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Window wells greater than 44 inches in depth requires a permanently fixed ladder or steps to provide access.Window wells serving an egress window shall not be less than 9 square feet in area with a horizontal length/width of no less than 36 inches.Maximum 44 inches to window sill measured from finished floor.Minimum 20 inches of net clear width opening.Minimum 24 inches of net clear height opening.Exception: 5.0 square feet allowed if located at grade floor or below grade.Minimum 5.7 square feet of net clear opening area.This is to ensure that there will be a sufficient amount of space to allow occupants to escape or for fire fighters to enter. 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. Window Well Code Requirements ( R310.2.3) Egress Window Well Size 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.
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If a basement contains a habitable room or is used as such, it must provide a means of escape, such as an egress window.
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Basement Egress Windows Does a Basement Need an Egress Window?Īs we noted above the code requires every basement, habitable attic, and every sleeping room to have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. If the door is located below the adjacent ground elevation, it must provide a bulkhead enclosure with a minimum headroom height equal to the door when it is in the fully opened position. It must meet the minimum opening area requirements stated above. When a door is being used to meet the egress requirements, it must be either a side-hinged door or a slider. Illustration: © Building Code Trainer, 2019Īlso note that if a window is being used to meet the egress requirements, in addition to the above, the sill height of the window shall not be more than 44 inches above the finished floor.įun Tip: Some windows, like windows located on the 2nd floor, have minimum sill height requirements therefore to learn about Window Fall Protection requirements per the International Residential Code (IRC), be sure to check out this POST.
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This includes compliance with all of the following: the net clear opening area, net clear height opening, and net clear width opening. Egress Window Size and Dimensions What is the Minimum Size Required for Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings? ( R310.2)įirst lets look at the minimum opening area required. These openings must open directly to the outside such as a public way or yard and need to be operational from the inside of the room without much effort. If a room is used as such, it must provide a means of escape.Īlso note that if basements have multiple sleeping rooms, each sleeping room is individually required to provide a means of escape and rescue. The code requires every basement, habitable attic, and every sleeping room to have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. Egress Window Locations Where are Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings Required? ( R310.1) These means of escape and access can be achieved by an operable exterior window, door, or similar device that meet the minimum size and dimensions of Section R310. Basically the intent is to provide a means of escape and access for rescue in the event of an emergency, for example a fire. These requirements can be found in Section R310 of the IRC. Please note that these requirements can be specific from city, county, or state therefore it is best to contact your local authority having jurisdiction to see what these requirements are.Īs for a general understanding of these requirements, let us look at the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) for what the minimum standards are.Ī lot of people will refer to the term “Egress Windows” when in reality the code references “Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening”. Building codes change over time and what was once acceptable might not be under current code when an alteration occurs. Have you ever applied for a window permit to change out your old outdated windows with new energy efficient windows for your home only to find out that some of the windows don’t meet the window egress requirements?