June 2013 National Safety Month: Simonton Windows Offers Tips for Keeping the Home Safe

“Especially in households with young children, window safety should be a primary concern on a daily basis,” says Gary Pember, vice president of marketing for Simonton Windows. “We recommend that parents adopt an extremely cautious attitude with children and the windows in their home.

“At a young age children should be taught to stay away from windows for their own safety. Parents can help safeguard children in the home by keeping furniture (including cribs) and anything else a child can climb on, away from windows. And, if your home has Double Hung windows, open only the top sash of the window that children cannot reach, to allow for ventilation.” Pember offers these timely tips for window safety in the home:

1. Tip #1 – In the case of a fire, develop and practice emergency exit strategies for everyone in the family. Make sure second floor bedrooms have approved safety chain ladders.

2. Tip #2 - Remember the primary purpose of a window screen is to keep insects outside. Never push on screens, as they are not designed to support the weight of a child or family pet.

3. Tip #3 - Lock windows when not in use to protect against intruders and make it more difficult for curious young children to open windows.

4. Tip #4 - Do not paint or nail windows shut. Every window in the home that is designed to be opened should be operational in case of an emergency.

5. Tip #5 - Refrain from nailing or attaching decorative lights to the interior or exterior of window frames or sash.

6. Tip #6 - Plant shrubs or grass, and place “soft landscaping” like bark or mulch, directly underneath windows to help lessen the impact should someone accidently fall out of a window.

Safe Windows for the Home

In addition to using “safe window practices” in the home, Pember recommends consumers consider selecting windows with Simonton’s SafePoint™ glass. This impact-resistant glass package is engineered to deter intruders, resist high winds and flying debris during severe storms and reduce unwanted outside noise from coming into your home.

“The unique laminated SafePoint glass package offers proven peace-of-mind protection against forced entry which can help keep your home safe from intruders,” says Pember. “Even though the glass may fracture when struck with a crowbar, brick or hammer, the glass adheres to the strong interlayer and does not break out of the frame.”

Similar in design to impact-resistant glass packages found in code-driven coastal area homes, SafePoint glass offers no-effort protection for the home, 24/7.

“The investment in this glass package pays off in so many ways,” says Pember. “In addition to helping protect the home, this laminated glass package provides excellent energy efficiency and serves as an effective barrier against heat transfer.

“This glass can actually play a significant role in helping lower heating and cooling costs for the home throughout the year while keeping the interior comfortable. And, SafePoint glass screens out much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage carpets, furnishings and artwork.”

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Simonton was ranked #1 in quality in the 2013, 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best In Class Awards administered by LBM Journal Research Institute.

ENERGY STAR is a government program that helps consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency and is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.