Each year in Australia, over 50 children fall from windows or balconies and are injured or worse. Most of these falls occur in the child’s own home, especially during the warmer months when their windows are left open for the breeze. The largest group at risk are 1 to 5 year olds.
The National Construction Code (NCC) comprises the Building Code of Australia (BCA), which includes requirements to protect certain openable windows to reduce the risk of falling from those windows. From 1 May 2013 the BCA requires protection for op openable windows in bedrooms of new residential building, where the floor below the window is more than 2m above the surface beneath. Windows must be fitted with either a device to restrict the window opening or a suitable screen, so a 125mm diameter sphere cannot pass through. The device or screen must also be able to withstand an outward horizontal force of 250N (25kg).
While building their dream home, the owners realised that with 10 windows on their second storey level, the need for a fall prevention solution for their young family was critical.
Being in Queensland natural ventilation was key to ensuring a liveable home environment, without the need for power hungry air conditioning. To remove the window restrictors, the owners had to have compliant screens fitted.
Prowler Proof Guardian screens have been purpose designed to far exceed the 250N (25kg) requirements specified by the BCA, and also allowed the owners the additional benefits of security and insect protection.
Guardian has allowed the owners to have natural ventilation and a comfortable living space, and they can leave their small child unsupervised in her bedroom at night, knowing they have created a safer place for her and their family to live.
