The National Construction Code (NCC) specifies various requirements for the prevention of falls from openable windows. The aim is to limit the risk of a young child or any other person falling through an openable window, and applies to all windows where the potential fall is four metres or more; and windows in bedrooms of Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 buildings, and any room in Class 9b Early Child Care Centres where the potential fall is two metres or more.

A window opening must be provided with protection where people could fall two metres or more from a floor through an openable window in a bedroom or any room in a Class 9b child care facility or strata title unit in NSW; or, four metres or more from a floor through an openable window in any other room.

Generally, the options provided by the NCC that are deemed to provide protection include a fixed device attached to the openable part of a window; or a fixed screen across the openable part of a window.

In either case, the device or screen must restrict any openings of the window or screen so that a 125mm sphere cannot pass through; or resist an outward horizontal action of 250N against the window being restrained by the device or screen.

It is permissible that a child resistant release mechanism is fitted so that the restriction may be removed, unlocked or overridden, provided that the opening is more than 865mm from the floor and does not have any horizontal or near horizontal elements between 150mm and 760mm above the floor that can facilitate climbing; or a barrier no less than 865mm high is installed that does not permit a 125mm sphere to pass through it and does not have any horizontal or near horizontal elements between 150mm and 760mm above the floor that facilitate climbing.

Speak to your Architectural Window Systems specification specialist if you have any questions regarding fall prevention.

Content provided by the Australian Window Association.

Architecture & Design Team

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Architectural Window Systems (AWS)

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