Window bars are usually metal bars installed over windows in order to help keep intruders out. The problem is that window bars can also prevent escape from the home in the event of an emergency. There are roughly 25-30 people a year that are injured or killed by the inability to escape a residence due to the installation of window bars. The risk of unwanted entry into the residence is greater in the minds of home owners then the inability to quickly escape the home in the event of an emergency.
There are certain positives associated with window bars:
They can be a deterrent for potential buglers. For the most part they are used in lower level and basement windows. Window bars can provide a measure of security to the home or building owner. An other positive is that they can help prevent young children or infants from falling out of windows.
There are some very distinct disadvantages of installing window bars:
Window bars can block the exit for residents during an emergency. The occupants may feel secure from burglary, but they have very much limited their means of egress. It is possible for residents to become trapped behind window bars while trying to escape from an intruder who has managed to enter the home or building. Window bars can also at times block the way in for fire fighters. Houses equipped with window bars can potentially decrease the home’s value. Window bars can make an area appear insecure to potential home buyers.
According to the International Residential Code, basements and bedrooms should have at least one operable escape window. Windows that are equipped with bars and which are intended for emergency egress should have a quick-release mechanism installed.
Where window bars are installed in windows that are part of a building’s means of egress, the IRC requires that they be equipped with a quick-release mechanism that complies with the following requirements:
- It should not require any special tools to release the window bars.
- The mechanism should be able to be operated with relatively little force.
- Operation of the mechanism should not require special knowledge.
Although beyond the scope of a New Jersey Home Inspection, Home inspectors may want to test release mechanisms to make sure that they comply with the IRC’s requirements. Even if the mechanism appears functional, it is possible that its ability to operate has become compromised by rust, paint, or some other factor. New Jersey home inspectors should call out any hindrances to the release mechanism’s functionality as a safety defect.
