Re: Window Safety Devices

Thank you for your response.

I would have thought that a window key locked in the fully closed position (0 cm) satisfies the requirement that it not be open more than 12.5 cm when children are present, given that another window already fulfills the function of ventilation and it has a separate key lock limiting the opening to 12.5 cm (or less).

I don’t think that the argument that a window key locked in the fully closed position could be unlocked and then opened more than 12.5 cm is valid. The same argument can be applied to a window that has a key lock preventing it from being opened more than 12.5 cm, if someone uses the key to unlock that lock, then that window can be opened more than 12.5 cm.

Furthermore, it is probably more difficult for a child to unlock & open a double-hung window which is key locked at the meeting rails than one which is key locked lower down on one of the stiles to the lower sash.

In any event, the key should not be where a child can access it and use it to open the lock (i.e. don’t leave the key in the lock or on the window sill.)

We are still of the view that only one window in each room needs to be fitted with an additional key lock set at a maximum opening of 12.5 cm.

Is there any reason that we are legally required to fit all windows in a room (where more than one window is present) with additional child proof locks which limit the opening to 12.5 cm when children are present, given that the windows already have key (child proof) locks on the meeting rails set in the fully closed position? 

Note that we do not want to permanently lock our windows and that children are infrequent visitors, although this latter point is probably irrelevant.