Windows/guards under 9.8.8.1

[Inspector Gadget]

Thought I'd poll my fellow Canadians as to how other jurisdictions are dealing with the NBC 2020 requirements for guards for residential windows >1.8m from the exterior surface and <90cm from the floor.

Our office has adopted a policy formally recognizing window opening control devices (WOCD) that conform to ASTM F2090-21 on an egress window required to have protection under 9.8.8.1(4) and any WOCD conforming to either ASTM F2090 or ASTM F2006 for windows not required to be egress compliant.

I know Ontario's building officials adopted a formal policy along the same lines and the Province of Alberta issued a bulletin (STANDATA 23-BCV-001) likewise adopting ASTM-compliant WOCDs.

Kinda wondering how others are dealing with it .....

 

[cworks]

is this what you're referring to in Ontario? Generally, for houses where the top of the window sill is more than 480mm above finished floor on one side, or the finished floor is located less than 1800mm to the adjacent floor or ground on the other side of the window, window protection is not required. Otherwise, guards or window restrictors limiting openings to max 100mm are required (OBC 9.8.8.1 (5) and (6)). For doors, where the finished floor is more than 600mm, the door also needs to be protected with a guard or restricted to max 100mm opening.

ASTM F2090 - Standard Specification for Window Fall Prevention Devices With Emergency Escape (Egress) Release Mechanisms, was not included in the Vol 2 appendix of the 2012 OBC (at least it didn't come up under a search), but IS included in the 2024 OBC under vol 2, 9.8.8.1.(4).

https://bcas.oboa.on.ca/support/sol...requirements-for-windows-in-a-part-9-building

 

[Inspector Gadget]

is this what you're referring to in Ontario? Generally, for houses where the top of the window sill is more than 480mm above finished floor on one side, or the finished floor is located less than 1800mm to the adjacent floor or ground on the other side of the window, window protection is not required. Otherwise, guards or window restrictors limiting openings to max 100mm are required (OBC 9.8.8.1 (5) and (6)). For doors, where the finished floor is more than 600mm, the door also needs to be protected with a guard or restricted to max 100mm opening.

ASTM F2090 - Standard Specification for Window Fall Prevention Devices With Emergency Escape (Egress) Release Mechanisms, was not included in the Vol 2 appendix of the 2012 OBC (at least it didn't come up under a search), but IS included in the 2024 OBC under vol 2, 9.8.8.1.(4).

https://bcas.oboa.on.ca/support/sol...requirements-for-windows-in-a-part-9-building

That's the angle that our office has adopted.

 

[ICE]

Canada: less than 480mm (19”) above finished floor

America: less than 24 inches (610 mm) above the finished floor. Five inch difference and they picked an odd number. We don’t have odd numbers for much of anything.

 

[tmurray]

America: less than 24 inches (610 mm) above the finished floor. Five inch difference and they picked an odd number. We don’t have odd numbers for much of anything.

Canada hasn't adopted ASTM 2090, so there is a major issue related to the conflict on egress widows vs. window opening limiters where the opening is too low.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

As Tmurray points out, we haven't adopted ASTM 2090... but we've kinda hinted at it in an appendix note.

Once cracked open, some openable windows can be opened further by simply pushing on the openable part
of the window. Care must be taken in selecting windows, as some with special operating hardware can still
be opened further by simply pushing on the window or by deactivating a spring-loaded button or other
mechanism that is not considered a window opening control device (WOCD) that could be inadvertently
operated by a young child. A technical description of WOCDs can be found in ASTM F2090, “Standard
Specification for Window Fall Prevention Devices With Emergency Escape (Egress) Release Mechanisms.”

The thing is, appendix notes aren't considered prescriptive solutions.

On the other hand, the folks that made our latest Code created a problem, because under the guard requirements, the language is that one cannot open a window past 100mm (4") unless restricted by a device that requires tools or special knowledge; which appears to directly conflict with the egress window requirements that state one has to have a window that can open to egress dimensions *without* being restricted by tools or special knowledge.

I've taken heart from language in 2090 that delineates the two, and defines forces for opening a window opening control device.

The way I see it, the Code has created a conundrum that demands a rational solution; I think this is it.