Are Your Windows Compliant With New Safety Rules?
March 13th, 2018 marks the deadline for having your window locks updated to comply with new safety standards. If you’ve missed this date and are panicking, don’t worry – there’s still time to get things in order.
The best course of action is to contact a qualified local locksmith as soon as possible. They will be able to assess your existing fixtures and either replace them with compliant safety devices, or advise that they are up-to-date and meet the necessary requirements.
Waiting until after the 13th March could have significant consequences for both homeowners and renters alike. Doing so could potentially void any insurance policies that cover the property, leaving you liable in the event of a break-in or an accident occurring on site.
If you own or rent a property under strata title, it is likely that the body corporate has already taken care of these responsibilities and informed everyone accordingly. It is always best practice to double check that this has been done though – just in case!
It is important for all individuals to understand exactly what needs to be done regarding their window safety devices. To ensure compliance with the new safety regulations, all windows which are more than two meters above external ground level should be checked, as well as any windows which can be opened from 1.7 meters or less from internal floor level.
Grilles and fly screens fitted around windows may provide sufficient protection – so long as gaps between openings do not exceed 12.5cm and fly screens are reinforced security screens rather than plain mesh varieties. The primary purpose of such measures is to ensure that wherever possible, no child can escape from a window opening if they were to fall outwards from inside the building.
Finally, it is worth noting that there is no flexibility when it comes to meeting these new regulations after 13th March 2018; if upgrades have not been completed by this date then fines may be incurred by relevant parties involved – making it even more essential to act swiftly if necessary updates are required at your property.
