p r o d u cts
Protecting
children from
accidental
falls
A look at Australian window
safety requirements
E
ach year, more than 50 children fall
from windows or balconies in Australia
with many of them suffering serious
injuries. Unfortunately, some of these falls
even result in death.
A majority of these falls occur in the
children’s own home, especially over the
warmer months when windows and balcony
doors are often left open. Typically, children
aged between one and five are most at risk
since they are more curious but lack the
ability to recognise danger.
As a result of these falls, by law, Strata
Owners Corporations in New South Wales
must have window safety devices installed
on all above ground windows by 13 March,
2018.
The National Construction Code (NCC),
an initiative of the Council of Australian
Governments (COAG), has incorporated all
on-site building requirements into a single
code. According to the NCC, manufacturers
are required to produce windows that meet
mandatory minimum specifications under the
section on Protection of Openable Windows
(BCA2013 Vol.2 3.9.2.5).
To limit the risk of a child falling through an
openable window, the NCC states that if
26 Australian Window Association Autumn 2016
the floor below the window in a bedroom
is 2.0 m or more above the surface beneath
and the lowest level of the window opening
is less than 1.7 m above the floor, a restriction
(device or screen) is required to:
• Restrict window openings to less than
125 mm; to not permit a sphere of 125 mm
diameter to pass through the window
opening or barrier screen; while resisting
an outward horizontal force through the
opening of 250 newtons (equivalent to
25.49 kg) while the window is restrained
by a restriction device or barrier screen
protecting the opening.
• Have either a child resistant release
mechanism, or a screen or device that
is unable to be removed, unlocked or
overridden (depending on other factors).
To assist manufacturers in meeting these
regulations, Doric provides a range of
window restriction devices for awning,
casement, double hung and sliding windows,
suitable for both residential and commercial
applications.
The DS259 Double Hung Window Restrictor,
for example, is Doric’s latest addition to the
window restriction device range. The DS259
is designed specifically for use on residential
double hung windows and is able to restrict
both the top and bottom sashes from moving
to a distance predetermined by the installer.
All Australian window manufacturers must
comply with the NCC regulation and must
be able to verify compliance on request.
A statement of compliance from Doric or
any other hardware manufacturer is not
sufficient to assume a pass. To achieve
compliance, there are self-certification
kits available from independent testing
facility Azuma which will help window
manufacturers ascertain whether their
windows meet the mandatory minimum
requirements of the NCC.
The kit includes:
• Force gauge
• 125 mm sphere
• 125 mm bullet shape probe
• 125 mm diameter pressure plate
• Stop watch
With both NATA and IQNet accreditation,
Azuma is capable of testing to Australian and
international standards; offering a wide range
of industrial design, engineering and testing
services throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information, please contact Doric on
133 132 389 or visit www.doric.com.au