Again.. I don't begrudge the "by the book" people, or as Arch puts it, the "older and meaner" people
Me.. I'm in the "reasonable" people category.
Having been in the fire service let me tell you what the general line of thinking was...
We don't trust anybody to build anything right. The first thing we do is put a tool down to the floor because we have no idea if you actually installed a floor there. Only 1 EERO opening is required to meet code. You could have 4 windows of the same size, 3 with window seats under them. Do you think we know which one to use? Those tot finder stickers on the window.. Don't even bother, we ignore them.
It's nice to say that we do certain things for the firefighters, because nobody would want to impede a firefighter. It's all well and good (and we do appreciate the big windows.. except when they have missileproof glass.. in which case if it's locked we're taking the whole unit out anyway). But we don't trust you. We won't use the hoses in your hose cabinets. If we can stretch a hose, we won't even use the standpipe.
Without aid, young school-aged children cannot reach the sash lock on a window with a 44" sill height. They cannot even get themselves up onto the sill.
So, you play the firefighter card, I'll play the children burning to death in a fire card. I'm not trying to berate anybody, but I speak from the heart. I've been through a window in scba and I've taught fire prevention and I would rather give the advantage to the kids than to myself. I'm not yelling at anybody, just passionate about kids getting out.
and yes, that is my arm