It’s National Window Safety Week
National Window Safety Week, the first week in April every year, coincides with the arrival of spring, when people naturally want to open the windows and let in fresh air. Thousands of children fall from windows annually across the United States, so it’s important to learn about window safety and how you can keep your family safe.
Window Safety Guidelines
- Keep in mind that doors are the primary exits and windows are a secondary means of escape in the event of a fire or other emergency.
- Insect screens are designed to keep insect pests out, rather than hold a child’s weight to prevent them from falling out. Therefore, children should not be left unattended around open windows, regardless of whether an insect screen is in place.
- In homes with young children, windows within a child’s reach should remain closed and locked.
- Avoid placing furniture under windows. Young children can use furniture to climb to and potentially fall from an open window.
Are Your Window Guards Installed Safely?
Window guards must:
- Be installed in all windows of the apartment, except for windows leading to fire escapes or used for emergency escapes, or in windows where air conditioner units are permanently and safely installed.
- Be securely and permanently installed.
- Prevent windows from opening more than 4½ inches in any direction. There should never be more than 4½ inches of open unguarded space. Use a measurement tool to check.
- Be able to withstand 150 pounds of weight.
- Have a NYC Health Department approval number.
Please call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 to report any missing, broken, or improperly installed window guards.
If you have questions about this or any environmental health and safety matter, please email ehs@nycha.nyc.gov. Residents, employees, and any member of the public can submit environmental health and safety concerns at on.nyc.gov/submit-concern.
For more information on window guards and window safety, please visit:
