Attic Egress Window Requirements

Basement egress windows have special requirements.

Attic egress window requirements.

Attic egress openings must. The egress window must have a glass area of not less than 8 of the total floor area of room s for which it is servicing to allow the minimum amount of sufficient natural light. Since the staircase to the attic can act as a chimney for the fire to quickly spread it s necessary to have a secondary point of egress or exit. Egress laws that call for at least one window in these rooms typically require the following.

The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high. Have an egress point. Attics are the worst place to be in a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. This would imply that some egress windows are expected to be more than 15 or 20 ft.

Make sure the basement window well has enough area to move around in and if the well is especially deep make sure you have a ladder attached to it for an easy. The windowsill cannot be more than 44 inches off the floor. Having said that there are some broad standards dictated by the international residential code irc. Have a minimum net opening area of at least 5 7 square feet.

The window must open a minimum width of 20 inches. In general the means of egress shall not narrow in the direction of travel. Stipulations placed on the exit discharge include a minimum width 44 inches or the width of the exit clear ceiling heights 8 feet and a prescribed slope of 1 12 or less. The minimum egress window opening is 20 wide.

Window wells greater than 44 inches in depth requires a permanently fixed ladder or steps to provide access. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. A fixed stair or ramp is required on an attic that meets the habitable attic criteria unless a door directly to the exterior is installed in the space. Since you re below ground you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction.

The clear opening must add up to 5 7 square feet. Have a minimum opening height of at least 24 inches. Irc r310 1 requires all sleeping rooms to have emergency escape and rescue openings however i think the irc is limited to 3 story residences. Ibc 1029 1 requires sleeping rooms below the 4th story to have emergency escape and rescue openings.

Have a minimum opening width of at least 20 inches. Habitable attics require a vertical access and emergency escape and rescue opening. The window must open a minimum height of 24 inches. Vertical access can be a fixed internal stair ramp or exterior stair.