjected to force, do not meet the 2008 Canadian Corded Window Coverings Regulations.  These products have an exposed loop above the joined cord of the intermediate rail operating cord which can be accessible when the intermediate rail of the shade is fully raised.  The loop can pose a strangulation hazard for young children who may place the looped cords around their necks.

Health Canada is aware of one fatality in Canada (which occurred in 2011) and one fatality in the United States (which occurred in 2008) from incidents involving these products. Both of the children were under three years of age.