What is the smallest size egress window?

Category: home and garden interior decorating
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The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5.7 square feet. The minimum egress window opening height is 24” high. The minimum egress window opening is 20” wide. * Multiple windows can be used to service a single area where one window does not meet these percentages of total floor area.



Hereof, what is the minimum size for a bedroom window?

The minimum window requirements are: At least 24” high. At least 20” wide. Minimum 5.7 square foot opening (width x height)

Furthermore, do I need egress windows on second floor? There is no minimum distance that a window must be from the floor, even for second-story windows. To meet code, the open area of an egress window must have a minimum width of 20 inches and a minimum height of 24 inches, plus the opening must be a minimum of 5.7 square feet.

Just so, what size double hung window egress?

Minimum size double-hung egress window. Double-hung windows—with vertically sliding sashes that always fill more than one-half the opening area—have to be pretty big to meet egress requirements. The overall size of this “smallest” double-hung egress window is 14.85 sq.

What is the minimum size of an egress window in Ontario?

15 inches

37 Related Question Answers Found

Can I have a bedroom with no window?

Without a window it can't be classed as a bedroom by building regulations as theres no means of fire escape.

Can you call a room a bedroom without a closet?

Contrary to popular belief, a room does not need a closet to be considered a bedroom. if you ask authorities in building departments about the requirements, you are likely to hear about all of the conditions that must exist in order for a bedroom to be called a bedroom—none of which involve a closet.

What size window is needed for egress?

Basement Egress Window Requirements
The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5.7 square feet. The minimum egress window opening height is 24” high. The minimum egress window opening is 20” wide.

What are the legal requirements for a bedroom?

The regulations prescribe minimum standards for a bedroom.

There are a few exceptions eg for apartments but unless those exceptions apply, to be called a bedroom, a minimum bedroom size must:
  • Have a minimum width of 1.8 metres.
  • Have an area of not less than 6 m2.

Do you need a window in a bedroom?


Answer: If the “bedroom” does not have a window, it cannot be considered a bedroom. Well, technically a bedroom should have at least two methods of egress, which means in addition to the interior door it must have either a properly-sized window or a second door to the exterior.

What are normal window sizes?

Picture Windows
Standard widths are 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet and 8 feet. Standard heights in whole numbers range from 2 feet tall all the way 8 feet tall, with additional window heights of 18 inches, 52 inches, 54 inches and 62 inches.

Do all rooms in a house need a window?

An effective means of egress in the event of a fire is the reason there are window requirements on the bedroom space. Technically, a bedroom must have two means of egress, so a second door will suffice, but it must open to the outside, which makes the exterior door a less practical solution. Not any window will do.

What makes a window an egress window?

An Egress window is a window that is required in specific locations in a dwelling and must meet specific size requirements to qualify as an egress window. It is intended to provide an emergency means of exiting a dwelling. Safety codes require egress windows in bedrooms or habitable space in the basement.

What are the egress requirements?

For determining egress window sizes and placement, the International Building Code holds that every bedroom must contain at least one egress window. It must be at least 5.7 square feet, that is at least 20 inches wide by 24 inches high, with an opening no higher than 44 inches from the floor.

How deep does an egress window well need to be?


Egress wells must accommodate the full opening of the egress window. The bottom area must be 9-feet square. The dimensions can be no less than 36x36-inches. A ladder or steps must be permanently placed if the well is deeper than 44-inches.

How do you calculate an egress window?

Measuring for an Egress Well
  1. Measure from the maximum grade level (ground level) down to the floor level of the basement.
  2. Subtract 28" from dimension A to get the minimum required height of the Egress Window Well.
  3. The minimum width of the Egress Well is determined by the size of the Egress Window you would like to use.

What is the clear opening of a window?

With the window open, net clear opening is the size of that open space. 2. 2003 IRC Section R202 Grade Floor Opening is defined as "A window or other opening located such that the sill height of the opening is not more than 44 inches above or below the finished ground level adjacent to the opening".

What is the clear opening co required for a residential egress window and why?

The sill height shall not be greater than 44" off the floor. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24" and the minimum net clear opening width shall be 20".

Minimum width/height requirements for emergency escape and rescue windows (inches)
Width Height
34.0 24.5
34.5 24.0

What is the egress?

1 : the action or right of going or coming out. 2 : a place or means of going out or exiting — compare ingress. egress.

What is a double hung window?


A double-hung window has two stacked, moveable sashes (the part of the window that holds the pane). This allows the window to slide down from the top and up from the bottom meaning both sashes can open at the same time.

What does casement window mean?

A casement is a window that is attached to its frame by one or more hinges at the side. They are used singly or in pairs within a common frame, in which case they are hinged on the outside. Windows hinged at the top are referred to as awning windows, and ones hinged at the bottom are called hoppers.

How big does a basement window have to be?

Building codes require a basement bedroom has a window for fire escape purposes. At a minimum the bottom of the window must be no more than 44 inches from the floor and that the actual opening be a minimum of 20 inches wide and 24 inches high.