There are some very good reasons for the plan to force limiters to be fitted on to strata windows to stop young kids falling out of them. The fact that strata buildings tend to be higher is obvious but there’s also the simple fact that it can be easily policed.
Under proposals issued by NSW Fair Trading, from May 1st this year, all new medium and high rise buildings will be required to have some sort of device on windows one floor up and above, that limit their opening to 125 mm. This is a response to nearly 40 children having been hospitalized last year after falling from windows.
With high-rises sprouting like mushrooms, developers have had to be ordered to install these safety devices because, let’s face it, most weren’t going to do it voluntarily. Some of them cut so many corners it’s a surprise their blocks aren’t cylindrical.
OK, so much for new buildings. But what about the existing 70,000 strata plans in NSW. Some, such as townhouse developments, aren’t going to need to do anything if their buildings are low rise.
The rest of us are going to have to come up with some sort of retro-fit plan but, to avoid a cavalry charge of cowboys cashing in on an arbitrary deadline, Minister Anthony Roberts has allowed for a five-year grace period for us all to catch up.
But why us and not two-storey houses, for instance? As I said before, it’s partly because Fair Trading know they can enforce this in strata.
You see, your windows probably aren’t yours at all. They’ll be common property. And even if you really, really don’t want to fit limiters, your Owners Corp not only has a legal obligation to do so but has the right to enter your property to get it done.
And that’s why strata apartment blocks will be leading the way on child safety. Oh, by the way, you can still have windows that open all the way, provided there is a child-proof limiter installed.
You can read the discussion document HERE and you can join in a lively debate on the issue HERE.