Bedroom Egress windows are a way to get out of your home in case of an emergency.
If you have been in a compromising position where you must exit quickly, you will realize how crucial bedroom egress windows are.
Egress windows allow a second exit in the event of an emergency. It needs to be big enough to fit a human and open clear enough to give an access to a fireman.
They can add more natural light and make your bedroom feels warmer and more welcoming.
Basement bedrooms should have exit windows too, a need for safety reasons in the fire, and other emergencies.
According to the international Residential code an Egress window is required to be installed in the new and existing basement if a new sleeping area ”bedroom” created (IRC R310.6).
Bedroom Egress Window
If you install any additional bedrooms in your beloved home, you must have egress windows installed in your sleep areas for lots of reasons:
- To allow an escape route in case of emergency.
- The window in the basement makes the space habitable.
- Your home will be more valuable.
Egress Window Size
International Residential Code, bedroom egress windows should have these requirements. (IRC 310.1),
- The open window should be at least 24 inches in height.
- A minimum clear width of 20 inches.
- A net clear opening of at least 5 square feet of glass area is required for grade floor windows or below grade only.
- A net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet of glass area is required for stories above grade level.
- A sill is no higher than 44 inches off the interior floor.
- When the window is above 44 inches from the interior floor, the ladder should be permanently attached.
- At a minimum, the ladder must be 12 inches wide and no less than three inches from the window well, which should not encroach more than six inches on the required open window.
- If a window is located under a porch or decking, it must be at least 36 inches below the floor joists.
Calculating Egress window area
To measure the window area, use the formula its (width with its height).
Use this simple formula to determine if your window area is more significant than or smaller than a good Egress window area.
You need to measure the clear opening width and height of the bedroom window. Measure tapes are in inches, the total area should be divide by 144.
For example, if the clear width is 25” inches and the height is 35” inches. The clear area (25 x 35) = 875 square inches.
The net clear area is 875 / 144 = 6.07 square feet. which is greater than 5.7 sq. ft. This bedroom window meets the minimum building code requirements.
Egress Window Calculator
Enter your clear window opening dimension below to see if your bedroom window meets egress requirements.
Window Egress Calculator
(The minimum clear width is 20 inches) inch
(The minimum clear height is 24 inches) inch
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Basement Egress Windows Code Requirements
Building codes require that basement windows meet specific specified dimensions. Having an emergency device allows one to get out quickly in emergencies.
International Residential Code, basement windows should have these characteristics. (IRC 310.1),
- The open window door should be at least 24 inches in height.
- A minimum clear width of 20 inches.
- A net clear opening of at least 5 square feet of glass area is required for grade floor or below grade only.
- A net clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet of glass area is required.
- A sill is no higher than 44 inches off the interior floor.
- When the window is above 44 inches from the interior floor, the ladder should be permanently attached.
- At a minimum, the ladder must be 12 inches wide and no less than three inches from the window well, which should not encroach more than six inches on the required open window.
- If a window is located under a porch or decking, it must be at least 36 inches below the floor joists.
Measuring Your Basement Windows
Not sure if your existing basement windows will meet current building code standards for egress requirements? What you must do is to follow the below steps?
- Take a tape measure.
- Open the window wide to allow fresh air comes in.
- Measure the width and the height of the openings.
- Multiply its width by its height.
Are your measurements equal to the square inches above ? Then, you are making progress.
Doors shall be removable without any special tools.
Old Basement Windows vs. Egress
If you live in an older house, there is a possibility there is a narrow window in the basement.
Open Hopper windows you will not have a bedroom or living space in your basement if these windows are set smaller than the current standard code. Basement windows are also used for other purposes than egress.
Homeowners in those days used their basements for utility and storage space. As the window age increases, the size of the windows will become relatively smaller.
Please check your area code first. And update the old basement window to egress.
Basement Windows with Below Ground Levels
If your basement window is set below ground level, you will need to construct a window well beneath the window frame. At most, this well must be at least 36 inches wide and 36 inches long, 9 square feet of horizontal area.
The fixed ladder or stairs should be installed if the well is more than 44 inches deep. (IRC R310.2.3).
The required ladder or step shall not encroach more than 6 inches into the required window well dimension.
The required ladder or steps shall be a minimum width of 12 inches and spaced not more than 18 inches on center vertically and to encroach not less than 3 inches from the wall. IRC (R310.2.3.1).
Basement windows can be above a deck or porch, provided enough clearance for an average-sized adult to exit. It would help if you ensured a minimum of 36 inches between the window top and the deck’s base or porch floor joists.
Why Egress Window?
Life comes first, in every decision in life, as critical attentions have to be considered in business, construction, and all daily life activities, and everything else happens to be second.
This is why you have to sacrifice some beauty of your basement and comply with the code that turns your basement into a bright and comfortable, and life-saving living room or bedroom through considering egress.
Safety
Fire can quickly spread in a home. Having an emergency escape from the basement is easy in case of fire or emergency.
Exit Code
When you install a bedroom in the basement, an egress window must be put into the room. If you install a habitable room on the basement floor, one must include an egress window as part of the installation.
Maintenance
Well-designed egress window wells are built of plastic with UV inhibitors. Once these concrete blocks are fixed in place, they will last for decades. Station bars protect against rusting, rotting, and decay for ten years.
Reliability
A cover on a well will be sturdy enough to support more than 500 lbs and without anyone falling into the well. The body is also absorbent sufficient to absorb moisture.
Because Egress windows are a way out, they must be capable of opening from the inside. When windows are being opened from outside, it is no more common to empty the basement windows.
The sash of the window shouldn’t obstruct the opening. Because of this, your family can be evacuated, or first responders can quickly enter.
Requirements for basement windows in different areas and may vary. Call the local building officials to learn more about your community rules and regulations.
How to Achieve Perfect Egress Bedroom
- We are increasing the window size instead of width. The horizontal structural header might be a good option.
- Increase the height, width of the window to the new standard.
- You can lower the window to no more extended rest on the sill.
Note: There are some situations where you replace your windows to meet the requirements for egress windows.
An Egress window is necessary for any residential building and must meet standard size. It’s designed to get you out of a home in an emergency.
Bedrooms or basements that must have windows that can open to provide an egress require escape routes.
Remember, it should be capable of opening without any knowledge, unique skill, special software, or hardware.
Bedroom Window Ventilation and Lighting
While artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation are possible to meet the needs of a bedroom, the room will certainly become a disheartening environment rather than a pleasant retreat from the world.
Instead, comply with the codes. There should be at least one window in the bedroom, and the total glass area of all windows should be at least 8% of the floor area for the minimum natural lighting and 4% of the floor area for the minimum ventilation.
An example of this would be if you have a 200 square feet bedroom area,
The required lighting for this area is 8% of the total bedroom floor area. The total lighting area = (200 x 8)/100 = 16 square feet
The required bedroom ventilation = (200 x 4)/100 = 8 square ft.
