Window bars as fire code violation?

Hoping to close on a 4-family in the coming month, and the bank is balking after the appraisal, saying that the fixed window bars that are front & back on the garden level must be removed or have “safety latches” fitted before they’ll let the deal proceed.  Quite understandable, but their message so far is a little vague — my question is this:  does anyone know if *all* fixed bars must be removed, or if code requires that only bedroom windows need this access?  Garden-level front windows with fixed bars seems a common sight, so I’m wondering what I actually need to get done here.

deano

in Building Code 14 years and 2 months ago

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adam_dahill | 14 years and 2 months ago

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Not all banks enforce the window bars rule. I have a few banks that I work with that don’t care. I ask all my clients now about the window bars on our first conversation as it started coming up a few years back and caused issues.  I had a previous client and architect put together guidelines from the fire code, the NY townhouse guide and landmarks dept. I made it into a pdf and I have had appraiser’s use it in their reports from time to time or sent with a letter of explanation to the lender to satisfy their concerns.  Although there are a few lenders that can not be swayed regardless of this and they will only lend if you install releases on the bars.   -Adam Dahill WCS Lending

vthatcher | 14 years and 2 months ago

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I am a mortgage broker.  From a banks point of view, you cannot have bars on bedrooms/sleeping areas.  You can leave bars on living rooms/kitchen where there is egress, or an exit to the outside. Let say you had bars on a bedroom and people were sleeping.  Firs is outside the bedroom door.  Without a safety release latch on at least 1 window in that room- you cannot get out.  This is the reason for the release latch.  You only need 1 window per bedroom to have it.     Vanessa Thatcher _ATLANTIC HOME CAPITAL_ Tel: 631-687-3510 x106 EFax: 631-918-5222 Cell: 631-672-4113

BedstuyMaven | 14 years and 2 months ago

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I had the same problem a few years ago.  I explained to the bank that this was a standard in NYC  and  I got a letter from the Fire Department stating the bars were ok because I had two other means of egress.

NeoGrec | 14 years and 2 months ago

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I’m hoping to refinance and Adam Dahill, a mortgage broker who often posts here, mentioned recently that some banks have an iron-clad rule insisting on no fixed window bars. Sounds like the situation you’re facing. Some people don’t want to get rid of their bars for security reasons; some can’t because of LPC regulations. Maybe you need a new bank?