Just realised upstairs windows aren't fire escapes - should surveyor have picked this up?

[Oakbutterfly]

Hello,

I've recently moved into my new home, it was built around 2000 - and I have just realised the upstairs windows aren't fire escapes - as the opening gap is too narrow and too high (according to the building regulations). My surveyor made a number of mistakes in the survey originally that I had to get changed (like calling it a 3 bed when it was a 2 bed) - so it seemed a bit sloppy - but I'm annoyed he didn't highlight that the windows don't meed building regulations. It's going to cost me a fair bit to get them replaced. What can I do? I've emailed him and waiting for a response.

The requirement to have a fire escape window came in 1st July 2000 so you would need to check precisely when the windows were installed. In my experience it is usually one window that is designated as the 'fire escape' window.

It usually mentions it to point out you could choose to change them but it doesn't actually mean anything. Modern window regulations don't apply to a house built in 2000 which conformed to the standard of the time. You do not have to update something that met previous regulations you just cannot install it new.

Most houses have windows like that, ours current house does as do all the houses we offered on.

Perhaps there is a protected route as an alternative? Are the doors fire doors?

Even if the windows aren’t suitable for egress, I wouldn’t think about replacing them.

Changing windows isn’t as expensive as you might think.

Thanks - if there was a fire in the living room - it would be hard to escape from upstairs - so I'm a bit concerned about that.

You escape via the staircase but is that in the lounge? Fire doors won’t help if staircase is in the lounge and a fire starts there. If you can shut the door to the lounge to isolate it , get a fire door. I believe fires are more frequent in kitchens. Why would a lounge burn at night? Cigarettes and matches and candles followed by space heaters are the most likely causes of fires. For some reason Scotland has a far higher incidence of house fires than England or Wales.

I would check wiring and earthing and condition of appliances and avoid smoking and naked flames.
I would not change any windows. BR approval for the house was before 2000 and of course many houses and loft conversions only have stairs for an exit. Put a hammer in each room to smash windows and any frame if you are worried. Smaller windows were specced to keep heat in.

Have you double checked that the windows don't have a fire escape hinge on them? If you need to escape you have to slide something I think it's on the hinge side of the window and it allows it to open further. Worth a look. Perhaps Google it. We had these, I'd never heard of them! If you're worried you could just get one of the windows replaced so that you have one upstairs exit, which would be for dire emergencies because you don't really want to jump out of an upstairs window! The firefighters would just smash it if they arrived so no worries there. The best thing is to have a smoke alarm in lounge, hall, upper hall and exit of kitchen.

Yes. Agree about smoke alarms. And carbon monoxide alarm too if you have gas.

Thank you for all your responses. My neighbour just told me the original windows in 2000 were timber and then replaced.