Attic Egress Window

Attic ventilation natural lighting and aesthetic value.

Attic egress window.

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. 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. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. An egress window is a window that is large enough according to local building codes to enter or exit a room during an emergency.

In most codes this means an operable not fixed window to the outside or patio door. Egress window well code requirements. A rose window is circular and decorative. Two means of egress.

Attics are the worst place to be in a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. Attics that meet the size and ceiling height criteria of the habitable attic definition in chapter 2 are considered habitable. They include skylights dormer windows rose windows and top hinged roof windows. Egress is literally defined as a path out or to emerge and these terms directly apply to the design principles behind egress windows.

Since any 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. Please be aware of the definition and egress requirements of a habitable attic as it relates to dwellings built from the 2012 irc. The minimum egress window opening is 20 wide. Attic windows or roof windows are commonly installed for three main purposes.

Attics are the worst place to be in the event of a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. In case of an emergency windows installed in any sleeping room must pass strict codes so that occupants can exit and rescue specialists can enter the bedroom. 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. Have an egress point.

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. Egress windows are usually required when finishing a basement or attic. V 2500 series white vinyl right handed sliding window with fiberglass mesh screen. The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high.