Basement Egress Window Requirements
Minimum net clear opening.
Basement egress window requirements. Windows can be of various total size but their free areas when open must be at least 5 7 square feet. Minimum 5 7 square feet of net clear opening area. 5 0 square feet allowed if located at grade floor or below. An easy to open window that serves as an emergency exit for below ground living space of any kind.
A window with a minimum height of opening of 24 inches. Minimum 24 inches of net clear height opening. This means that to meet egress window height requirements a bedroom window must be nearly 4 ft. To meet egress requirements these horizontally sliding windows must be at least 4 ft.
A window with a minimum width of opening of 20 inches. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. This height requirement takes it out of the running for most basement egress situations. For determining egress window sizes and placement the international building code holds that every bedroom must contain.
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. To meet irc standards egress openings must have. For ground floor maximum sill height above floor. The sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the ground.
A minimum net clear opening of 5 7 feet the actual free space that exists when the window is open or the size people. Minimum width of opening. Remember when you re adding a bedroom to your home or basement you have to keep certain requirements in mind. The height of the opening must be at least 24.
The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high. Basement egress window requirements the bottom of the egress window opening can t exceed 44 from the finished floor. The width of the opening must be at least 20. An egress window must open at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high with a net clear open area of 5 7 feet square.
Basements habitable attics and sleeping rooms need to have an egress opening the bottom of the required opening must be within 44 of the floor. Minimum height of opening. Wide and 4 ft. Let s be honest during a fire stairs could be blocked or damaged.
Therefore let us recap on the residential emergency escape and rescue opening requirements. Opening width of at least 20 inches opening height of at least 24 inches bottom of the clear opening must be within 44. A window with a minimum net clear opening the actual opening through which a person. What s an egress window.