Attic Egress Window Requirements

Having said that there are some broad standards dictated by the international residential code irc.

Attic egress window requirements.

The trickiest part is the window egress. Basement egress windows have special requirements. Since you re below ground you have to make sure that the window can still fully open without obstruction. 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.

To qualify a basement window as an egress you may also have to install window wells to enlarge windows and allow access. This would imply that some egress windows are expected to be more than 15 or 20 ft. The base of the well can be no more than 44 inches above the bedroom floor. Have an egress point.

The window must open a minimum height of 24 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. The clear opening must add up to 5 7 square feet. Ibc 1029 1 requires sleeping rooms below the 4th story to have emergency escape and rescue openings.

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. 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. The 2009 and 2015 irc verbiage is similar and still applicable. 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. Have a minimum opening height of at least 24 inches. When a door is being used to meet the egress requirements it must be either a side hinged door or a slider. The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high.

Attics are the worst place to be in a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. Attic egress openings must. Have a minimum net opening area of at least 5 7 square feet. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet.

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. Egress laws that call for at least one window in these rooms typically require the following. If the sill is below ground the window itself will need larger dimensions 9 square feet. Have a minimum opening width of at least 20 inches.