The government has changed legal requirements for strata apartments to prevent children falling from windows. By the 13th of March 2018 all strata buildings are required to have window safety devices installed on windows which have been identified as a risk for falling.

These rules affect strata blocks regulated by the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015. Detached houses, unit blocks owned by one landlord (whether an individual or a company

 

What are the requirements?

Safety devices must be attached to windows which meet all three of these characteristics:

More than 2m above the ground outside (a balcony counts as the ground for this rule), and
Lower than 1.7 metres from the floor inside, and
The window can be opened wider than 12.5cm.

Safety devices can come in a range of types that may be more suitable for different windows. Most devices will be a lock that when in use can prevent the window from being opened wider than 12.5cm. They also need to be able to withstand 250 newtons (about the force of a child pushing against the window).