You don’t get many chances to make a meaningful improvement to the safety of your home, or the safety of your family. Replacing your windows is one of those moments. It’s an opportunity you shouldn’t waste.
A fire in the home is everyone’s worst nightmare. It doesn’t have to start with anything dramatic. A faulty charger or battery can be enough. We’ve all seen the stories. We are here to help guide you through the process to make your home as safew as possible should the worst happen:
• Take time now to think it through.
• How would you get out of your home?
• What is your escape route?
• Have you tested your smoke alarms recently?
Preperation is everything
When it comes to windows, there are a few critical things you need to understand. Egress hinges are essential. These are specialist hinges that must be fitted to upstairs windows in habitable rooms so they can be used as a means of escape. Without them, the window does not meet Building Regulations, and more importantly, it does not take family safety seriously enough.
Building Regulations set minimum standards for escape:
• A clear openable area of at least 0.33 m²
• A minimum dimension of 450 mm for the openable width or the openable height
However, those figures define compliance, not best practice. The real purpose of an escape window is not only to allow you to get out, but also to allow a firefighter to get in. Designing to the absolute minimum may technically comply, but it doesn’t reflect real-world emergencies.
Our advice is simple:
• Never make the escape opening worse than what you already have
• Never aim for the minimum
• Wherever possible, make escape openings as large as safely achievable
If the worst ever happens, you want to have given yourself and your family the best possible chance to get out, and the professionals the best possible chance to get in.
Final Thoughts
Window safety regulations can seem complex, but they’re designed to protect you and your loved ones. At Finesse Windows, we guide every customer through the process, ensuring your new windows are not only beautiful but fully compliant - it's part of our CORE NON-NEGOTIABLES. If you have any questions about toughened glass, fire escapes, or any other safety regulations, our team is here to help.
Ready to upgrade your windows? Contact Finesse Windows for expert advice and a free, no-obligation quote.