Showing 0 products
Frequently Asked Questions
What problem does an egress hinge solve?
An ordinary stay leaves the sash across the opening.
That makes the clear space much smaller than the window.
In an escape situation the difference is the whole issue.
An egress hinge swings the sash clear of the frame.
Most of the window aperture then becomes usable.
The window looks similar and behaves quite differently at full opening.
How is a compliant opening measured?
By height, width and area, all of which must be achieved together.
An opening meeting the area while being too narrow is not compliant.
The figures are checked simultaneously rather than individually.
Sill height from the floor is commonly specified as well.
A compliant opening too high to reach is of little use.
Requirements differ between markets and change over time.
Which windows need to be escape windows?
That is set by local regulation rather than by choice.
It commonly depends on the room's use and the storey it is on.
Bedrooms and habitable rooms above ground level are typical cases.
Requirements differ substantially between jurisdictions.
They also change as regulations are revised.
The local rule governs rather than a general expectation.
How does this conflict with child safety?
A window that opens fully for escape is one someone can fall from.
Both requirements can apply to the same window.
Releasable restrictors exist for exactly that conflict.
They hold a safe opening normally and release when needed.
Whether that is acceptable on a designated escape window is regulatory.
The answer differs by jurisdiction rather than by product.
Can an ordinary window be converted?
Frequently yes, by changing the stays to egress hinges.
The sash and frame usually remain unchanged.
Fixing positions may differ and need checking.
The resulting clear opening has to be measured rather than assumed.
Not every window can achieve a compliant opening even with egress hinges.
Where it cannot, the window itself may need replacing.
Do the usual stay considerations apply?
Fully - weight rating, handing and paired replacement all still matter.
Sash weight including glazing determines the selection.
Stays are handed and are replaced in pairs.
Corrosion resistance matters as it does for any external hardware.
An egress hinge that has seized is not an escape route at all.
Periodic operation to confirm it still works freely is worth doing.
Should escape windows be tested?
Yes - a hinge that has seized defeats the whole purpose.
External hardware corrodes and stiffens over time.
A window unopened for years may not open when needed.
Occupants should know which windows are escape routes.
They should also know how any restrictor releases.
Testing periodically is a small task with a large consequence if skipped.