Replacement windows – do they need to be fire escape?
3:40 PM, 31st January 2015, 11 years ago
16
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I have just bought my first property to rent. The first floor windows need replacing. The current windows have a top opener only and is about 20% of the total. I have heard that I may need to have bottom openers which allow fire escape?
Can I replace like for like or do I need the fire escape design? 
Can the fire escape be the top half if I need to do this?
Any help/advice much appreciated
The property will be rented as a house not individual rooms and is ground and first floor only.
Thanks
Ian
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
3:42 PM, 31st January 2015, About 11 years ago
Hi Ian
Given that it’s a flat, is it not the freeholders responsibility to replace the windows?
.
Comments: 1
7:59 AM, 1st February 2015, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mark Alexander” at “31/01/2015 – 15:42“:
Hi Mark,
It is a traditional terraced house andit is the upstairs windows i was looking to replace.
Ian
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12212 - Articles: 1408
10:57 AM, 1st February 2015, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Iggy D” at “01/02/2015 – 07:59“:
Sorry, I thought I’d read that it was a flat. Clearly I’d imagined that part.
I don’t know the answer to your question but I will be interested to find out. This thread will be promoted in our Newsletter tomorrow so more people will see it and one or two will hopefully have the answer.
.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264
11:03 AM, 1st February 2015, About 11 years ago
Can you not just phone a local FENSA certified window company?
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1
12:00 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
Refer to the building regulations for guidance, several of the regs apply to windows Part L, Part K, Part F, part M and Part B. Part B Fire safety is were you will need to look to find the answer to your current question. http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_B1_2013.pdf
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 646 - Articles: 1
12:13 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
they need emergency fire escape openers. you will find the requirements in building regs approved document B page 15 onwards: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_AD_B1_2013.pdf
Member Since October 2014 - Comments: 13
12:48 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mark Alexander” at “31/01/2015 – 15:42“:
Best to follow Building Regulations Part B
Upstairs bedroom windows require escape opener to be maximum 1100 mm above floor level, with minimum 450 x 450mm clear opening – should not add anything to the final cost. (No requirement for any other rooms to have escape windows). However each scenario / layout need assessing.
FENSA in my experience falls short of this and I have seen replacement windows “like for like” which put occupants at a higher level of risk.
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 5
1:47 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
My criteria – would I want my daughter to be in this flat if there was a fire?
Member Since February 2014 - Comments: 14
3:03 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
I understand another factor governing the requirement for escape windows is the existence of a protected fire escape route through the building. For example in a three storey terrace, three flats, the stairwell, if fireproofed and unobstructed, with a lock on the final exit openable without a key.
This will of course be in the Build. Regs. Parts mentioned earlier.
Regards – Doug
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 646 - Articles: 1
3:06 PM, 2nd February 2015, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Doug Green” at “02/02/2015 – 15:03“:
none of those requirements have anything to with the requirement for emergency egress windows.