Bottom opening or top opening?

[zeeb]

If a ground floor room is used as a bedroom, does the window still need to have a bottom opening as it would on the first floor?

It's a 1600mm high at present and has a small top opening, not enough to climb out of. That said, it's door is just off the hall, so maybe the window doesn't need to be changed. Any thoughts?

 

[ronniecabers]

If the room opens onto a corridor ( or other room) thats has a door that leads directly outside, NOT into another room or corridor, then no it does not need to be a bottom opener , However if the room opens into another room with no external door , or onto a corridor that does not have a door directly leading outside, then it becomes a ' room within a room ' and the fire escape rules apply , eg bottom opener required. In my opinion though, as it is a bedroom , I would provide fire escape on the window as good practice. If the bottom opening is an issue due to the possibility of it being left open, then you could fit a simple casement restrictor so it only opens a minimum way unless the catches are released

 

[ronniecabers]

Forgot to say , if it is a rental property , could very well be that your insurance would insist on having a fire escape in that room regardless.

There is also the issue , that if it is Upvc , technically it could be replaced like for like as the situation is not being made any worse, which is a totally bizarre rule if you ask me!

 

[zeeb]

thanks for the replies. I'll probably go for bottom opening with the casement restrictor suggestion.