EN 16433:2014

Internal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Test methods

This European Standard specifies test methods for the verification of the requirements relating to the protection from strangulation.
This European Standard applies to all internal blinds as specified in EN 13120, insect screens as specified in EN 13561 and to blinds in sealed glazed units.
These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products).
Although at the time this standard has been published, no product standard exists for draperies, test methods specified in the present standard may be used for such products.

Innere Abschlüsse - Schutz vor Strangulationsgefahren - Prüfverfahren

Diese Europäische Norm legt Prüfverfahren zur Verifizierung der Anforderungen in Bezug auf den Schutz vor Strangulation fest.
Diese Europäische Norm gilt für alle inneren Abschlüsse entsprechend den Festlegungen in EN 13120, für Insektenschutzgitter entsprechend den Festlegungen in EN 13561 und für Abschlüsse aus Verbundglas.
Diese Produkte können manuell, mit oder ohne ausgleichende Federn oder mittels Elektromotoren (kraftbetätigte Produkte) bedient werden.
Obwohl es zum Zeitpunkt der Veröffentlichung dieser Norm keine Produktnorm für Vorhänge gibt, dürfen die in der vorliegenden Norm festgelegten Prüfverfahren auf solche Produkte angewendet werden.

Stores intérieurs - Protection contre les risques de strangulation - Méthodes d’essai

La présente Norme européenne spécifie les méthodes d'essai permettant la vérification des exigences relatives à la protection contre la strangulation.
Cette norme européenne s'applique à tous les stores intérieurs, tels que spécifiés dans l’EN 13120, aux moustiquaires, telles que spécifiées dans l'EN 13561, et aux stores intégrés dans les vitrages scellés.
Ces produits peuvent être manœuvrés manuellement, avec ou sans ressorts de compensation, ou au moyen de moteurs électriques (produits motorisés).
Bien que, à la date de publication de la présente norme, il n'existe aucune norme relative aux voilages, les méthodes d'essai spécifiées dans la présente norme peuvent être utilisées pour de tels produits.

Notranja senčila - Zaščita pred nevarnostjo zadušitve - Preskusne metode

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Feb-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Aug-2014
• ICS: 91.060.50 - Doors and windows
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 33 - Doors, windows, shutters and building hardware
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 33/WG 3 - Blinds and shutters
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 05-Mar-2025
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Directive: 2001/95/EC - Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 December 2001 on general product safety
• Mandate: M/505 - Standardisation mandate issued to the European standardisation organisations (ESOs) to develop European standards in order to address certain risks posed to children by internal blinds, corded window coverings and safety devices
• Ref Project: SIST EN 16433:2014 - Internal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Test methods

Overview

EN 16433:2014 - "Internal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Test methods" is a CEN standard that specifies laboratory test methods to verify safety requirements intended to protect children from strangulation risks posed by internal blinds, insect screens and blinds in sealed glazed units. It applies to manually operated and power-operated products (including those with compensating springs) and can be used for draperies where no product standard exists. Tests are performed under controlled conditions (23 °C ± 5 °C) and use standardized probes and fixtures to simulate realistic hazard scenarios.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Covers internal blinds as defined in EN 13120, insect screens (EN 13561) and blinds in sealed units; relevant to manual and motor-driven systems.
• Test probes and conditions: Uses a head probe (small-head equivalent) and an accessibility probe; a 60 mm rigid cylinder represents a child’s neck; standard tolerances for dimensions/masses are ±1%. A 20 mm diameter pulley is used unless otherwise specified.
• Breakaway system tests: Verifies that loops formed by pull cords, chains or tapes will release or break away when a prescribed load (as defined in EN 13120) is applied - tests include highest, lowest and mid-loop positions and inner-cord loop scenarios.
• Tensioning system tests: Assesses continuous-loop systems secured to a fixed surface for strength and integrity under horizontal and perpendicular loads applied to the loop midpoint.
• Accumulation system tests: Confirms that pull-cord length can be safely accumulated at any curtain position (including fully retracted) without creating hazardous loops.
• Tangling tests: Ensures pairs of free-hanging cords cannot tangle into a hazardous loop after deliberate twisting and release; includes repeatability checks.
• Inner-cord accessibility tests: Determines if inner cords are accessible and whether a hazardous loop can be formed by cords alone or in combination with the curtain; measurements use the greatest distance between attachment points and the head probe insertion check.
• Testing flow and selection: Annex A provides a testing flowchart; samples must represent a family of products with common safety features.

