This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 1 October 2004

Committees responsible for this British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by Technical Committee B/538, Doors, Windows, Shutters, Hardware and Curtain Walling, upon which the following bodies were represented:

Association of Building Engineers
Association of Building Manufacture
British Plastics Federation
British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing Association
British Woodworking Federation
Building Research Establishment
Centre for Window and Cladding Technology
Construction Fixing Association
Consumer Policy Committee of BSI
Council for Aluminium in Building
Flat Glass Manufacturers’ Association
Glass and Glazing Federation
Guild of Architectural Ironmongers
Health and Safety Executive
LHC Building Components and Services
National House Building Council
Police Scientific Development Branch
Royal Institute of British Architects
Scottish Office — Construction and Buildings
Society of Chief Architects of Local Authorities
Steel Window Association
Timber Research and Development Association

Foreword

This part of BS 8213 has been prepared under the direction of Technical Committee B/538. It supersedes BS 8213‑1:1991, which is withdrawn.

In this revision, a risk assessment approach to window design is recommended. Greater emphasis has been placed upon the use of safety restrictor devices to limit the initial opening of windows to minimize the risks of persons falling out of open windows.

NOTE 1 Attention has been drawn to these needs following a number of incidents where fatalities have occurred due to the lack of suitable fittings.

A clause on security (Clause 7) has been added to cover related safety issues.

The guidance given in this standard is in addition to legislative requirements, which take precedence, and is suitable for new buildings and for upgrading and refurbishment works. It is aimed at all those involved in the specification, design, selection and use of windows, including public authorities, house-builders, architects, surveyors, window designers, window installers, glazing contractors and building owners. It may also be useful to building occupiers.

The guidance is primarily intended for use in residential accommodation, but many of the recommendations are applicable to other building types, to which health and safety legislation applies (see Note 2).

Attention is drawn to the fact that statutory legislation such as the Building Regulations 2000 [1] (applicable to England and Wales), the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 [2], and the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 [3] might impose requirements in certain circumstances. Planning or other constraints in some situations might necessitate special provisions for cleaning and safety.

All involved in the design and installation of windows need to be aware of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Construction (Design and Management) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 [4]. These require designers, in a very broadly defined sense of the term, to minimize foreseeable risks to people doing the work or people affected by the work from any project arising from building maintenance and cleaning.

Guidance for professional window cleaners is prepared by the Health and Safety Executive and is listed in the Bibliography. The recently adopted Directive on Temporary Work at Height [5] will be implemented through new regulations governing all such work including that of window cleaners.

NOTE 2 The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 [6] contain specific safety requirements which apply to window safety, in particular regulation 14 on the risk of injury from breakage of windows, regulation 15 on safety in opening, closing and adjusting windows and regulation 16 which requires that all windows are designed and constructed so that they can be cleaned safely. The Health and Safety Executive Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Approved Code of Practice and Guidance 1992 L24 [7] on these Regulations gives guidance.

Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland (see Table A.1 and Figure A.2 and Figure A.1).

As a code of practice, this British Standard takes the form of guidance and recommendations. It should not be quoted as if it were a specification and particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.

1 Scope

This part of BS 8213 gives recommendations on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of windows, including door height windows, for safety in use and during cleaning, including safe opening characteristics and the arrangement of window controls, to safeguard occupants and passers-by. The recommendations for safety for windows also apply to roof windows, where relevant. Guidance on safety for rooflights is excluded from this document.

Annex A gives examples of reach capabilities. Annex B gives recommendations on safety restrictors. Annex C sets out basic guidance on design for safe cleaning and maintenance of external and internal glazing at height. Annex D sets out recommendations for safe working practices in the use of portable ladders where necessary, after assessment of the use of the other methods of safe temporary access given in Annex C.

NOTE This code of practice is not intended to offer comprehensive guidance for maintenance and redecoration of windows, where more specific safety measures are required.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 General principles

4.1 Essential considerations

4.2 Risk assessment

4.3 Inclusive design

5 Design for safety in use

5.1 Basis of design

5.2 Window location

5.3 Window type

5.4 Safety fittings

5.5 Guarding

5.6 Window construction and installation

6 Means of escape from fire

7 Security from unauthorized entry

7.1 Levels of security

7.2 Vulnerable windows

8 Design for safety when cleaning

8.1 Accident risks during cleaning

8.2 Cleaning from inside

8.3 Cleaning from outside

8.4 Secondary windows and coupled lights

9 Maintenance

Bibliography

BS 8213-1:2004

Windows doors and rooflights - Design for safety in use and during cleaning of windows, including door-height windows and roof windows. Code of practice

Current

Published:

1 Oct 2004