Egress Window Well Code Requirements

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.

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 sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the ground. This guide reviews egress window requirements for basements and upper floors as well as the different types of egress windows. Windows can be of various total size but their free areas when open must be at least 5 7 square feet.

Egress window well code requirements. Egress window and well requirements. Big savings on the exceptional line of wellcraft kits including the 2060 2062 6700 and the 5 section 5600. Taking its name from the act of departure an egress window is designed to provide an emergency means of leaving a dwelling.

Egress ladders and or steps are required on window wells deeper than 44 and. 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. There you ll find details on building code requirements for basement windows for egress ventilation and natural daylight. Based upon your location in the united states your state county may have different requirements when it comes to basement egress and emergency escape codes.

Building codes in many areas require egress windows as a matter of home safety. Basement egress windows have special 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. We have compiled many resources from states and local governments to give you a great starting point to find which irc building codes you should adhere by.

The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened. 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. The egress well must not interfere with the egress window fully opening. Width x projection egress ladders and or steps.

The primary rules for designing a window well are the code requirements for an egress window the bottom of an egress window well must be at least 3 x 3 ft the well can t interfere with opening the window and you have to provide a permanent ladder if the walls are more than 44 in. 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. R310 2 3 1 ladder and steps. 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.

Terracing our well eliminates the ladder requirement.