
- #Fire escape window basement code#
- #Fire escape window basement professional#
- #Fire escape window basement windows#
But, says Nard, “Say you have a basement bedroom and an office which is not in the bedroom. For example, a basement that has no bedroom but has an office would need an emergency exit for the office. While that does not include spaces like bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage spaces, or utility spaces, it does include offices, recreation rooms, bedrooms, and home theaters. Let us help you create the basement you’ve always wanted.Marc Nard, ICC technical expert, further explains which spaces require emergency egress or exit openings, saying emergency exits are required in basement sleeping rooms or habitable space - defined as spaces used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. Our expert team has years of experience remodeling basements and installing Egress windows. Interested in finishing your home’s basement? Speak with the home improvement professionals at Breyer Construction. With the right design and installation, it can look great and bring in substantial natural light into your finished basement.
#Fire escape window basement professional#
It is recommended that you seek the advice of a professional whenever possible.Īlong with being a requirement, a basement Egress window is also a great way to add to the overall style of the home. Every project is unique and takes the homeowner’s needs into account.
#Fire escape window basement code#
While this directive is based on current code requirements, your local municipality may have additional requirements. It should be clearly visible from the outside, should it ever need to be accessed in an emergency. In several cases, if a window is placed underneath a deck or porch, it must have a clearance of at least 48 inches between the top of the window and bottom of the structure. The IRC was revised in 2006 previously, the required opening was 5 square feet, not 5.7 square feet.

If the basement will be divided into several rooms, each bedroom and/or habitable space must have a separate Egress window.Įven if your basement already has windows, they may not meet current Egress window requirements. A finished basement project must incorporate an Egress window if any portion of the space will be used as a bedroom, or if you are creating another habitable space (a family room, for example) that does not already have an Egress window or a door. Do I Need an Egress Window in My Basement? This style can be configured to meet these requirements and opens with hinged sashes that create a clear space through which to exit.
#Fire escape window basement windows#
Many homeowners opt for casement windows when remodeling their home’s basement.

This guideline is designed to maximize natural light and ventilation. For example, a 300-square-foot basement bedroom would need an Egress window with an opening of at least 12 square feet and a glass area of at least 24 square feet. The opening must measure at least 4 percent of the room’s square footage, with a glass area of at least 8 percent of the square footage. Other measurements vary depending on the square footage of the room where the Egress window will be installed.

