Planning rules for a large window

ashe

We currently have a normal sized window overlooking our garden, and my partner has decided she would like this replaced with a large window in the region of 65x65 inches. She had no plans to make this an openable window, as currently it’s a two panel tilt and turn, and due to the size of it you wouldn’t really open it, but have been reading some regs around it being an escapable window? How do people get around that as you see pictures of houses with large glazed areas that are obviously not openable or escapable? 

Doozergirl

Not every window in a room needs to be an escape window, but you do need one - or a door straight to outside.  

The glass should also be toughened if the window is over a certain size.  

It's unusual for people even want the only window in a room to be incapable of being opened.  Is it the only window? 

The other thing to be mindful of is the proportions of the house when looking from outside.  The window should still suit the house.  

Why that size, particularly? 

grumbler

ashe said:

you see pictures of houses with large glazed areas that are obviously not openable or escapable? 

Large 'picture' windows are often openable, you just don't see this.

ashe

Doozergirl said:

Not every window in a room needs to be an escape window, but you do need one - or a door straight to outside.  

The glass should also be toughened if the window is over a certain size.  

It's unusual for people even want the only window in a room to be incapable of being opened.  Is it the only window? 

Sorry forgot to add, this is a first floor window. It’s the only window in the room but it’s the landing so would only face the staircase & chandelier. You’d have a job escaping out of the current tilt/turn window as it’s a small opening and it’s straight down to patio stones below. Every other window in the house will be kept as an opening window, but we never open this one as it is. The plan was just to let a lot more light into the room and to look nice internally. 

yes it was planned to be toughened glass  due to the size. 

Doozergirl

That isn't as big as the OP wants, so there is a question mark over the weight of one panel on the hinges and the practicality of where a window opens to when it is as tall and wide as the height of a human being.   

I'd personally look at turning it into a door, if it needs to be an escape window.  A glass juliette balcony would maintain the clean view, but it would help to know the house.  

ashe

https://imgur.com/a/KmrUcLG

That’s the rear view of the house, it’s the small middle window first floor. When we get to doing the rooms either side we’ll hopefully enlarge them slightly so they match the windows downstairs but doing them one room at a time. 

I appreciate it’s open there, but it’s probably the only time it ever has been in the last two years 😂

I’ve included the Floorplan. Her idea is she would like to get a glass balustrade  in place and the large window is to allow a lot of light into the landing rather than the small window there now.  She loves her garden and once the insides are done that will be getting a big overhaul. She would prefer a single window rather than Juliette balcony as even a glass JB would obscure the sight lines and we’d never use it in terms of opening it because we have cats. 

FreeBear

Last window I replaced, I specified a 750x750mm opener - The installer said he wouldn't be able to offer a guarantee on the hinges due to the weight of the glass. With a 1.7x1.7m window, a sealed unit is going to weigh around 60Kg - That is going to be way too much for your standard window hinge, and probably not viable with a uPVC frame.

grumbler

The window in the photo is about 180x150cm and triple-glazed, with weight more than 60kg.
Very expensive though. 

Doozergirl

A landing doesn't need an escape window, I'm sure. 

A doorway height picture window would be much more palatable for the style of the house (and future owners) and opens the view up anyway.  The  window would be the same price. 

I do wonder about developers obsession with tiny windows.  There's no logical reason why the big bedroom window couldn't have been the same width as the doors downstairs.  😒

The garden does look beautiful, even from that angle!

EssexExile

No need for an opener there. I would make it two panes so it looks right with the other windows.

ashe

The other windows will be getting changed out eventually as will the patio doors. 

Interestingly I’ve come across a site called Slide and Fold that supplies doors and windows and they make several openings ones up to 1500mmx1500mm so will contact them and understand if they have any details on weights etc