2nd floor window- now a fall hazard?
edwardh1
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Son just bought a big house. used to have a catherdal ceiling, actually 2 story ceiling- in living room.
previous owner had a new ceiling put in to create a bonus room , in the space now above the living room.
problem is the outside wall had windows all the way up. in the new bonus room these windows now start about 1 ft from the floor and go up. they are a fall hazard for kids running and crashing thru them. the home inspector dinged it for “no tempered glass” –
is tempered glass stronger or just breaks into smaller pieces or both?????
Whats the best cure here- a horizontal oak “guardrail” maybe 2 ft off the floor? Is there a standard heigth?
Replies
If I remember right, 13" is the distance from floor that can be exempt from temp glass requirements.
But in all commonsense issues, a safty factor is solely on the ones living there, if ya want a rail, do it.
Measure the tricycle, add the kid on top, install rail accordingly.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
You think that's funny? Watch THIS!...I can only do it once tho'
Strictly anecdotal (but this will bump your thread so pros see it and answer), but I think tempered glass is stronger. I know I banged into one of our tempered windows with a ladder and the thing didn't break. If it were me with my children, I'd at least put tempered glass in, and I'd consider a cage over the window until the children are older.
wouldn't it be easier to put a cage over the children?
don't want to ruin any good views.
Glass that is under 18" off the floor needs to be tempered. I don't think tempered glass is any stronger than non tempered glass. You could install laminated glass in the windows that would keep someone from crashing through, But that is only going to be as strong as the stop holding the glass in. Call a commercial glass company and get their opinion.
Tempered glass is about 4x's stronger than standard annealed glass. High strength heat-treated but not fully tempered glass is twice as strong as regular glass (for high wind, large panes, etc.). Heat treated glasses are not as flat and tend to distort the view some. You can't have everything ; o )
good advise-wrong person
hopefully wain will read this and check out a glass company
I believe tempered glass is somewhat stronger, but the main reason it's required is that it breaks into little pieces when broken, minimizing the risk of getting cut.
BUT, if the previous HO had the work done, where were the inspectors then? Weren't any permits pulled for the job? I think the windows need to be taken care of, either by replacing the existing glass with tempered, or by installing rails/bars.
But it seems to me that something slipped thru the cracks.
I have no idea what I'm talking about (what's new?) but here goes --
>>Whats the best cure here- a horizontal oak "guardrail" maybe 2 ft off the floor?
If you do this, do you have to treat it like a stair bannister? i.e., with the 4" sphere test and not provide a ladder-like structure?
probably not if there was only one rail.
Burglar Bars, inside the window frame ? The bars on my office windows are on the inside to prevent rust and to preserve the aesthetics of the building on the outside.
Greg
You don't say if you've got the kids yourself...if you do, then take all reasonable precautions. Rails, tempered glass, balustrading, whatever.
Tempered glass is strong - that's why it's in doors and showers. Matter of fact I was trying to break a shower door by dropping a toilet on it - took 3 attempts. If you've got thermopane windows, tempered glass will set you back a heap, tho. Go for the barricade, keep the kids safe, and do the work safely yourself, from the inside.
ciao for niao
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.