What Can I Put on My Window Bars for Safety?

Quick-Release Devices

• Quick-release devices make opening window bars simple and fast. At the time of publication the USFA made quick-release devices its No. 1 topic in a website posting on security bar safety. It noted that more than 4,000 Americans, on average, die in fires each year, and 20,000 are injured. The devices work like a latch. When activated, a quick release device allows window bars to quickly swing open.

Activation

• A child or adult can activate a quick-release device by kicking a clearly marked lever at floor level below the bars. After that, you and your family can escape the house by opening the window and pushing the bars away from the house. Some quick release devices feature tabs marked as “kick to open.”

Retrofitting

• Some window bars may require modification to accept quick-release devices. Some window bars are permanently fixed. Workers install them by bolting them to the house. That slows down firefighters who must cut through the bars or dislodge them from bolts. Retrofitting allows the bars to work with quick-release latches. The quick-release latches are operable only from inside the house and do not compromise security. They help firefighters because they save time. Instead of cutting through steel bars firefighters, if necessary, can encourage possibly disoriented residents to activate quick-release devices if those devices are available.

Drills

• People with windows bars should practice fire escape plans monthly. The drills are important because they allow all family members to practice activating the quick-release device, opening the window and climbing out. During the drills you should confirm that windows are not jammed or stuck and that screens are easily removed.

Alarms

• Smoke alarms are also an important factor. Your family may have only minutes or second to get to an escape point. Smoke detectors can alert you to a fire and give you time to get through the bars and out of the house.