Blinds & Shutters Buyers Guide 2023

GLOSSARY
Components
Head and Bottom Rail sections – anodised or
painted aluminium.
Cord – polyester.
Brackets – galvanised or painted steel.
Cord lock – locking mechanism to secure the
blind in the raised position.
Cleat – nylon used to secure cord instead of
a cord lock.
Tension wire – in perlon or PVC coated steel.
ROLLER BLIND SYSTEMS
Roller blinds are all based on fabric or
material attached to a tubular roller
mechanism. Within this product grouping, lie
a great variety of systems. The specifier
should take care to emphasise the exact
requirements to obtain the most suitable
product.
Types and operation
Roller blind – Free hanging blind consisting of
a roller with cloth attached so the cloth can
be wound onto the roller. Generally used
for solar shading, light control and general
decorative purposes.
Cassette blind – Free hanging Roller blind (as
previous page), but with the roller
assembled within an enclosure or box so
the roller cannot be seen. This term can
sometimes assume to include side channels
to hide the cloth edge.
Dimout blind – Free hanging Roller blind (as
previous page), but with a light resistant
cloth and light resistant features to the top,
sides and bottom of the window.
Blackout blind – As a Dimout blind, but with
extra light resisting features. Be aware it is
very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve
100% blackout.
See page 5 for more details.
Roller mechanism
Side Chain – Endless Loop Chain operation
(mechanism sometimes referred to as
friction roller, sidewinder or ball chain
roller). Pull one side of the loop and the
blind will lower, pull the other chain to raise
the blind.
Spring Side Chain – As the Endless Loop
Chain operation, but a spring is used to
make the operation light and easy.
Lock Action Spring – Standard Spring Roller
Blind Operation. The blind is usually pulled
down by a centre cord and will stop at any
point by virtue of a ratchet mechanism. To
raise the blind, sharply tug the blind down
and allow to ascend. Care should be taken
not to let the blind fly up to the top.
Decelerator Spring – As the lock Action
Spring, but the speed of ascent is controlled
by a decelerator (braking) mechanism.
Other variations of decelerator operation
are available.
Self Acting Spring – A Spring Roller with no
locking mechanism so the spring is always
acting to close the blind. This is often used in
Rooflight applications where the blind is
drawn by pulling and cleating off a cord.
Flange End Roller – Also called, Single Line
Roller. A roller fitted with a pair of flanges to
one end, so as the cloth lowers the control
cord is wound up between the flanges. Pull
the cord to raise the blind. This is a
traditional form of blind and not commonly
used.
Sheath End Spring – As the Flange End
Roller, but fitted with a spring. To lower the
Pin
Spring
Roller
Blind
Scallops
Flange End
Roller Blind
Side Chain/
Friction Roller
Block
Spring
Knot Holder
Plate
Spindle
Acorn
Lath
Ball
Chain
Dummy
Block
Pin
blind, the cord is pulled, to raise the
blind, the cord is released. This is a
traditional form of blind and not commonly
used.
Electric – A motor is fitted within the roller, so
only a very small part of the motor is visible.
The motor contains limit switches that are set
to stop the blind at the top and bottom of its
travel. Control is by a switch or by a choice
from the wide variety of control equipment
available. There are two fundamental types of
motor, low voltage (24V.DC) or mains voltage
(240V.AC). Generally, low voltage are for
smaller blinds, and mains for larger blinds, but
there are exceptions.
Radio Motor – The same as Electric
Operation, but the motor is fitted internally
with a radio receiver. All control and setting
is by the handset. As a general rule, one to
any number of blinds can be operated from
a single handset and the handset can have
one or more control channels. One to any
number of blinds can be programmed into
each channel in any order or combination
required. This can be changed at a later date
by a simple programming procedure.
Usually available are “handsets” that look like
normal wall switches. These can be fitted
anywhere (within range) and no wiring is
necessary. Key advantage of Radio motors is
the simplicity of wiring.
Roller Material
Aluminium – This is a common highly
versatile material used in a variety of
systems, from the largest to the smallest.
Steel – This is a common material used in a
variety of systems, from the largest to the
smallest. The steel should be galvanised or
painted to protect against rust.
Wood – This is not so common, and is
generally only used as a spring roller on
small to medium size windows.
Fibre – Generally for use on small windows
on budget applications, DIY or mail order.
Tin – Not used any more, but may be found in
old/traditional Roller Blinds. Consists of tin
plate steel, rolled and soldered to form a tube.
Cloths
There is a vast array of cloth types, patterns
and colours available and sold according to
customer requirement and function. Some
cloths are more suitable than others for
specific requirements, but this can only be
found studying the data provided by the
manufacturer.
10 Blinds & Shutters Buyers’ Guide • 2023