Attic Egress Window Requirements

The 2009 and 2015 irc verbiage is similar and still applicable.

Attic egress window requirements.

Ibc 1029 1 requires sleeping rooms below the 4th story to have emergency escape and rescue openings. It states that all egress windows must have a minimum width of 20 inches a minimum height of 24 inches minimum clearing of 5 7 square feet when opened and maximum sill height of 44 inches from the floor. 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. The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high.

When a door is being used to meet the egress requirements it must be either a side hinged door or a slider. Basement egress windows have special requirements. Please be aware of the definition and egress requirements of a habitable attic as it relates to dwellings built from the 2012 irc. Having said that there are some broad standards dictated by the international residential code irc.

Attic egress openings must. The trickiest part is the window egress. The window must open a minimum height of 24 inches. The base of the well can be no more than 44 inches above the bedroom floor.

The window must open a minimum width of 20 inches. Attics that meet the size and ceiling height criteria of the habitable attic definition in chapter 2 are considered habitable. 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 clear opening must add up to 5 7 square feet.

To qualify a basement window as an egress you may also have to install window wells to enlarge windows and allow access. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. The minimum egress window opening is 20 wide. Also note that if a window is being used to meet the egress requirements in addition to the above the sill height of the window shall not be more than 44 inches above the finished floor.

If the sill is below ground the window itself will need larger dimensions 9 square feet. 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. 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. Since you re below ground you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction.

Have a minimum net opening area of at least 5 7 square feet. Egress laws that call for at least one window in these rooms typically require the following. Have a minimum opening height of at least 24 inches. Have a minimum opening width of at least 20 inches.