Practical applications

• Product safety verification for manufacturers of internal blinds, pleated/venetian/roman shades and insect screens.
• Type testing and quality control in accredited test laboratories.
• Input to product design decisions (cord length, breakaway devices, tensioning/accumulation systems) to meet child-safety requirements.
• Evidence for compliance during third‑party certification, CE marking support and regulatory review.
• Useful for spec writers, safety engineers, installers and consumer safety bodies evaluating installation instructions and retrofit measures.

Who should use EN 16433:2014

• Blind and window-covering manufacturers and designers
• Test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies
• Product certification organizations and regulatory agencies
• Architects, installers and facility managers focused on child safety and building code compliance

Related standards

• EN 13120 - Internal blinds: performance requirements including safety
• EN 13561 - External blinds and awnings: performance requirements including safety
• EN 12216 - Terminology and definitions for shutters and blinds
• EN 16434 - Component testing for safety devices (referenced for complementary component evaluation)

Keywords: EN 16433:2014, internal blinds, protection from strangulation hazards, test methods, CEN, pull cord safety, breakaway system, tensioning system, tangling test, inner cords, EN 13120.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Innere Abschlüsse - Schutz vor Strangulationsgefahren - PrüfverfahrenStores intérieurs - Protection contre les risques de strangulation - Méthodes d’essaiInternal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Test methods91.060.50Vrata in oknaDoors and windowsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16433:2014SIST EN 16433:2014en,fr,de01-april-2014SIST EN 16433:2014SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16433
February 2014 ICS 91.060.50 English Version
Internal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Test methods
Stores intérieurs - Protection contre les risques de strangulation - Méthodes d'essai
Innere Abschlüsse - Schutz vor Strangulationsgefahren - Prüfverfahren This European Standard was approved by CEN on 26 October 2013.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 16433:2014 ESIST EN 16433:2014

Flowchart of testing . 17 Bibliography . 18
Scope This European Standard specifies test methods for the verification of the requirements relating to the protection from strangulation. This European Standard applies to all internal blinds as specified in EN 13120, insect screens as specified in EN 13561 and to blinds in sealed glazed units. These products may be operated manually, with or without compensating springs, or by means of electric motors (power operated products). Although at the time this standard has been published, no product standard exists for draperies, test methods specified in the present standard may be used for such products. 2 Normative references The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies. EN 12216, Shutters, external blinds, internal blinds - Terminology, glossary and definitions EN 13120, Internal blinds - Performance requirements including safety EN 13561, External blinds and awnings - Performance requirements including safety 3 Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12216, EN 13120 and EN 13561 and the following apply. 3.1 head probe test probe representing the head of a child Note 1 to entry: See Figure 2. 3.2 accessibility probe test probe representing a finger of a child Note 1 to entry: See Figure 3. 3.3 length of pull cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s), tape(s) and similar distance from the highest point of the internal blind to the bottom of the loop of a cord, chain, ball-chain, tape and similar Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1. SIST EN 16433:2014

Key 1 length of pull cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s), tape(s) and similar Figure 1 — Illustration of the length of the pull cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s), tape(s) and similar 4 General All tests defined in this standard shall be performed at 23 °C ± 5 °C. All dimensions, masses and forces shall be considered with a maximum tolerance of ± 1 %. Although all figures show free-hanging loads to apply forces, other methods of achieving the same effect may be used. Unless otherwise specified, a pulley of 20 mm diameter shall be used to apply the loads. Annex A presents a flowchart summarizing tests to be carried out on internal blinds. The internal blinds shall be installed according to the manufacturer specification so that the installation, i.e. the test rig, the fixing, etc., has no influence on the results of tests. In the context of this standard, the term “cord(s)” used shall mean “cord(s), chain(s), ball-chain(s), tape(s) and similar”. The head probe shall have the dimensions and design specified in Figure 2
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