Basement Egress Window Well Requirements

Egress window well code requirements.

Basement egress window well requirements.

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. The sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the ground. Let s be honest during a fire stairs could be blocked or damaged. Since you re below ground you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction.

Windows can be of various total size but their free areas when open must be at least 5 7 square feet. The egress well must not interfere with the egress window fully opening. Basement egress windows must also include window wells that provide enough clearance to allow escape. Basement egress windows have special requirements.

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. Innovative step design aids egress and can be landscaped with plants or flowers for added visual enhancement. What s an egress window. And every basement bedroom whether existing or added is required by code to have an egress window.

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. Adds natural daylight and meets building code requirements for emergency egress in finished basement areas. Width x projection egress ladders and or steps. Scapewel window wells planter design.

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. If a window is more than 44 inches from the ground a ladder or steps at least 12 inches wide must be present. 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. An easy to open window that serves as an emergency exit for below ground living space of any kind.

The distance from the egress window to the back of the egress well must be at least 36 the minimum area of the egress well must be 9 square feet. Egress window and well requirements. 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. However if your basement has habitable finished rooms building codes require it to have egress windows or other means of egress patio door etc.