Fire Escape Window

ukbill69

Hello,

I rent my house and im worried if we had a fire at the bottom of our stairs, that we couldnt get out of our windows in the bedroom. Our house was built in 1995. Is there anything I can get the landlord to change the window?

Please see picture.

asp746

that's a funny shapped window - if you don't mind me saying.

i've just had a new bedroom window put in - its about 5ft 5 wide and about 3ft drop.

the fitter said it needs to also be a fire escape so the window is split vertically into 3 and the end 2 sides open outwards from the side of the frame.

the old window only had one vertical opening and it opened outwards from the bottom - which the fitter said was unadvisable.

being trapped in a room is a million to one chance but its something i've always thought i don't want to take a chance on.

also, i remember seeing as a kid a programme about the firebrigade saying a family had succummed to smoke inhalation in their living room cos they couldnt escape thru their windows - they were too thick to break and they only had a small vertical opening along the top - a cat could probably only just about squeeze thru it - loads of houses still have them and they are still being installed.

ukbill69

thanks for your reply. Im worried as the only escape is our front door down stairs, all windows are the same.

I could say it was a a small chance we would get trapped, but im not a chancer.

SatanicHare

You could ask him to fit egress hinges, they open at 90 degrees and you push catches to slide them along if you want to clean them, pictures here

https://www.upvc-hardware.co.uk/hinges-152/friction-stay-upvc-window-hinges-155/fire-escape-egress-friction-stay-window-hinges-392.html

Bungarm2001

SatanicHare wrote: »

You could ask him to fit egress hinges, they open at 90 degrees and you push catches to slide them along if you want to clean them, pictures here

https://www.upvc-hardware.co.uk/hinges-152/friction-stay-upvc-window-hinges-155/fire-escape-egress-friction-stay-window-hinges-392.html

We've got those hinges on all our upstairs windows, mainly to make cleaning them from the inside easier. You can't beat them really for peace of mind where egress is concerned

simcla

An escape window is required to have a minimum clear opening of 0.33m2 and minimum dimensions of 450mm high and 450mm wide. Care should be taken as 450mm by 450mm will NOT meet the criteria. The lower edge of the window opening should be located between 800mm – 1100mm above finished floor level.The escape window should preferably be side hung and the clear opening is measured between the face of the sash and the edge of the style/mullion. This is what current building regulations require - as your home was built in 1995 it does not need to comply with current building regulations. If your landlord is especially conscientious you may be able to persuade him (or her), to fit a new window, but maybe multiple smoke alarm maybe cheaper to give you peace of mind. Most houses or flats dpn't have these windows. I always thought that throwing a tv through the largest pane of glass and using a curtain to get rid of the remaining glass was a good emergency exit strategy from my bedroom, and maybe quicker than messing about with egress hinge mechanisms!

ukbill69

Thanks for all replies, The thing about breaking the glass is that the windows are all the same size and not the smallest of people would get through these. Ive sent the landlord a email and see what they say.

sashman

what others are saying is true concerning the 450X450 dimension, but not all window or doors have to be fire egress,only where a window is not connected to a hallway in a habitable room.

hope this helps
sashman

ukbill69

I have 1 bedroom, 1 bath upstairs and both windows are the same. Im waiting for the landlord to reply to me email.

ukbill69

The planning office has said that the plans where appoved in 1991 so no regs. The house was built in 1995 and new regs do not count. I think its a load of balls.

Nile

Hello ukbill69

If you have fitted and working (have you tested them lately?) smoke alarms, you should have sufficient warning time to leave the house by the stairs.;)

While you're waiting for the window situation to be resolved, smoke alarms will help you to feel safe in your home.;)

Regards

Nile