Window Guarding - Sill is circa 700 above floor

[NorthernNewbie]

Hi,

 

First post so please be nice. 

 

Doing a house refurb and had new escape windows put in but the BI has told me I'll need to pop a guard on.

 

Has anyone had any experience of this? What sort of guard should I look at and where from?

I noticed someone had mentioned popping a unlockable catch on the window but I'm not sure that would pass.

 

Struggling to find a guarding solution.

 

Any help welcome. Thanks in advance. 

[DevilDamo]

https://www.nhbc.co.uk/binaries/content/assets/nhbc/tech-guidance/glazing-guarding-and-restrictors-in-dwellings.pdf

[firstpea]

@NorthernNewbie

 

Hi, just wondering if/ how you resolved this? In the same position and looking at options!

[Nickfromwales]

If you’re worried about combining the ease of escape with protection against accidentally falling out (perhaps in a children’s bedroom), you are still allowed to add accessories that help prevent this. Fire escape windows are allowed to have both key-locking handles and child-proof stays. Simply, the stay must be releasable, so you can still be safe and secure.

We believe it is worth considering the complexity of combining a key-locking handle and a releasable restrictor on the same window. Whilst very secure and child-proof, some windows can require both hands and perhaps some practise to be able to unlock and release the window quickly. Not ideal in a stressful situation.

[kandgmitchell]

But both Building Control Guidance notes 1 and 16 clearly say that only permanent restrictors are acceptable as ways of preventing falling, and in respect of windows used as escape routes BCA Note 16 says:

 

Window restrictors.

Window restrictors are not considered to be an alternative to a permanent guard in any of the diagrams in this guide. Reference should be made to BCA Guidance Note 1 - Glass guarding and restrictors to low level windows above ground floor level in dwellings

 

and then BCA Note 1 says:

 

Openable low level glazing as Escape windows.

Where low level windows are also designed as escape windows, “permanent” restrictors would not be suitable as they would prevent the window opening wide enough to allow escape. Low level windows fitted with restrictors that can be easily released, would be acceptable but only where suitable guarding is also provided. To be suitable for means of escape, the top of the guarding should be between 800mm and 1100mm above the floor level and the minimum dimension (450mm) and area of the opening (0. 3m2 ) should be measured from the top of the guarding up to the top of the opening. (My emphasis).

 

If your BC provider decides to follow this guidance (which echo's Part K) in order to avoid risk, then so be it. Departing from such technical guidance would be at the discretion of the person signing off the work, some may allow releasable restrictors only but there would be many that wouldn't.