Window Bars: Safety Device Or Deadly Trap?

Window Bars: Safety Device Or Deadly Trap?

Window bars are installed to prevent bad guys from entering a home or building, but they may also cause unintended consequences by slowing or preventing egress in an emergency.

People die every year in fires where escape is hindered by window bars, and according to the National Fire Protection Agency, these kind of deaths are on the rise.

Of course, the odds of being in a burglary or violent home invasion are perceived as a more likely risk than fire, so the bars keep going up.

The Advantages

• They are a deterrent to potential burglars.
• They provide a sense of security to building occupants.
• They can prevent children from falling out of the window.

The Disadvantages

• They can block the exit for occupants during an emergency, such as a fire. The occupants may feel secure from burglary, but they have severely limited their avenues of egress. Ironically, it is possible for occupants to become trapped behind window bars while trying to escape from an intruder who has managed to enter the building.
• They can potentially block the entry point for firefighters.
• Houses equipped with window bars can potentially decrease the home’s property value. Window bars can make a neighborhood appear insecure to potential home buyers.

Here's what the IRC requires for windows and a quick-release mechanism:

• It should be accessible from the inside of the house.
• It should not require a key or combination, since during an emergency, occupants may become too panicked or confused to remember the combination or where they put the key, or smoke may prevent access to the key or obscure view of the lock. 
• It should not require any special tools, such as a screwdriver. 
• The mechanism should be able to be operated with relatively little force. Children and the elderly should be strong enough to operate the release mechanism.  
• Operation of the mechanism should not require special knowledge.

It is a good idea to test the release mechanism occasionally.  Even if the mechanism appears functional, it is possible that its ability to operate has become compromised by rust, paint, or some other factor. The last thing anyone wants is to be trapped during an emergency.