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July 21, 2009
Security Bar Alternatives?
I’m planning a gut renovation of my bathroom in Prospect Heights. The bathroom is small and has a window right next to my building’s fire escape. One of the apartment’s previous owners was a sculptor and installed custom security bars over the window that incorporate a pleasant raindrop pattern. Practically and economically, it makes sense to simply have the contractor strip the bars and repaint them. But while I appreciate the previous owner’s ingenuity, and really like having the bars there for safety, they’re not exactly what I want in my brand new bathroom. Is it possible to add some kind of window or other safety precaution to replace the bars?
Comments
What about a tempered glass window - like what would be installed in a stairwell or next to a door.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at July 20, 2009 10:24 PM
Our standard on a front entry door is an insulated glass unit comprised of 1/4" laminated glass with a 1/4" spacer and another piece of 1/4" laminated glass. Basically the equivalent of two car windshields. Very secure. If you desire more opaque glass in the bathroom- you could use white lami, which is two pieces of glass bonded to a white piece of plastic, or the chicken-wire glass. Any glazier will make this- you just need to give him direction.
Tempered is like six times stronger. The only thing I don't like about it it that it breaks in to little squares, so that "mister bad guy" doesn't hurt himself getting in.
Posted by: southslope at July 21, 2009 12:24 AM
"Tempered is like six times stronger. The only thing I don't like about it it that it breaks in to little squares, so that "mister bad guy" doesn't hurt himself getting in."
As this is a bathroom, I would suggest tempered glass for your safety.
Posted by: SenatorStreet at July 21, 2009 10:47 AM
We used a single layer of tempered glass with UV laminate coating on either side for our attic window. You'd have to use a sledge hammer to get through...and then the cops could meet you at the bottom of the attic stairs :)
Posted by: Action Jackson at July 21, 2009 3:18 PM
"As this is a bathroom, I would suggest tempered glass for your safety."
Laminated glass is much safer than tempered- especially in a bathroom. Tempered breaks into lots of little squares which hurt when you step on them barefoot. Laminated glass stays in place if it is broken.
The side windows on most cars are tempered and the windshield is laminated. I believe that Volvo is now using laminated glass on the side windows for added safety. I saw a Volvo in Park Slope the other day with an indentation in the shape of a boot. Apparently the break in was not successful.
Posted by: southslope at July 21, 2009 5:12 PM
I got rid of the security bars on my fire escape-facing window & had Lucky Window build a heavy duty window frame with security wire mesh between 2 plates of glass. They were great to work with & although it was expensive, it seems to be the best compromise between looks and security.
Posted by: parkedslope at July 21, 2009 7:09 PM
Thanks very much for the helpful comments!
Posted by: Duck Soup at July 22, 2009 1:35 PM
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