All you need to know about Egress window Installation or replacement
Egress windows by definition are any window that is designed for escape, they are very easy to access and climb out of in case of an emergency. These window types must be large enough to get out of a home, and they have to be easy to open and close when necessary. Some window types that can be used as an egress window include casement windows, double-hung windows, skylight windows, and a few other window types as long as they follow the IRC law requirements described below. Egress windows are often installed in basements as a safety precaution in case of fire and you must have one in all bedrooms as well.
Lyon, Inc. will make sure that your new egress window complies with the Indiana egress window code. Our egress expert installer will provide you with an assessment of the property and the best solution to install your egress window. The easiest way to get your project completed is by an experienced installer and a high-quality window that is guaranteed to be a code-compliant egress window.
Egress windows are necessary to provide inhabitants with an emergency escape point in the event of a fire or other life threatening event in your home. Egress windows are not required in all rooms of the home, however—only in the rooms where people sleep. If you have a basement in your home that contains bedrooms or is otherwise used as a bedroom itself, egress windows are required by code. If your home construction pre-dates these code requirements, you may not be required to retrofit your home in the event that you replace your windows, but requirements vary from place to place, so be sure to check with your local building code office before planning your window replacement project.
The window must be openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge.
If there is more than one sleeping room in a basement, a means of egress is required in each sleeping room.
It must provide an unobstructed opening with a minimum area of 5.7 sq. ft. (This requirement drops to 5 sq. ft. for grade floor or below grade openings).
The height of the clear opening must be at least 24″ and the width must be at least 20″.
The sill height must not be more than 44″ above the floor.
If the sill height is below grade, the window must have a window well.
If required, the window well must be at least 9 sq. ft. in an area with a horizontal projection and a width of at least 36″ each.
Window wells deeper than 44″ must have permanent steps or a ladder that do not impede the opening of the window.
An egress window will need to meet a specific window size requirement to abide by International Residential Code laws. Here is a break down of what qualifies as an egress window in terms of size by the IRC code for your home: A standard egress window size should have a minimum opening of 20 inches in width and 24 inches in height. It should allow for a person to easily exit in case of emergency. The minimum window opening size should be 5 sq. ft if on the ground floor, or 5 ft 7 in. square feet for any other floor.
Egress windows are not typically required in a basement unless that basement is being used on a regular basis. For instance, if you put a bedroom in the basement then it would require egress windows to be installed. However, many homeowners choose to install an egress window in their basement regardless of regulations for increased safety for their entire home. For a basement window installation, the type of window isn’t the only consideration that has to be made. A new egress window won’t do you any good if it is blocked by shrubbery or dirt on the outside. That is why a specific window-well must be installed as well. The well has to offer enough space for the window to operate fully, and it must come with an egress ladder or egress stairs to climb out if it is more than 44 inches deep.
