Your window installation serves as an entry and exit point in your home, not only for people but also for air, light, smoke, sound and so on. As such, they create an interesting conundrum for Toronto construction professionals – they must provide security and safety, yet they need to be highly accessible. They need to stop an intruder but allow for an easy escape in case of fire. They aim to optimize the entry of light and minimize the escape of heat. Then there is the whole seeming incongruity of children’s safety – they need to be safe from falls and shattering glass while being able to easily open windows as an escape route or for ventilation.
What Features Can Be Implemented to Make a Window Installation Safer?
There are, thankfully, several ways to make windows safer and more secure for adults and children alike. These methods aim to maintain a high level of accessibility and convenience while ensuring that your home is safe from the elements and potential intruders. These strategies and devices can be applied in many different kinds of buildings, whether you live in a country house or a high-rise apartment in downtown Toronto. If you’ve been wondering how to improve the safety and security of your window installation, here are a few tips:
- Make Use of Safety Devices in Homes with Children – Windows on higher floors present a serious health hazard to children under the age of 10, due to the risk of falling. Such accidents are entirely preventable by taking the right safety measures after installation. Use window guards, window stops, and wedges to stop your child from falling out of the window accidentally. In terms of the windows themselves, double-sash windows are considered safer, as they open from the top, rather than the bottom, making it unlikely that a child playing on a ledge would be able to fall. You may also want to agree on house rules which forbid tomfoolery around windows altogether.
- Use Safety Devices to Prevent Your Windows from Shattering – If your household has a problem with flying projectiles and boisterous play, you would be right to be concerned about the long-term survival of your windows. There are a number of products you can use to protect glass from hurtling pots, pans, and children’s toys. Even if breakage is inevitable, you can prevent shattering by using safety film and safety screens, which will help avoid injuries and unwanted drafts. If you are worried about the safety of a window installation in a child’s bedroom on a high floor, you might want to look at installing grid-like safety screens, which allow in light, but won’t allow the window to be broken.
- Use Bars and Shutters to Guard Against Intruders – More severe measures are necessary to keep out those who would actively try to gain entry, as opposed to stopping people from accidentally falling out. It’s no secret that there are neighborhoods in Toronto where home invasions and property crime are a serious problem. These safety devices are often enough to put off potential intruders. If you live in a rural area, shutters can be a good way to protect your home from curious bears and other animals.
Installing safety and security features on windows might not be the most aesthetically satisfying improvement you make to your home. The use of window bars is widely loathed when it comes to assessing curb appeal, yet they continue to be installed across the country, suggesting that they are doing their job. Be sure to remember that you put the safety of your family first when it comes to your window installation.