Read our guide on how to maintain window restrictors. 

Whether you are a home owner, employer, landlord or manager of an education, health, or care setting; window restrictor maintenance is of critical importance for window safety.

Fitting window restrictors is the first step in ensuring window safety and preventing tragic falls. Parents often fit them to keep their children safe. Under health and safety legislation, window restrictors are legally required where people who are vulnerable to the risk of falling have access to windows, and the windows are at such a height were anybody falling out of them is at risk of sustaining a serious injury. Every employer also has a duty to ensure those enter the workplace are safe.

Ensuring that windows are safe and secure for those who use a building is an ongoing task.

Landlords, employers and managers of buildings in health and care settings are legally responsible for not only fitting window restrictors where required, but for ensuring windows are maintained to stay safe. A fit and forget approach is not sufficient.

Maintenance Schedule

The effectiveness of a window restrictor can be compromised if the window frame or sill that it is attached to is rotten or in poor condition, and of course every product has a lifespan.

To ensure window restrictors remain effective a maintenance schedule is required. The schedule would include checking for any cracks or damage that could potentially compromise the structural integrity of the window and any window restrictors in place. All locks on windows should be regularly checked to ensure they are functioning properly. Just undertaking the simple checks is sufficient for homeowners, but for those with a legal duty of care, such as employers and especially managers of health and social care settings, records of maintenance schedules will need to be kept.

Here is our recommendation for how to maintain window restrictors:-

  • Check – Inspect window restrictors for damage, wear, or defects at least every six months.
  • Lubricate – Spray lubricant into the barrel lock, especially if it’s in a polluted environment.
  • Inspect Check for damage, wear, or defects, especially to the cable, screws, and key lock.
  • Retest Ensure the restrictor can hold the window in place for at least 60 seconds when a 350 newton load is applied. 
  • Replace Replace any missing or damaged restrictors immediately.
  • Log Keep a record of all changes, including photos and timestamps.
  • Review Review the assessment annually or after any incidents or significant changes to the building.

Maintenance Schedules for Health and Social Care Settings

Care settings have greater risks due to the vulnerability of residents and so the type of window restrictor that can be used and the maintenance requirements are highly regulated. The window restrictors fitted have to be of the type that can only be opened with a tool or a special key. In these settings the ultimate restrictor is the Titan which is a key-operated steel folding window restrictor that withstands 4,800 newtons, or the equivalent of five adult males, which exceeds all standard requirements by nearly 10 times.

The managers of such settings are advised to follow the below window safety maintenance requirements:-

  • A weekly maintenance audit on housekeeping, any window restrictors missing or damaged must be replaced without delay, and immediately escalated to the home care manager
  • A monthly management audit involving a tour of the home and a review of paperwork. Any paperwork that is incorrect or falsified must be challenged without delay and identified concerns actioned. Keep an audit trial of all paperwork, emails etc.
  • All staff have a duty to report any concerns to the home care manager, clinical lead or line manager. Any member of staff entering a resident room should do a brief visual check and if something is of concern they must report it.

Summary
Window restrictors are highly effective at preventing falls, but maintenance is crucial. The rigour of the maintenance schedule required depends on whether the setting is regulated.

Links to more information

The legal requirements for rented properties

Where window restrictors are required

A guide to the types of window restrictors 

If you would like to discuss the requirements and the right product for your setting please do get in touch.