EN 16434:2014

• Abstract:

  This European Standard specifies requirements and test methods for safety devices to be used for protection from strangulation in internal blinds as specified in EN 13120 and insect screens as specified in EN 13561.; These devices might be fitted to internal blinds and insect screens at the time of manufacture or for retrofitting.; This European Standard applies to any design of device including the following:; - tensioning devices;; - breakaway devices;; - accumulation devices;; - non tangling devices;; - inner cord stops.; Although at the time this standard has been published, no product standard exists for draperies, requirements and test methods specified in the present standard may be applied to safety devices used in such products.; For clarification purpose, the term "internal blinds" used in the present standard should mean "internal blinds and insect screens".

• 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: 09-Sep-2026
• Directive: Harmonized Standard2001/95/EC - General product safety
  OJ Ref: C, C 359 OJ Date: 10-Oct-2014
• 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 16434:2014 - Internal blinds - Protection from strangulation hazards - Requirements and test methods for safety devices

• Refers: EN 71-1:2026 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 04-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN 14201:2004 - Blinds and shutters - Resistance to repeated operations (mechanical endurance) - Methods of testing
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 13120:2009+A1:2014 - Internal blinds - Performance requirements including safety
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018 - Safety of toys - Part 1: Mechanical and physical properties
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 4892-2:2013 - Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 2: Xenon-arc lamps (ISO 4892-2:2013)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 12216:2018 - Shutters, external blinds, internal blinds - Terminology, glossary and definitions
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 4892-3:2024 - Plastics - Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 3: Fluorescent UV lamps (ISO 4892-3:2024)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Refers: EN 13561:2015 - External blinds and awnings - Performance requirements including safety
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 14021:2001 - Environmental labels and declarations - Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling) (ISO 14021:1999)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 14020:2023 - Environmental statements and programmes for products - Principles and general requirements (ISO 14020:2022)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: CEN ISO/TS 14067:2014 - Greenhouse gases - Carbon footprint of products - Requirements and guidelines for quantification and communication (ISO/TS 14067:2013)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: CEN ISO/TS 14027:2018 - Environmental labels and declarations - Development of product category rules (ISO/TS 14027:2017)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 14026:2018 - Environmental labels and declarations - Principles, requirements and guidelines for communication of footprint information (ISO 14026:2017)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN 16434:2014 (CEN) specifies requirements and test methods for safety devices that protect against strangulation hazards associated with internal blinds and insect screens (as referenced in EN 13120 and EN 13561). The standard covers devices fitted at manufacture or retrofitted and applies to a wide range of designs, including tensioning, breakaway, accumulation, non‑tangling devices and inner cord stops. Where relevant, the standard’s methods may be applied to draperies.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability
  • Applies to internal blinds and insect screens; safety devices may be part of the blind assembly or retrofitted.
• Device types covered
  • Tensioning devices, breakaway devices, accumulation devices, non‑tangling devices, inner cord stops.
• Pre‑test conditioning
  • UV ageing: 500 h exposure per EN ISO 4892-2 cycle 6 or EN ISO 4892-3 cycle 5.
  • Mechanical endurance: representative blind or test rig subject to 5 000 cycles of extension/retraction (EN 14201 or equivalent).
  • Temperature conditioning: low (5 °C ± 3 °C) and high (60 °C ± 3 °C) for minimum 4 h; subsequent tests begin at 23 °C ± 5 °C within 15 minutes.
• Representative test conditions
  • Typical test environment: 23 °C ± 5 °C; sampling should be representative of production and repeated after design, material or supplier changes.
• Examples of explicit requirements
  • Tensioning devices: distance between loop strands at exit < 50 mm; retaining device must not crack or fracture under a 60 N load; cord retention under 60 N in all directions.
  • Breakaway devices: evaluated as assembled elements; engagement/disengagement repeated (20 cycles) to verify re‑engagement; breakaway tested at multiple loop positions.
• Installation, marking and information
  • Standard requires information/instructions for installation, use and maintenance and includes factory production control (FPC) expectations.

Applications and who uses it

• Product designers and manufacturers of internal blinds, insect screens, and related accessories use EN 16434 to design compliant safety devices and specify component testing.
• Test laboratories and compliance bodies use the described methods to verify performance and durability.
• Installers, specifiers, architects and building safety officers reference the standard for safe product selection and installation guidance.
• Regulators and purchasers use EN 16434 to set procurement and regulatory requirements to reduce strangulation risk.

Related standards

• EN 13120 - Internal blinds: performance and safety (product standard)
• EN 13561 - External blinds: performance and safety
• EN 14201 - Mechanical endurance (repeated operations)
• EN ISO 4892‑2 / EN ISO 4892‑3 - Laboratory UV exposure methods
• EN 71‑1 - Safety of toys (referenced for small components testing)

Keywords: EN 16434:2014, internal blinds, strangulation hazards, safety devices, tensioning device, breakaway device, non‑tangling device, test methods, EN 13120.