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Ongoing Window Safety Compliance & Annual Audits
Window safety compliance is not a one-time requirement. Once child window safety devices have been installed and certified, owners corporations, strata managers, and property managers must continue to ensure they remain compliant, functional, and capable of protecting occupants from fall risks.
Over time, window safety devices can become damaged, removed, tampered with, or simply wear out through regular use. Without ongoing inspections, these issues can go unnoticed and leave a property exposed to unnecessary safety, compliance, and liability risks.
ASQB helps residential strata schemes, apartment buildings, and managed properties maintain ongoing window safety compliance through regular inspections, testing, maintenance, and certification. Our proactive approach helps identify issues early, ensuring child window safety devices continue to meet legislative requirements while providing an up-to-date compliance record for your property.
What Does Ongoing Window Safety Compliance Involve?
Ongoing compliance focuses on maintaining the effectiveness and compliance of existing child window safety devices through regular inspections and audits.
Our window safety audits include:
- Inspection of every child window safety device within the unit or property
- Assessment against current legislative requirements
- Testing of locking and restricting mechanisms
- Verification that devices continue to operate correctly
- Identification of damaged, missing, or non-compliant devices
- Inspection of fixings, screws, and mounting points
- Force testing
- Compliance reporting and recommendations
- Issuance of a new compliance certificate
Where approved, minor maintenance or replacement of non-compliant devices may be completed during the inspection to restore compliance as quickly as possible.
Why Regular Window Safety Audits Are Important
A child window safety device that was compliant at installation may not remain compliant indefinitely.
Regular inspections are considered best practice and help ensure devices continue to perform as intended. This is particularly important in strata buildings and rental properties where windows may be used by multiple occupants over time.
Regular window safety audits can help:
- Maintain compliance with NSW window safety requirements
- Identify issues before they become safety hazards
- Reduce the risk of liability following an incident
- Support insurance and risk management requirements
- Maintain accurate compliance records
- Protect residents, visitors, and children from preventable fall risks
For many strata schemes and managed properties, yearly inspections form part of an effective long-term compliance strategy.
Common Reasons Window Safety Devices Become Non-Compliant
During routine inspections, we regularly identify issues that affect the compliance and performance of child window safety devices.
Device Removal
In some cases, window safety devices are intentionally removed by occupants, leaving windows unrestricted and increasing the risk of falls.
Damage Through Misuse
Forcing locking mechanisms, using devices incorrectly, or making unauthorised modifications can impact their effectiveness.
General Wear and Tear
Like any mechanical component, window safety devices can deteriorate over time through regular use and environmental exposure.
Lost or Missing Keys
Where keyed devices are installed, missing keys may prevent the device from being locked into its compliant position.
Damaged Fixings or Components
Loose screws, damaged brackets, or compromised fixings can affect the structural integrity of the device and result in non-compliance.
The Risks of Failing to Maintain Compliance
Failing to maintain window safety compliance can expose owners corporations, landlords, and property managers to significant risks.
Potential consequences may include:
- Increased liability if an accident or fall occurs
- Difficulties during insurance investigations or claims
- Costly rectification works if issues are identified late
- Increased exposure to legal disputes
- Failure to demonstrate reasonable steps toward maintaining a safe property
- Reputational damage for strata schemes and property managers
Regular inspections provide a documented record of compliance and help reduce these risks by identifying issues before they escalate.
End-of-Lease Window Safety Audits
Tenant turnover is one of the most common times for window safety devices to become damaged, altered, or removed. Conducting a window safety audit at the end of a lease helps ensure the property remains compliant before new tenants move in.
What Is an End-of-Lease Window Safety Audit?
An end-of-lease window safety audit is a detailed inspection carried out when a tenancy ends. The audit assesses the condition, operation, and compliance of all relevant child window safety devices within the property.
These inspections are often completed alongside other property condition assessments and provide confidence that the property remains safe and compliant for incoming occupants.
What Does an End-of-Lease Audit Involve?
ASQB conducts a comprehensive assessment that include:
- Identification of all high-risk windows under NSW legislation
- Measurement of opening restrictors to confirm maximum allowable openings
- Physical testing of locking and release mechanisms
- Verification that installed devices continue to function correctly
- Inspection of fixings, screws, and mounting points
- Assessment of structural integrity and device condition
- Identification of damaged, missing, or non-compliant devices
- Force testing
- Compliance reporting and certification
Where defects are identified, recommendations for rectification can be provided immediately.
Why Are End-of-Lease Audits Important?
End-of-lease audits help property owners and managers identify compliance issues before a new tenancy begins.
Benefits include:
- Supporting property condition reporting
- Protecting incoming tenants and visiting children
- Identifying non-compliant devices before they become a safety risk
- Maintaining compliance records
- Reducing liability exposure for landlords and property managers
- Ensuring ongoing compliance between tenancy changes
Properties with frequent tenant turnover often benefit most from regular end-of-lease inspections.
Why Choose ASQB?
Certified Compliance Specialists
Window safety compliance requires specialist knowledge of NSW legislation and applicable standards. ASQB conducts inspections in accordance with current compliance requirements.
Comprehensive Documentation
Every inspection includes detailed reporting, compliance records, and certification, helping property owners maintain accurate documentation.
Strata-Focused Expertise
We work extensively with owners corporations, strata managers, building managers, and property professionals, giving us a clear understanding of the compliance challenges faced by residential strata schemes.
Professional Testing and Assessment
Unlike general handymen or locksmiths, ASQB focuses specifically on compliance. Our inspections go beyond a visual assessment and include detailed testing of child window safety devices to verify ongoing compliance and functionality.
Maintain Compliance With Confidence
Maintaining window safety compliance requires more than a one-off inspection. Regular audits, testing, and re-inspections help ensure child window safety devices continue to perform as intended and remain compliant over time.
Whether you manage a strata scheme, oversee rental properties, or represent an owners corporation, ASQB can help you maintain compliance through ongoing inspections, annual audits, and end-of-lease window safety assessments.
Contact ASQB today to discuss an ongoing compliance program tailored to your property.