If you are looking to create a room with a view up in your loft, top hung roof windows are the number one choice.
Installed anywhere in a pitched roof of between 15°-55°, the sash on top hung windows open out fully to leave clear panoramic sightlines.
All of our top hung roof windows are suitable as means of escape windows, a building regulation necessary in certain loft conversions.
Top hung roof windows come with either a manual or electric wall switch operation. VELUX INTEGRA top hung roof windows can also be opened and closed by mobile phone with the VELUX ACTIVE home automation kit.
For modern interiors, white painted top hung roof windows and moisture resistant polyurethane (PU) roof windows are ideally suited. Natural pine top hung windows give a more traditional look to a space.
Top hung roof windows can be made with several different glazing features to enhance performance. These include triple glazing, privacy glazing and noise reduction. For conservation area projects, special conservation top hung roof windows are available.
We have hundreds of top hung roof windows available for free delivery. Next day delivery is available on RoofLITE top third opening roofs windows which also meet means of escape requirements.
Top-hung windows are among the best roof window solutions available on the market. If you’re looking for a window that will give you the best view and bring the most daylight into your home, a top-hung roof window is your best choice. Operated with a handle mounted at the bottom of the window, these windows open by swinging out upwards, allowing you to fully take in the panoramic views. Combine looks with convenience in the best way possible using top-hung roof windows manufactured by the best experts on the market, all available in our shop.
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Means of Escape – as means of escape the window opens to an unobstructed area for safe exit, in the event of an emergency. The opening handle located at the bottom is easily accessible.
Easy to Use – the multi-stop opening feature allows the user to simply push the window to any position between 0 – 45 and remain open for maximum flexibility.
Effective Ventilation – this is provided by the vent flap at the top of the window which regulates the air flow, even when the window is closed.
Thermal Performance – Only Keylite windows have an Expanding Thermal Collar, Warm Edge Glazing and a Streamlined Fit as standard, leading to enhanced thermal performance.
What Do You Need To Know About Escape Windows?
In this blog, we aim to give an overview of the type of escape roof windows available, as well as the necessary boxes you need to tick in order to fulfil the legal requirements of your local building control.
Written on 19 December 2013
In recent times, homeowners have turned to home renovations instead of moving as a way of improving their home - transforming an empty loft space into a warm, comfortable bedroom is one of the most common methods.
If you are looking to add another habitable room to your home, then you may need a secondary means of escape, as advised by Building Control.
Do All Rooms Need An Emergency Exit?
According to Approved Document B - Fire Safety: Volume 1 - Dwelling Houses, all habitable rooms in buildings of one or two storeys need to have an escape window in the event of a fire that leads to a safe location outside:
- Ground floor rooms can have direct access to a corridor leading directly to an external door or escape window
- First floor rooms need an escape window, or a protected stair enclosure leading to an external door
- Second floor and higher rooms need a protected stair enclosure leading to an external door.
The Key Facts For An Escape Window
Escape Windows Must...
Before you decide on which escape window to go for and begin installation, you need to make sure that the window is going to meet certain requirements.
All escape windows must lead to a safe place that can be accessible by ladder by the fire brigade to provide necessary help to reach you in the case of a fire. It must be able to stay open without being held, as well as opening to the side or upwards to at least 450mm.
The Escape Window Opening Must...
So, you've met all the criteria for where you will position the escape window and how easy it will be to gain access to it. Now you need to consider the window size itself. Here are the requirements needed for an escape window.
Whatever escape window you decide to go for, it must have a minimum measurement of 450mm x 750mm, which will give you the required unobstructed opening area of 0.33m² (0.45 x 0.75 = 0.33m²). Both dimensions can be either the width or the height, but this is seen as the minimum size window for installation.
In the event of a fire, you must be able to climb out of the escape window with ease, and this is why it must be installed at eye-level. The sill of the escape roof window must be no more than 1.1m above the floor, offering the inhabitant a simple way to escape the room.
What Escape Windows Are Available From Sterlingbuild?
Means of escape windows are available for both pitched and flat roofs, and are most commonly found in residential areas. Escape windows for pitched roofs are available in either top hung or side hung operation, and available with ECO+, FAKRO, RoofLITE and the VELUX Group.
Escape windows from ECO+ come with a PVC frame and triple glazing as standard. Sizes available are 78x118cm and 114x188cm.
VELUX escape windows come in top hung form only, and the minimum size to conform to escape regulations is 55x118cm.
FAKRO escape windows are available in both top hung and side hung operation, with the minimum size for top hung being 78x118cm and for side hung being 66x78cm.
Above All Else, Speak To Your Local Building Control
The requirements for escape windows and the regulations for installing them are interpreted differently from one local authority to the next, so we do recommend speaking to your local building control before scheduling any installation. In England, the regulations set out by Building Control are different to those in Scotland, so once again, please speak to your local authority.
What is the means of escape for top hung windows?
Means of Escape - as a means of escape, the top hung roof window (excluding sizes 02 and 03B) opens to an unobstructed area for safe exit, in the event of an emergency. For all top hung/fire escape, the opening handle is located at the bottom of the window.nullTop Hung Roof Windowswww.keyliteroofwindows.com › Products › Pitched Roof Windowsnull
What are the requirements for an escape window?
Whatever escape window you decide to go for, it must have a minimum measurement of 450mm x 750mm, which will give you the required unobstructed opening area of 0.33m² (0.45 x 0.75 = 0.33m²). Both dimensions can be either the width or the height, but this is seen as the minimum size window for installation.nullEscape Windows - Costs, Requirements & Sizes - Sterlingbuildwww.sterlingbuild.co.uk › The Information Centrenull
What is a top hung roof window?
If you are looking to create a room with a view up in your loft, top hung roof windows are the number one choice. Installed anywhere in a pitched roof of between 15°-55°, the sash on top hung windows open out fully to leave clear panoramic sightlines.nullTop Hung Roof Windows - VELUX & FAKRO - Sterlingbuildwww.sterlingbuild.co.uk › Pitched Roof Windowsnull
Can a VELUX window be an escape window?
Due to the unrestricted opening area, a large selection of these roof windows are suitable for emergency escape purposes.nullGPL 2068 / top-hung / triple glazed - VELUX roof windows for sale.roofwindows.veluxshop.co.uk › roof-windows › top-hung › velux-gpl-2068null