Window height - Did it change...what step??

magnethead123

Hi There,

this is fairly urgent, I'm in the house 2 years now, after a self build, through one thing and another, I'm only getting the Cert signed off again (because the original Engineer didn't fill out the full form for some reason, only structural) ....Anyway, the engineer who arrived just yesterday.. made a comment about the window sills. Has the regulations being updated recently, I'm fairly sure these were ok when I got planning (January 2019) ..

please see below, the issue the Engineer pointed out, was that the little window sill could be seen as a step.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ectaxzl7wwgm2k0563bwi/sill.jpg?rlkey=tewfbt7ungeqwdfqyj16k2s9c&RAW=1

The Engineer is planning to sign off the Cert before the end of the week, so any feedback would be welcome

magnethead123

just incase there is problems with the pic, it's 400mm from the floor to the sill, and then 450mm fixed windows before the opening part. Thanks

muffler

I'm not sure what the issue is. Are there restricters on the window?

magnethead123

The windows are in the middle of the opening which i take it standard, The Engineer was thinking the little ledge where a windows sill would go could be used as a step (he said there has being debate about this recently) ... Maybe something change in the 2020 regs which don't apply to me. I was working off the 2012 Regs.

There are no restrictors on the windows, they can open fully.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058322795/window-height-did-it-change-what-step

The regs haven’t changed but more are aware of the little things within them now because of the claims culture within Ireland.

The Engineer is correct. If a child stands on that cill, the opening of the window is then below 800mm.

Guarding required as per Part K of The Building Regulations is what I my interpretation of what the Engineer sees.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121377297#Comment_121377297

What 2020 Regs?

The current Part K was published in 2014.

You said you got planning in 2019 so the current Part K would have been well established.

Restrictors on the windows are there a long time too. That’s another breach you should fix.

magnethead123

Thanks for your insights @Gumbo .. I was actually looking at the Part M Regs for some reason.

I'll add the restrictors now.

Thanks

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121377338#Comment_121377338

I think it’s a little unfair to attribute this to claims culture. It’s a requirement of the building regs. The “engineer” should have known this regardless of claims culture.

To me it’s just another example of unqualified/inexperienced people having a crack - and the race to the bottom.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121377347#Comment_121377347

For the sake of accuracy. Part K ( and this requirement) was introduced in 1991. The 2014 version didn’t change this.

@magnethead123 it seems likely that the original engineer only signed off on structural as that was his area if expertise - rather than architectural design. This is not a recent change, would make me wonder what else he missed.

mickdw

Ground floor or 1st floor?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121386493#Comment_121386493

Picture shows first floor bedroom.

mickdw

Can you get an 800 high guard fitted there while still allowing window to fully open for escape?

Any guard would need to be such that it's not possible to climb it.

I'd suggest refinishing the ledge at the base of the window so that instead of a flat step you have a sloped surface of about 60 degrees off horizontal.

FJMC

I've seen LABC guidance on this - LABC is more relevant to the north and across the water - but might be worth looking at.

https://www.labc.co.uk/sites/default/files/bca_guidance_note_16_guarding_to_windows_with_low_cills.pdf

I've been pulled on balconies where an adjacent ledge can effectively reduce the guarding height - seems a little pedantic until you realise how many accidents there are with young kids and low level windows and balconies.

Might be an option to do something with the cill so that it is not climbable or does not form a ledge - slope the cill down on a sharp angle - more than 45 degrees or add something onto the cill to stop it being used a a ledge.

F

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121387490#Comment_121387490

I’ve done some with glazing anchored to the reveals.

overshoot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121395654#Comment_121395654

Our park k references a British standard which this is a clarification of, so it is being looked at here by (at least some) building control officers

takes a bit of care to comply with it and a part b/escape window