Viridian New World Glass welcomes the recent regulation changes introduced by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2013.
The new ABCB regulations address concerns about the increasing number of children being injured in window falls by introducing more stringent window barrier requirements for open-able windows in habitable rooms of residential buildings.
Effective 1st May 2013, the updated requirements call for the inclusion of window barriers for open-able windows in early childhood centres or bedrooms in houses, apartments, hotels and similar dwellings, where the floor below the window is more than two metres above the surface beneath.
The NCC changes require windows to be fitted with a suitable device or a screen that restricts the window opening to 125mm. The device or screen can have a child-resistant release mechanism, which allows it to be removed, unlocked or overridden to facilitate window cleaning or maintenance. However, a barrier is not required for a window located 1.7 metres or more above the floor of the room in which it is located.
Australia’s leading glass manufacturer, Viridian supports the new regulations governing window safety. Viridian’s General Manager of Marketing, Lachlan Austin explains that safety messaging is a central part of Viridian’s operations with the company working closely with designers, architects and specifiers to offer comprehensive advice on regulation requirements and industry codes.
