Basement Egress Window Well Requirements

Basement egress windows must also include window wells that provide enough clearance to allow escape.

Basement egress window well requirements.

An easy to open window that serves as an emergency exit for below ground living space of any kind. Egress ladders and or steps are required on window wells deeper than 44 and. Adds natural daylight and meets building code requirements for emergency egress in finished basement areas. 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.

Width x projection egress ladders and or steps. If a window is more than 44 inches from the ground a ladder or steps at least 12 inches wide must be present. And every basement bedroom whether existing or added is required by code to have an egress window. The egress well must not interfere with the egress window fully opening.

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. 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. Windows can be of various total size but their free areas when open must be at least 5 7 square feet. Scapewel window wells planter design.

Egress window and well requirements. Innovative step design aids egress and can be landscaped with plants or flowers for added visual enhancement. 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. Basement egress windows have special requirements.

Individual states and municipalities may have their own specifications for egress windows. The sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the ground. 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. 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.

Egress window well code requirements. Since you re below ground you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction. The horizontal area of the window well needs to be a minimum of nine square feet with a minimum horizontal projection and vertical width of 36 inches. What s an egress window.