The start of the holiday season, and (usually) warmer months, often sees children admitted to hospital with serious injuries resulting from falls from windows. Some of these falls prove fatal. Following research by ANEC, two European safety standards have been adopted to help prevent accidental falls from windows.

Children are often unaware of the dangers they face. Hence it is often necessary to take measures to protect them from hazards. Many products sold on the European market to offer increased protection to children are intended to be mounted on to another product. For instance, a locking device mounted on to a window in order to prevent children from opening the window and falling accidentally.

In 2003, ANEC developed proposals for safety requirements and test methods for locking devices for windows, and certain other child protective products. The ANEC research led to the adoption of the European standards[1] for window locking devices. 

ANEC Secretary-General, Stephen Russell, commented, “Young children have a natural curiosity and do not always understand risk. In our view, the way to prevent falls is to ensure children do not have easy access to windows. Ill-placed furniture should not provide them with a means to climb and put themselves in danger. Falls can also be prevented by use of window-locking devices. ANEC trusts the adoption of these two European Standards will contribute to their prevention”.

[1] EN 16281 "Child protective products - Consumer - fitted child resistant locking devices for windows and balcony doors - Safety requirements and test methods" was adopted by CEN in 2012, after the adoption the previous year of EN 13126-5 "Building hardware - Hardware for windows and door height windows - Requirements and test methods - Part 5: Devices that restrict the opening of windows and door height windows"

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About ANEC

ANEC is the European consumer voice in standardisation, defending consumer interests in the processes of technical standardisation and conformity assessment, as well as related legislation and public policies.

ANEC was established in 1995 as an international non-profit association under Belgian law and is open to the representation of national consumer organisations in 33 countries.

ANEC is funded by the European Union and EFTA, with national consumer organisations contributing in kind. Its Secretariat is based in Brussels.