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Knowledge
Practical buying guides, product comparisons and compliance notes for window blinds.
Latest Guides
Venetian Blinds GuidePVC Blinds Guide: Mini, Faux Wood & Vertical TypesPVC is the economy backbone of the blind trade, but 'PVC blind' covers mini blinds, faux wood, and verticals. The two buying variables most people miss are calcium carbonate content and mini slat thickness - the ones that decide flex versus snap and sag.Venetian Blinds GuidePS Venetian Blinds Guide: Polystyrene Faux Wood Characteristics & ProcurementPS (polystyrene) venetians sit between PVC faux wood and real wood: lighter, stiffer, and heat-resistant, but more brittle. The buying trap is the label - 'faux wood' covers PS, PVC, and composite, so always confirm the base material.Components & HardwareSteel Blind Rails and Cassettes: The Economical Aluminum AlternativeSteel rails and cassettes are roll-formed from cold-rolled or galvanized sheet and cost well below extruded aluminum. They are stronger for the same wall thickness but heavier, and they must rely on electro-galvanizing plus powder coating for rust. The basic QC pass is wall thickness, coating appearance and cut-edge treatment.Fire Retardant & SafetyFire Retardant Standards for Commercial Blinds: NFPA 701, EN 13773, M1In hotels, hospitals and schools a failed fire-retardant test means the project fails inspection. This guide compares NFPA 701, EN 13773, BS 5867 and French M1, explains topical versus inherent treatment, and lists what to put in the contract, updated October 2026.Material & FabricCurtain Fabric Weight GSM Guide: A Must-Read for B2B BuyersFabric weight (GSM) is the fastest way to compare two curtain fabrics - provided both suppliers quote the same thing. This guide covers the total fabric stack, the ±5% industry tolerance, typical ranges by product type and how to buy against GSM without surprises.Zebra Blinds GuideZebra Blind Mesh: Regular vs Fine Mesh Sourcing GuideThe sheer band of a zebra blind comes in two weaves. Regular mesh is transparent, bright, and cheap; fine mesh is softer, more private day and night, and costs more. The choice follows your market's price point and privacy need.Venetian Blinds GuideAluminum Venetian Blind Slat Selection: Shape, Width, Thickness, Hole TypeAluminum venetian slats are chosen on four axes: C, S or L cross-section, width (16, 25, 35 or 50 mm), thickness from about 0.18 to 0.21 mm per the supplier spec, and whether cord holes are punched, hidden or micro-vented. Get these right and the slat matches the market, the window size and the blackout expectation.Fire Retardant & SafetyCord Safety Standards: EN 13120 vs ANSI/WCMA vs SOR/2017-117Three standards govern blind cord safety - EU EN 13120, US ANSI/WCMA A100.1 and Canada SOR/2017-117. This guide compares their cord limits, release devices, warning labels and penalties, and explains why cordless is now the default, updated October 2026.Blackout TechnologyBlackout Fabric Process Comparison: Coated, Woven and LaminatedThree routes make fabric black: coated (acrylic or PVC foam on the back), woven black yarn, and TPU lamination. Coated is cheapest but marks the back, woven is soft and washable, laminated reaches near-full blackout but costs most. Sunscreen blackout is a fourth case - it reaches zero openness, not a coating.Installation GuideWindow Blind Installation Methods: Inside, Outside, Top, Side and No-DrillThe same blind is sized and fitted completely differently for inside mount versus outside mount. Europe leans inside mount with deep recesses and a mature no-drill rental market; North America leans outside mount. Getting the method right decides ready-made sizes, fitting kits and which window opening the blind will actually clear.Buying GuidePleated Blind Pleats: Pleat Factor, Fabric Consumption & Quality for B2BPleated blinds consume more fabric than their finished size suggests: the standard pleat factor is about 1.3, so a 120x200 cm blind uses roughly 3.28 m². This guide covers how to calculate consumption, choose pleat size, read heat-set quality under inspection, and avoid the costing mistakes that hide margin.Customization & OEMCustom Window Blinds Sourcing Guide: Made-to-Measure for B2B BuyersMade-to-measure blinds are what you sell when the stock size does not fit. Small runs move on a swatch plus a signed parameter sheet; large runs add a pre-production sample and a sealed golden sample. This guide covers both workflows and the dispute pitfalls.