Hello, I have a question for an inspector. I own a Wisconsin home built in 1950 with 3 bedrooms. My original awning type windows measured 21Hx42W and a clear opening the same or 6.125 Sq ft. The bottom of the window was 60" from the floor. All I needed to bring the windows to full fire safety code was install a fixed step to raise someone to the 44" requirement. I recently purchased sliding windows from Pella, which reduced my clear opening to 15.5x18" without my understanding because the specifications provided to me didn't outline to me the clear opening size nor the screen size. They referred these new windows to me as fixed double sliders, however only one side slides and is removable. I feel they did me an unjust by installing windows that now do not meet code and significantly reduce my clear opening by more than half. I am now seeing in their warranty section of the contract it does state that I am responsible for verifying their product meets code, however with the lack of complete specifications provided to me I feel that would have been impossible. There was not enough information given to me to do so. I didn't realize the new windows had such a small opening till after I saw the windows installed. Now I have a house with bedrooms windows that are unsafe. Do you think the contractor Pella should have considered my safety when recommending windows to me and provided me windows that at least met my original clear opening and or were to code if my original size of my window met that code? I don't know how to proceed from here, any advice?
