Bedroom window regs

houseyhouse

So I was watching the Room to Improve special where Dermot did his own house and he seems to have openable windows in upstairs bedrooms that are well below the 800mm height required by building regs. See pictures here: https://www.thesun.ie/news/4982447/inside-rte-dermot-bannon-drumcondra-home-room-to-improve/amp/

Is there something about the window design that makes these comply with regs? I’d love similar if they were safe.

DOCARCH

I had a look and you make a valid point! Some of the first floor opening windows shown in the pictures would not appear to comply with the Building Regulations!

I have done first floor opening windows like these in the past (i.e. opening extending lower than 800mm) but have added a glass safety rail internally at 800mm (and below).

Gumbo

they look to possibly require guarding alright.

Who wants to make the complaint to DCC Building Control?

dathi

1.3.7.2.

Replacement Windows

Where windows are being replaced in existing dwelling houses, bedroom windows

should meet, in as far as is practicable, the provisions outlined at 1.3.7.1 (a) to (e) above.

sydthebeat

well lets have a look:

kids room one: we dont get to see the window

kids room two: looks like its a ground floor window

the landing: not a bedroom so doesnt fall under 1.3.7.2

master bedroom: borderline. very difficult to say its definitely non compliant unless you measured it. The rad could easily be 800mm high

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125016#Comment_121125016

I think this is the tricky one.

The whole sash looks to open which creates an opening lower than 800mm. And that's without allowing for a child to climb onto the cill.

The landing one may be a victim of Part K too, height above 1.4m outside. Obviously it should have a restrictor and the glazing in both should be toughened.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121125351#Comment_121125351

if its a first floor room, then yeah 100% agreed. im just not sure that it is

Mellor

It is at first floor. You can see that it had s raked ceiling. Compliance can be achieve view creative means. TGD is only one method after all.

In this instance I think there is a ledge outside this window. Like a Juliette balcony. This window is compliant imo. The other bedroom may not be.

PMBC

Mellor makes an important and often overlooked point re compliance i.e TGD is just one way of compliance but it does have advantages.