Basement Egress Window Code

Let s be honest during a fire stairs could be blocked or damaged.

Basement egress window code.

What s an egress window. Basement egress openings have stricter standards than egress areas in the rest of the house. When the sill height of an egress window is located below grade common for egress windows provided for a basement a window well must be provided. The sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the ground.

Ft large enough to allow a firefighter with equipment to enter the home through the window. Egress windows or doors are required in every habitable space. In addition the window must be at least 20 in. And every basement bedroom whether existing or added is required by code to have an egress window.

Now the current boca building officials and code administrators international code requires an egress window not only inside of a bedroom in the basement but in the basement regardless of whether or not there is a bedroom. An easy to open window that serves as an emergency exit for below ground living space of any kind. These special basement windows meet the current irc code for building a finished basement so you have peace of mind in the event of a fire or accident. Have 9 sq.

To ensure you install the right egress for your basement we ll break down the residential window well code requirements you ll need to abide by. Have a minimum height and width of 36 inches. If you have an existing home and you add a sleeping room or finish a separate living space in the basement the code requires that you install an egress window to serve these spaces. Wide and 24 in.

It must be at least 5 7 square feet that is at least 20 inches wide by 24 inches high with an opening no higher than 44 inches from the floor. Size the horizontal area of the window well needs to be a minimum of nine square feet with a minimum horizontal projection and vertical width of 36 inches. Especially in any room used for sleeping purposes it will require its own egress window. Be able to be fully opened.

Windows can be of various total size but their free areas when open must be at least 5 7 square feet. The icc s 2006 international residential code for one and two story dwellings has new language stating that basements that contain one or more sleeping rooms are required to have emergency egress. In addition the egress window requirements for basements specifies that they be at least 36 inches in height and width with a fully functioning opening. The area of a window well shall not be less than 9 square feet with a horizontal length width of no less than 36 inches.

Here is an overview of section r310 of the code that are applicable to egress windows. In other words if your finishing your basement you got a have an egress exit period. An egress basement window must have a clear opening of at least 5 7 sq.