child window guards and air conditioners
We want to install child window guards in our brownstone apartment. We use window air conditioners that we remove when it is not summer, so we can open the windows all the way when it is nice out and so we are better-insulated in the winter. My understanding is that NYC approved child window guards…
We want to install child window guards in our brownstone apartment. We use window air conditioners that we remove when it is not summer, so we can open the windows all the way when it is nice out and so we are better-insulated in the winter. My understanding is that NYC approved child window guards cannot be removed except by the window company — you either have to have a permanent window guard in the window, or a permanently installed air conditioner. Is there such a thing as a NYC approved child window guard that a resident can personally take in and out to temporarily put in an a/c?
Here are the rules for childproof window guards in New York City.
“Screws used to mount window guards and stopping devices shall be one way sheet metal screws or tamper resistant screws. Tamper resistant screws are defined as screws requiring special tools for their installation and/or removal, which tools are not readily available in retail hardware stores. All tamper resistant screws must be counter-sunk flush with the stile or stopping device”
The screws are one way. Not easy to remove. That’s the point. Mazzone True Value on Court street carries them. Easy to install with a screwdriver but you can’t unscrew them without a special tool. If you want it up to code you do it this way.If you really need to remove them on a regular basis I would suggest a ‘star head’ screw that way a child could not easily unscrew it but you could with a star head bit.
Here’s some comprehensive info on NYC and window guards.
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/win/winbas1.shtml
This seems to only apply to buildings with three or more units (but I just glanced at it so I could be very wrong).
But whatever it says, if Guardian Angel guards are not approved, I would ignore the law and use them anyway. They can be removed easily by an adult in case of emergency. We don’t have fire escapes, but do have escape ladders, and to have guards on the windows that did not remove instantly would mean that our escape ladders would be useless. Also, as someone else said, we remove the middle part of the guard each spring (leaving the screwed-in parts intact), and put in our air conditioners with no problem.
I think it’s one of those instances where the law hasn’t caught up to the more innovative products yet. As long as you’re not renting the place out, just install what you think are best and safest.
If it’s your apartment and you are not renting it out to a family with childen, you just want to make sure it is safe. No one is going to inspect your apartment for the type of screws used. The only risk that you could possibly have would be if you rent the place and have some finicky tenant giving you a hard time over the screws used.
You can remove the one way screws with a specially designed screwdriver that probably costs less than $10.
In addition to child safety, we are concerned about (for the coops legal sake) being in compliance with NYC Health Dept code. The code says that the guards have to be installed with “one-way” screws, which means you can’t just use a screwdriver to remove them. And as far as I know, Guardian Angel and other nationally sold brands do not comply with NYC code.
Angel Guard window guards are great. You can remove the bars for air conditioners without having to unscrew them. You can find them on OneStepAhead.com
screwdriver. You install them yourself, don’t need a “window company” to do so.
But how did you remove and re-install the window guards? I had the impression that you need special tools.
As long as after a/c season you immediately put the child window guards securely back in place.
I live in a co-op, and years back we did the same… in the Fall we removed our a/c’s and reinstalled the window guards.
Just ALWAYS make sure the window guards are secured properly and immediately after the a/c
is removed.