On Window Screens
Apr. 10th, 2018 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebI just found out that my city is proposing that insect screens be required on all windows and doors.
The proposal
The proposal is based on the current language found in the International Property Maintenance Code:
"From [date] to [date], every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition. Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellent fans, are employed."
Public comments are being accepted until June 30.
The reasoning
They don't say why this is being proposed other than that it is part of the International Property Maintenance Code. However, they do list some benefits. Although they are called insect screens, all of the following are listed as benefits:
1) Protect against mosquitoes
2) Protect against insects
3) Protect for solar radiation
4) Reduce energy costs
5) Provide privacy
Reasons #1 and 2 make sense to me, and also protection against insect-borne diseases. Reasons #3 and 4 sound like benefits of solar screens, which look like insect screens, but are they? Reason #5 is a little wacky; pretty much any other window treatment would be better.
My windows
My windows are a mess that needs to be cleaned up.
My windows mostly do not open anymore. They are casement windows--only one of the panels in each window is meant to open, and someone thought it would be a good idea to make the crank mechanism out of aluminum, which is a very soft metal and has worn down to nothing in many of my windows. The cranks are also not any of the sizes found in my local home improvement store.
In addition, most of my windows are behind furniture and very hard to reach. Finally, we rarely want to open the windows anyway--certainly never in summer when the temperature generally remains above the high 70s even at night.
I do have solar screens installed over most (all?) of my windows. I was horrified to learn that these had basically been screwed to the window frames so that the windows can no longer be opened anyway. Also, English ivy loves to grow on them.
Something that I do not consider part of the mess is that I have window film on most of my west-facing windows (I have no south-facing windows). This feels like shade compared to not having window film. Yet I can still see out perfectly. I love this stuff.
Also wondering: It sounds like my attic vents don't count as openings for the purpose of this proposal (because my attic is not habitable, especially not in summer--they count closets and halls as not habitable, and my attic is even less so).
My doors
I have two exterior doors. Both open outwards. I have heard that this is extremely poor design because bad guys can just pop out the hinges, pull the doors off, and waltz right in. I oppose poor design.
Except--if the doors opened inwards, where would they go? The front door would probably hit the piano. The back door would hit the bookshelf.
So, um, assuming we keep the doors opening outwards, how do you add a screen door? I don't think I've ever seen such a set up.
Also, there's a thing called storm doors. That would be even more protective, right? I don't exactly know what those are. I have a vague idea that screens can be part of them, though.
Insects
We do have plenty of insects, especially in the spring. We even have a bug zapper in the house.
My city
I'm going to say that I'm against regulation that is not strongly for the public good. And this sounds exactly like the kind of thing that's a good idea but that people should have free will about.
Unfortunately, with the encroachment of the zika virus, maybe this would be important for the public good. However, how effective is it? I think draining swamps, etc., is probably the most effective defense. But would this also make a real difference?
If so, should it be required only on public buildings like schools? Or also rented buildings like apartments? Or every single building as proposed? What if people have bug nets over their beds already? (Okay, I guess that applies to virtually nobody around here.) Why was it added to that international code?
Are all the home improvement stores and/or window companies lobbying to pass this? I don't know.
Any opinions on any of this?
Very Silly Link of the Day - Sailor J's Contouring 101 - Part social commentary, part silliness, part craziness, part fun accent, all dressed up in a how-to video on make up. (Warning: swear words.) So many fun quotes:
"If the men find out we can shapeshift, they’re going to tell the church."
"Men don’t like nostrils. You want to look like a pterodactyl. Men love pterodactyls. [Screech!]"
"Beautiful women don’t have foreheads. Just darken it up. ... If you have too big of a brain, it means you have ugly things, like opinions and thoughts of your own. Equality? Not for us! Equal pay? I don’t think so."
"She is above her peers; she doesn’t need oxygen."
"It is a sponge ... drenched with the power of Satan."
"I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
The proposal
The proposal is based on the current language found in the International Property Maintenance Code:
"From [date] to [date], every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition. Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellent fans, are employed."
Public comments are being accepted until June 30.
The reasoning
They don't say why this is being proposed other than that it is part of the International Property Maintenance Code. However, they do list some benefits. Although they are called insect screens, all of the following are listed as benefits:
1) Protect against mosquitoes
2) Protect against insects
3) Protect for solar radiation
4) Reduce energy costs
5) Provide privacy
Reasons #1 and 2 make sense to me, and also protection against insect-borne diseases. Reasons #3 and 4 sound like benefits of solar screens, which look like insect screens, but are they? Reason #5 is a little wacky; pretty much any other window treatment would be better.
My windows
My windows are a mess that needs to be cleaned up.
My windows mostly do not open anymore. They are casement windows--only one of the panels in each window is meant to open, and someone thought it would be a good idea to make the crank mechanism out of aluminum, which is a very soft metal and has worn down to nothing in many of my windows. The cranks are also not any of the sizes found in my local home improvement store.
In addition, most of my windows are behind furniture and very hard to reach. Finally, we rarely want to open the windows anyway--certainly never in summer when the temperature generally remains above the high 70s even at night.
I do have solar screens installed over most (all?) of my windows. I was horrified to learn that these had basically been screwed to the window frames so that the windows can no longer be opened anyway. Also, English ivy loves to grow on them.
Something that I do not consider part of the mess is that I have window film on most of my west-facing windows (I have no south-facing windows). This feels like shade compared to not having window film. Yet I can still see out perfectly. I love this stuff.
Also wondering: It sounds like my attic vents don't count as openings for the purpose of this proposal (because my attic is not habitable, especially not in summer--they count closets and halls as not habitable, and my attic is even less so).
My doors
I have two exterior doors. Both open outwards. I have heard that this is extremely poor design because bad guys can just pop out the hinges, pull the doors off, and waltz right in. I oppose poor design.
Except--if the doors opened inwards, where would they go? The front door would probably hit the piano. The back door would hit the bookshelf.
So, um, assuming we keep the doors opening outwards, how do you add a screen door? I don't think I've ever seen such a set up.
Also, there's a thing called storm doors. That would be even more protective, right? I don't exactly know what those are. I have a vague idea that screens can be part of them, though.
Insects
We do have plenty of insects, especially in the spring. We even have a bug zapper in the house.
My city
I'm going to say that I'm against regulation that is not strongly for the public good. And this sounds exactly like the kind of thing that's a good idea but that people should have free will about.
Unfortunately, with the encroachment of the zika virus, maybe this would be important for the public good. However, how effective is it? I think draining swamps, etc., is probably the most effective defense. But would this also make a real difference?
If so, should it be required only on public buildings like schools? Or also rented buildings like apartments? Or every single building as proposed? What if people have bug nets over their beds already? (Okay, I guess that applies to virtually nobody around here.) Why was it added to that international code?
Are all the home improvement stores and/or window companies lobbying to pass this? I don't know.
Any opinions on any of this?
Very Silly Link of the Day - Sailor J's Contouring 101 - Part social commentary, part silliness, part craziness, part fun accent, all dressed up in a how-to video on make up. (Warning: swear words.) So many fun quotes:
"If the men find out we can shapeshift, they’re going to tell the church."
"Men don’t like nostrils. You want to look like a pterodactyl. Men love pterodactyls. [Screech!]"
"Beautiful women don’t have foreheads. Just darken it up. ... If you have too big of a brain, it means you have ugly things, like opinions and thoughts of your own. Equality? Not for us! Equal pay? I don’t think so."
"She is above her peers; she doesn’t need oxygen."
"It is a sponge ... drenched with the power of Satan."
"I don’t even know who I am anymore.”