Child safety for windows requires the total elimination of cords, chains, and loose dangling loops, which are identified by European directive EN 13120 as one of the primary domestic strangulation risks for children aged 0 to 42 months and pets. The most effective solution is transitioning to the Cordless concept using motorized curtain tracks. These systems 100% eliminate manual traction components, replacing them with app automation, remote control, voice control, or soft-impulse manual operation (Touch Control).
- The Invisible Risk: Why Curtain Cords Are a Critical Danger
In interior design, attention is often paid to fabric aesthetics or light entry, while the physical safety of a window’s mechanical components is relegated to the background. However, for infants, toddlers, and pets, a dangling cord or operating chain poses a severe risk of accidental entanglement.
Children between 0 and 4 years old explore their environment through touch and lack the motor development or self-defense instincts to free themselves if a cord loop wraps around their neck. Similarly, cats and dogs tend to interact with swinging cords as play objects, leading to track falls, claw snags, or entrapment.
- European Standard EN 13120: Legal Requirements and the Cordless Standard
To eradicate domestic accidents stemming from these mechanisms, the European Union passed standard EN 13120 (alongside testing standards EN 16433 and EN 16434), regulating child safety requirements for curtains and blinds.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 13120
- CORD-OPERATED MECHANISMS
- Mandatory wall tensioners
- Min. 150 cm floor clearance
- Breakaway safety devices
- CORDLESS / MOTOR SYSTEMS
- Complete elimination of cords or chains
- Native compliance
The standard establishes two compliance pathways:
- Use of passive safety devices on manual cords: Rigid wall retainers, shortened cord lengths (maintaining a minimum distance of 150 cm from the floor), or pressure breakaway connectors.
- Adoption of native Cordless systems: The priority recommendation of safety experts. By completely eliminating the cord or chain from the design, the source of risk is removed without relying on the user to remember to engage the cord in a wall tensioner.
- Abalon Motorized Tracks: Eliminating Danger at the Root
Replacing manual mechanisms with an Abalon motorized track transforms a high-risk area into a completely safe, technologically advanced environment.
- Total Absence of Hanging Cords: Curtain movement is handled internally by a high-strength toothed belt concealed inside the extruded aluminum profile. Nothing hangs outside the track, guaranteeing a clean visual front that is 100% safe for children and pets.
- Touch Control Technology (Impulse Start): If a child or adult gently pulls the curtain fabric to one side, the motor automatically detects the tension and completes the opening or closing cycle autonomously. No need to look for a remote control or smartphone: manual use remains intuitive yet completely cordless.
- Safety Obstacle Stop: Abalon motors feature an electronic resistance detection system. If the curtain encounters an obstacle in its path (e.g., furniture, a toy, or an intervening pet), the motor stops immediately to prevent mechanism damage or trapping.
- Pets and Windows: How to Prevent Snags, Pulls, and Fabric Tears
Pets constantly interact with glass windows to look outside. Traditional manual systems suffer rapid deterioration for two main reasons:
- The Temptation of Play: Cords swaying in the breeze are a magnet for cats. Attempting to catch them leads to claws fraying the cord or breaking the mechanism’s plastic guides.
- Fabric Pulling: When a dog leans on or gets tangled in traditional curtains, the sudden tension can pull wall anchors out of the ceiling or bend the track.
By installing an Abalon motorized track, the curtain can automatically remain drawn back during your pet’s peak activity hours through scheduled timers or voice commands (“Alexa, open the living room curtains”), protecting the fabric from dirt and snags.
- Comparative Table: Manual Operation vs. Abalon Cordless Motorized Tracks
| Safety and Comfort Criterion | Manual System with Cord / Chain | Abalon Motorized Track (Cordless) |
| Child strangulation risk | High (requires attaching tensioners to the wall) | Zero (native EN 13120 compliance) |
| Pet danger (cats/dogs) | High (entrapment and tearing from play) | Zero (no dangling elements) |
| Operating method | Manual force by pulling cord | RF remote, Mobile App, Voice (Alexa/Google), or Touch Control |
| Mechanism blockage protection | No protection (cord or track breaks) | Automatic electronic obstacle stop |
| Aesthetics and visual cleanliness | Visible cords that get dirty with use | Completely clear minimal profile |
| Safety/presence automation | Impossible | App-scheduled presence simulation |
- Common Safety Errors When Dressing Home Windows
- Placing cribs or children’s beds next to window cords: The most critical mistake. Even if cords seem out of reach, children can stand on bed rails or mattresses and reach the loops.
- Relying on knots to shorten cords: Tying DIY knots to raise cord height usually creates new, more dangerous closed loops or slips over time.
- Failing to attach the tension device to the wall: In manual systems with safety tensioners, leaving the tensioner loose without screwing it in completely voids the protection required by EN 13120.
- Assuming motorization requires complex construction: Many users keep dangerous cords out of fear of electrical wall chasing. Abalon rechargeable battery motorized tracks offer a complete Cordless solution with quick installation in minutes and months of battery life per charge.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the EN 13120 standard require for curtains in a home with children?
The standard requires all window covering systems to be free of cords or chains within reach of children. If cords are present, they must include breakaway devices under load or fixed wall tensioners located at a minimum height of 1.50 meters from the floor.
How does a cordless motorized track work if I don’t have an outlet near the window?
Abalon offers models with motors powered by an integrated rechargeable lithium battery. The track operates 100% wirelessly (cordless), providing several months of daily use on a single charge conveniently done via USB cable.
Is a motorized track safe if a child pulls hard on the curtain fabric?
Yes. Abalon tracks feature the Touch Control function, specifically designed to respond gently to manual pulling without straining or damaging the motor gears, initiating motorized movement smoothly and safely.
Safe and Connected Home with Abalon Tracks:
Ensuring your family’s safety doesn’t mean compromising on great design. By removing manual cords and installing a motorized track system, you transform your windows into an elegant, comfortable, and risk-free space. Explore our catalog of Abalon motorized tracks and discover how simple it is to convert your home into a truly Cordless environment.
