What is the new government regulation in Canada for window coverings?
The Corded Window Coverings Regulations: SOR/2019-97 (CWCR) were released in April of 2019 and are intended to substantially change the rules regarding cords and small parts on corded window coverings. You can read the regulation here.
Requirements under the CWCR serve an important purpose to help eliminate the strangulation hazard associated with corded window coverings and help protect the health and safety of children. More specifically, the CWCR seek to address the root cause of the pathway to injury or death by strangulation by restricting the length of reachable cords and the size of loops that can be created by a cord.
When does this take effect?
May 1, 2022.
What changes were made?
The CWCR severely limits the length and pull force of any cord on a product. Essentially, any free-hanging cord or tethered cord cannot be longer than 22 cm. Any cord that is longer, such as inner cords, cannot produce a loop larger than 44 cm when a specific pull force is applied. In the past, these kinds of rules were only intended for operating cords. The CWCR recognizes any cord on a product as a corded window covering. This includes inner cords, rear cords, looped products, and even power cords.
How does this affect Hunter Douglas® products?
For the last 18 months, Hunter Douglas engineers and product groups have been working very hard to get as many of their products compliant with the regulation as possible. You will see some new operating systems that will be available exclusively in Canada, as well as a myriad of changes to small parts on the products such as end caps and tassels. Most of which you will not notice as a consumer, but is still important for our repair services.
Are there any Hunter Douglas products that will not be offered for sale in Canada?
Yes. The following products will be discontinued* completely in Canada as of April 15, 2022:
*Please Note: A number of the discontinuations listed in this FAQ are being replaced by new, innovative and compliant systems.
Duette® and Applause® 3⁄8” Honeycomb
Duette® and Applause® EasyRise™ Lift System
Duette® and Applause® SkyLift™
Duette® and Applause® Operable SideLights
Duette and Applause Simplicity™
Duette® EasyView Arch (*stationary specialty shapes remain available)
Duette® TrackGlide™ Standard 1⁄4” Track (*Extended track remains available)
Silhouette® EasyRise™ Lift System
Nantucket™ EasyRise™ Lift System
Pirouette® EasyRise™ Lift SystemVignette® Stacking – All Operating Systems
Vignette® Rolling w/EasyRise™Lift System
Vignette® Rolling LiteRise® 2-on-1
Luminette® SOFTRAKTM Hardware System (*new system launching soon)
Designer Banded Shades Custom Clutch (*new system launching soon)
Designer Roller & Screen Shades Hardwired Somfy Motorization
Designer Screen Patio Shades
Designer Roller & Designer Screen Shades Blockout with Custom Clutch (*new system
launching soon)
Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds Cord and Wand Control
Cadence® Soft Vertical Blinds Cord and Chain Control
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds Cord and Wand Control
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds Cord and Chain Control
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds Fabric Vanes with Bottom Chains
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds Motorized Tilt Only
Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds Vertical Specialty All Systems
Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds Cord and Wand Control
Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds Cord and Chain Control
Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds Fabric Vanes with Bottom Chains
Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds Motorized Tilt Only
Vertical Solutions® Vertical BlindsVertical Specialty All Systems
Parkland® Wood Blinds – Cordlock (*new system launching soon)
Parkland® Wood Blinds – LiteRise® (*new system launching soon)
Parkland® Wood Blinds – SimpleLiftTM (*new system launching soon)
Everwood® Faux Wood Blinds – Cordlock (*new system launching soon)
Everwood® Faux Wood Blinds – LiteRise® (*new system launching soon)
Everwood® Faux Wood Blinds – SimpleLift™ (*new system launching soon)
Modern Precious Metals® – 1⁄2” Horizontal Blinds
Modern Precious Metals® – 1” Horizontal Blinds
Modern Precious Metals® – 2” Cordlock (*new system launching soon)
Modern Precious Metals® – 2” LiteRise® (*new system launching soon)
Modern Precious Metals® – 2” Reveal® with MagnaView®
Modern Precious Metals® – 2” SimpleLift™ (*new system launching soon)
Skyline® Panels Cord Control
Skyline® Panels Sleek Metal Valance and Box Valance
Skyline® Panels Room Divider Kit
Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades Top-Down/Bottom-Up
Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades Cordlock
Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades EasyRise® Lift System
Alustra® Woven Textures® Roller Shades Hardwired Somfy Motorization
Alustra® Woven Textures® Skyline® Panels Cord Control
Alustra® Woven Textures® Skyline® Panels Sleek Metal Valance and Box Valance
Alustra® Woven Textures® Skyline® Panels Room Divider Kit
Design Studio™ Roman Shades EasyRise® Lift System
Design Studio™ Drapery Powerview® Automation
Design Studio™ Drapery with Cord Control
Design Studio™ Roller Shades Custom Clutch
Solera® Soft Shades EasyRise®Lift System
Solera® Soft Shades Top-Down/Bottom-Up
Provenance® Woven Woods Cordlock
Provenance® Woven Woods EasyRise®Lift System
Provenance® Woven Woods Top-Down/Bottom-Up
Provenance® Woven Woods Vertical Drapery Cord Control
Which Operating Systems will no longer be available?
Does Hunter Douglas have an answer for Top-Down/Bottom-Up (TDBU) in Canada?
Yes. Hunter Douglas DuoLite® is the perfect solution for Honeycomb shades! Also, they have designed a brand new Clearview® sheer fabric that will be introduced shortly. This strategy sandwiches the cords inside the fabric making them inaccessible and therefore compliant.
Provenance® Woven Woods, Solera®, and Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades with Top-Down/Bottom-Up have been discontinued for Canada at this time.
Does Hunter Douglas have a solution for cord looped systems?
On some products, yes. Designer Roller Shades, Designer Screen Shades, and Alustra® Woven Textures® Roller Shades have developed a cord shroud that conceals the cord, or bead chain, loop when the product is static, making it compliant.
Duette®, Applause®, Silhouette®, Nantucket®, Pirouette®, Vignette® Rolling, Solera®, Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman, Design Studio™ Roman and Provenance® Woven Woods have discontinued EasyRise™ completely.
Designer Banded Shades has discontinued Custom Clutch completely.
Somner®, Cadence® and Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds have discontinued Cord & Wand and Cord & Chain controls completely.
Skyline® Panels, Alustra® Woven Textures® Skyline®Panels, Provenance® Woven Woods Vertical Drapery and Design Studio Drapery™ have discontinued Cord Control completely.
What about repairs and remakes?
Repairs can continue to be done as they currently are. This is a manufacturing standard and products are allowed to be repaired to the standard that was in place when they were made. For remakes after April 16, the remake will be made compliant with the new regulation. We understand that this may cause a product to look or operate differently than others in the home, so we stress repairing the shade if possible.
Does the government regulation apply to more than just blinds?
Yes. The new government regulation is a law that covers all corded window coverings, including corded custom drapery and other corded fabric window treatments. Consider any corded treatments that are applied to the window area to be included in this regulation. This includes motorized products, due to the electrical cords.
