What Size Must An Egress Window Be

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.

What size must an egress window be.

The overall size of this smallest double hung egress window is 14 85 sq. 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. In case of an emergency windows installed in any sleeping room must pass strict codes so that occupants can exit and rescue specialists can enter the bedroom. According to the irc international residential code basements of a certain size must have an emergency egress which window wells fit the bill for.

The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. Let s have a look at the alberta building code abc 2014 criteria that all egress windows must satisfy. Egress is literally defined as a path out or to emerge and these terms directly apply to the design principles behind egress windows. 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.

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 minimum egress window opening height is 24 high. These laws are very specific about what each room can and must have in terms of escape methods should an emergency situation occur. An egress window is a window that is required in specific locations in a dwelling and must meet specific size requirements to qualify as an egress window.

And every basement bedroom whether existing or added is required by code to have an egress window. In the window business egress codes are laws about the size of operable windows for the purpose of allowing people to escape if there s a fire in the home. Minimum size gliding egress window gliding windows with horizontally sliding sashes that always fill half the possible window opening area also have to be big to meet egress requirements. The minimum egress window opening is 20 wide.

However if your basement has habitable finished rooms building codes require it to have egress windows or other means of egress patio door etc. It is intended to provide an emergency means of exiting a dwelling. Unobstructed opening of not less than 0 35 m2 3 77 sq ft in area with no dimension less than 380 mm 15 inches this window should maintain the required opening during an emergency without the need for additional support. Ft almost twice the area of the egress casement window shown.