Can a window swing outwards on a pavement?

[Ferdinand]

Nothing for weeks, then two questions come along together.

Spotted today about 100m short of our local marketplace.

This was a former barbers modified to be a small bungalow within the last 2 years.

Is that outward swing allowed? It used to be a plate glass shop front. The pavement is about 2.2m wide. AIUI they can only swing out over 2.4m in height.

I'm not happy about that as it is a busy route into town, I think it is unacceptable under both Obstruction of a Public Highway, and Building Regs "Safety from Collision". I'm thinking eg of Vision Impaired Long Cane or Guidedog Users, who in our town may be at the wall not the kerb because pavement parking is endemic - they put their vehicles halfway over the pavement so they can get out inside the marked parking bay, everywhere.

(My thought: I think not and this is down to both designer and District Council uselessness and / or laziness - continental style inward-going tilt and turn windows are available everywhere, and would be more secure anyway.)

I think the fix is to replace the lower pane with a fixed light.

I would welcome any comments.

Cheers

Ferdinand

[kandgmitchell]

The Building Regulation requirement K5  Protection from collision with windows does not apply to dwellings so that's a non-starter for a bungalow. I'm surprised Highways have missed this at the planning stage, they are usually keen to avoid obstructions (of course it may have been a planning requirement that's been ignored). It's an obvious risk to people with a visual impairment. Assuming a 600mm wide casement this could reduce the pavement to 1.6m wide.

 

Contact highways via their online reporting system and get them to require the change to inward/tilt opening windows as it should have been from day one.

[Ferdinand]

14 minutes ago, kandgmitchell said:

The Building Regulation requirement K5  Protection from collision with windows does not apply to dwellings so that's a non-starter for a bungalow. I'm surprised Highways have missed this at the planning stage, they are usually keen to avoid obstructions (of course it may have been a planning requirement that's been ignored). It's an obvious risk to people with a visual impairment. Assuming a 600mm wide casement this could reduce the pavement to 1.6m wide.

 

Contact highways via their online reporting system and get them to require the change to inward/tilt opening windows as it should have been from day one.

I'll try it.

I rather expect them to "No Further Action" it, as they did last week with a wheelchair blocking barrier ("does not meet our criteria for intervention") which requires a mobility aid user, or some pram-pushers, to go an extra half mile to get into teh local churchyeward from their estate.

[torre]

I agree that's a danger. 

 

Looks like section 153 of the highways act 1980 is what you should quote when contacting the highways department.