-
Approved Document Part K is the main regulation.
There is a line in it that says:8.2 Where a person may fall through a window above ground floor level, provide suitable opening limiters, to restrain the window sufficiently to prevent such falls, or guarding.
But it is within a part of the regulation that does not apply to dwellings (which often people don't realise). The fact you have a balcony is not necessarily relevant - perception of risk is different, often windows have a lower bottom edge than balcony handrail, and you might be expected to have a different awareness of eg when your kid is on the balcony, as opposed to just generally in the flat.
People often fit them to domestic windows for reduced risk of falling. However you want to think about whether the window is a potential fire escape window (1st or 2nd floor only).
On the ground floor, limiting the opening is often done on street side so that people don't walk into the open window - again there is a regulation (no protruding more than 100mm or fit a guard rail) but it does not apply to dwellings.
hoefla-
Isn't this all a bit of bollocks given the windows were fitted before the regs aimed at preventing useful windows came in to force? (I assume - we also have deathwindows (tm) and nobody gave a shit about those, fitted in 1995 or something).
Other flat, built circa 2005 also has deathwindows with a manually overridable catch.
So it's just bullshit overreach by the 'surveyors' and the clueless buyers' solicitors.
Howard
Does anyone know if there are any regulations that state if residential flats require window restrictors fitting? Context: Selling my flat, buyer had a homebuyer report. Surveyor said
"All residential units need to have window restrictors on upper floor
windows, low-level windows and if a risk assessment deems necessary
all ground floor windows. HSE guidance states that the opening should
be restricted to 100 mm or less. Without the restrictors there is a risk of
falling. We highly recommend that a qualified window fitter assess the
windows and provide advice on any remedial actions"
Buyers solicitor has asked us to fit latches at our expense. I'm of the opinion that this is a bunch of bollocks and also there is a balcony so what is the bloody point in fitting window restrictors...
Am I correct in telling them to do one?