Double Glazed Window

[starone]

I live in a bungalow. The window in my bedroom is one which does not open. If there was a fire while I was in bed I would be trapped as there is no way out only the front door which is down a corridor and which could be cut off. I am thinking about having the existing window removed and a new one put in which would have a window that opens on one side. All the window installers seem to be rip-off artists. Has anyone experience of a good one who doesn't charge the earth?

[Prudie]

Is that legal star? Anyway I don't have a specific company but can tell you when we had our windows replaced we got 3 quotes. 2 from national companies and one local, By bargaining back and forth we were able to knock £1000s off the original price so have a go at haggling.

[starone]

It's not legal to instal one without an opening window prudie but the existing window was already there when I bought the bungalow last year so I have had to accept it for the time being. I keep thinking about it and the time has come when I must do something about it.

[ferlew]

I thought you had to have two exit doors in a bungalow, ours does?

[starone]

There are two exit doors ferlew but neither of them are accessible from the bedrooms. That's the problem.

[Sparkles62]

We have had new double glazing last year, but up until then we used to be in the same position as you,
We were advised by the fire brigade to keep a lump hammer in the bedroom and give the window a hell of a good whack in a bottom corner to knock the doudouble glazed unit out.

[Buenchico]

Why not simply install one of these?
http://lifeaxe.com/

[Buenchico]

PS:
As Sparkles indicates, the trick to breaking any double-glazed window is to hit it in a corner, NOT in the middle!

[KARL]

Depending a bit on the type of frame involved and its condition, it is possible to convert a fixed window to an opening one, even in-situ. You could speak to a joiner/builder about this, unless you are competent enough to consider doing it yourself.

[factor-fiction]

We used to have a little round rubber device (looked like a round door stopper) with a nail in it and this was affixed to the window in the bottom corner. Hitting it hard would have caused the window to shatter (or so the product claimed- we never tested it but went off a recommendation. It cost only £5 or so I recall

[The Builder]

"Means of Escape" is a part of modern Building Regs but probably wasn't considered when your bungalow was built.

You just need a good handyman/builder for the new window. These days there are plenty of uPVC merchants who make up windows to your exact size and requirements.

Not a big job at all to swap them over.