With the arrival of spring, you can spot many open windows around New York City, letting in the sunshine and spring breeze. National Window Safety Week is observed during the first full week of April each year just as the windows begin to open around New York City. This campaign spreads awareness to help families understand the role of windows in escaping an emergency and to safeguard against accidental window falls.
Window Guards in New York City
New York City was the first major city in the United States to adopt a window guard ordinance. Child fall injuries and deaths have drastically declined since the ordinance was put into place in 1976. Window guards are metal or aluminum devices specifically designed to prevent children from falling out of windows. These devices are not designed to stop a burglar. Window guards should be placed in every window of residential buildings and in common areas, except for windows leading to fire escapes. All window types should have window guards or limiting devices, including sliding windows with screens. Insect screens should never be relied upon to prevent a window fall. Screens cannot support the weight of a child. In New York City, the ordinance states that window guards must be installed in all residential buildings with three or more units under the following conditions:
- All windows of a unit in which a child under the age of 10 is a full-time resident.
- All windows in hallways and common areas of a building where a child under the age of 10 is a full-time resident.
- Full-time residents may request window guards for any reason, even if there are no children in a unit. (in a building with 3+ units).
Additional Tips to Keep Everyone Safe Around Windows
- Check that existing window guards are properly installed. Gently but firmly push on the window guards to make sure the bars don’t feel loose. Screws should be tightly fastened and secured on both sides of the window guard. Measure to make sure there is no more than a 4.5 in gap of space between bars or the bars and window sills. Inspect window frames for loose or rotting wood or crumbling plaster. If the window structure is not sound, the window guard will not hold.
- Close and lock all windows when they are not in use. Also, make sure to always lock doors to balconies when not in use. Never leave a child unsupervised on a balcony.
- Open windows from the top instead of the bottom whenever that is an option.
- Window stops should be used to prevent windows from opening more than four inches. Window stops allow you to enjoy a fresh breeze while ensuring windows won’t open wide enough to invite a fall.
- Never leave small children unattended around open windows. Keep children’s play areas away from windows. Keep furniture away from windows to help prevent children from climbing up to an open window.
National Window Safety Week is in April, but we encourage you to practice window safety all year long! At Sentry Window Guards our main focus is your child’s safety. We provide various types of childproof window locking mechanisms and safety devices for your home or building. For more information regarding our products and how they keep everyone safe at home in NYC, contact us today!
