EN 14682 drawstring rules exist for a simple, grim reason: a cord on a child's hood can catch on a slide, a fence or a bus door and cause strangulation or dragging. The European standard sets out where cords are not allowed at all and which lengths and forms are acceptable elsewhere. If you make or sell childrenswear in the EU, this is the benchmark your products will be judged against. This article explains the core requirements in plain language and shows how to design hoods and waistbands that are both safe and practical.
What EN 14682 covers
The standard applies to children's clothing up to age 14, including fancy-dress costumes and ski wear. It covers drawstrings, functional cords and decorative cords, and it splits products into two age groups:
- young children – up to 7 years, i.e. height up to around 134 cm;
- older children and young persons – from 7 to 14 years, roughly 134 to 176 cm for girls and up to 182 cm for boys.
EN 14682 is a harmonised European standard, and market surveillance authorities use it as the reference for the general safety requirement on consumer products. Garments with hazardous cords appear regularly in the EU Safety Gate rapid alert system and are recalled from the market.
Metal cord lock E-694 Gun Metal 2 cm – Double hole, Elliptical-straight model
Metal cord locks for cords and elastics 103 – two holes (5 mm), classic flat
Metal cord lock E-694 Nickel 2 cm – Double hole, Elliptical-straight modelThe key rules by zone
Hood and neck area
- Young children (under 7): no drawstrings or functional cords in the hood and neck area. The standard also restricts hanging decorative cords there.
- Older children (7–14): drawstrings must have no free ends. The protruding loop when the garment is opened to its full width is limited – a circumference of about 150 mm is the reference. No toggles, aglets or other three-dimensional attachments that could snag.
Waist
- Free ends of waist drawstrings must not exceed 140 mm, measured with the garment relaxed.
- Free ends must not carry knots, toggles or bulky decorations that could catch.
- A drawstring that exits a channel at two points must be bar-tacked at its midpoint so it cannot be pulled to one side to create a long end.
Lower garment and hem
Cords at jacket hems, trouser legs and the lower part of long garments must not hang below the hem. On ankle-length garments, hem cords must stay entirely inside the garment.
Back
For young children, ties and belts that emerge or fasten at the back are not allowed. For older children, back ties and sashes are permitted within a limited length when untied.
Important: this is a summary of the core principles. Exact measuring methods, tolerances and exceptions are in the full text of EN 14682 and in the guidance document CEN/TR 17376. Before placing a product on the market, consult an accredited testing laboratory.
Checklist for designers and technologists
- Assign the target age group by height in the size chart, not by the collection's marketing name.
- For sizes up to 134 cm, remove cords from the hood and neck entirely. Use elastic, a snap-fastened tab or hook and loop instead.
- For sizes from 134 cm, design the drawstring without free ends – for example as a closed loop or an elastic cord anchored inside the channel.
- Check waist free ends – 140 mm maximum – and add a bar tack at centre back.
- Remove cord locks and bulky aglets from cords in zones where they are not allowed.
- Write the requirements into the tech pack so the sewing room does not "improve" them.
- Test samples: measure relaxed and fully extended, and keep records of the results.
Who is responsible
Responsibility for garment safety lies with whoever places it on the market – the manufacturer, the importer or the brand it is sold under. The sewing factory and the trim supplier follow the specification, but they cannot know the intended age group unless it is written down. That is why EN 14682 requirements belong in the tech pack, in the factory instructions and in the final inspection procedure. Keep the measurement records too: in an inspection, they are the quickest proof of compliance.
Safe alternatives to drawstrings
| Solution | Where it works | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Elastic in the channel | Hood, waist, cuffs | No free ends |
| Snap fasteners | Hood, collar, waist adjustment | Easy to close, nothing hanging |
| Inner buttonhole elastic | Trouser and skirt waists | Grows with the child |
| Hook and loop | Collar, cuffs, flaps | Quick for little hands |
| Detachable hood | Jackets and anoraks | Releases under load |
Common mistakes
- One style is graded from 98 to 164 cm with an identical hood – the small sizes are automatically non-compliant.
- The cord is bar-tacked at the centre, but the free ends are 25–30 cm long.
- Metal aglets and cord locks on a kids' jacket hood "for a nicer look".
- Decorative pompoms on long cords on hats and hoods.
- No measurement records when a market surveillance authority asks for evidence.
FAQ
Does the standard apply to pyjamas and swimwear?
Yes, it covers children's clothing in general. Exclusions are narrow and listed in the standard itself.
Does an elastic cord count as a drawstring?
It depends on the construction and whether there are free ends. Elastic fully enclosed in a channel is usually fine, but check the specific case with a lab.
Can we put a cord lock on a waist drawstring?
Not on the free ends. Cord locks are fine on adult garments and in zones without restrictions.
Bul-tex trims for childrenswear
For safe alternatives, see our snap fasteners and elastics. Use our metal cord locks and aglets on adult garments or in zones where the standard permits them. Bul-tex manufactures and supplies garment trims and takes orders from childrenswear brands – contact us if you would like to discuss a trim package for your collection. Read more about safe garment details in our accessories articles.
