Part of our overall Strategy as a company is to keep finding ways to get better: “We draw from deep expertise to continuously improve and hold ourselves to a standard of excellence.” An excellent example of that strategy hits the streets in the next few days in the form of a new Draper-designed, engineered, and manufactured chain tensioner for clutch-operated window shades.
June 1, 2024, a new voluntary child safety standard for window coverings – ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 – took effect. ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 requires that stock window coverings must not have cords that could entangle children. When custom window coverings must have cords or chains for operation, they are furnished with a permanently attached tensioned hold-down device that partially disables the product if not correctly installed.
To comply with this standard, Draper began providing a tensioned hold down permanently attached to the chain. That tensioned hold down must be installed with tension on the chain for the roller shade to function properly.
But from the beginning, we knew we wanted to go further. Rather than rely on an off-the-shelf solution, we set out to design our own—and make it the best in the industry.
The result: a new Draper-designed tensioned hold-down that’s easier to install, sturdier in use, and meets the latest safety requirements with confidence. Beginning July 14, 2025, this new tensioned hold down is being included on newly ordered bead chain window shades.
In addition to compliant clutch shades we have many products available that already meet the standard, including FlexShade and FlexStyle UpLift, Twin Pull, Spring-operated, and Motorized shades.
For additional information on the new Draper designed tensioned hold down, please go to https://www.draperinc.com/?S=CHILDSAFETY.
