The purpose of an egress window is to be used as an escape route in the event of an emergency. While they have additional benefits that come with other types of windows too, those are bonuses added onto their main function. If you’re considering making your basement into an additional living space, you’ll be required to add or expand egress windows that aren’t up to the current safety regulations. This is because the purpose of an egress window is to make a livable space safer, so that if something happens, like a house fire, there’s an easily accessible emergency exit for anyone in the basement.
The Requirements For Egress Windows
Egress windows don’t have the same codes everywhere, which is why it’s important to work with professionals like Peak Windows who will be able to find the exact safety codes for your area. Since the purpose of an egress window is to be used as an emergency exit, in general, they must have at a minimum:
- At least 20 inches for the width
- At least 24 inches for the height
- At least 5.7 square feet for the opening
- And a sill that is no more than 44 inches above the floor
The reasoning for these requirements is that egress windows need to be big enough for a fully grown adult to be able to get out through and for emergency personnel with all of their equipment to be able to get into your home through. As such, in order to fulfill the purpose of an egress window, not only are there minimum requirements in regards to measurements, but there are ones for how they open and the area around them.
Egress windows need to be able to open from the inside, and since the purpose of an egress window is that people can get out and through them, there cannot be any bars or screens blocking their opening. Additionally, they must be able to be opened all the way and have a clear surrounding area, in order to make getting out of them as easy as possible.
Many older homes that have egress windows don’t meet these minimum requirements. That’s because basements didn’t used to be used as living areas, but rather just as a storage space. As such, if they have egress windows, they’re usually too small. If you have an older home like this and you want to transform your basement into a liveable space, you’ll be required to update your egress windows in order to meet the current safety regulations.
Benefits Of Egress Windows
While the purpose of an egress window is to provide escape routes for emergencies, that’s not their sole benefit. Some of the other benefits of egress windows include:
- Light And Ventilation
Basements have a reputation for being cold and dark. Egress windows allow natural light and fresh air into your basement, which makes it more comfortable and also saves you money on your energy bills.
- Additional Living Space
Since egress windows provide light and ventilation in addition to their main purpose, they allow you to add living space to your home. If you’re looking to expand the square footage of living areas in your home, egress windows allow you to renovate your basement through putting in bedrooms or offices or home gyms or an additional living room or whatever else have you.
- Increased Home Value
Because egress windows make your home more comfortable, provide additional living spaces, and increase its overall safety, they also make your home more marketable and valuable. Not only do egress windows benefit you for your own living space and comfort, but they’ll also benefit you in the future, should you ever decide to sell your home.
Do You Need An Egress Window?
As we’ve mentioned, the purpose of an egress window is to give an emergency exit to a living space in your basement. If your basement does not have egress windows and you want to turn it into a living area, then yes, you will need to add egress windows. In other cases, you may already have egress windows, but not know whether or not you need more or if your current ones are up to code. You can contact your local building inspector in order to get the code requirements for your area and then measure accordingly.
You may be fine with the egress windows you have, or you may need to have them expanded. Regardless of whether you need to add or expand egress windows, Peak Windows can do that for you. Contact us today and one of our trained professionals can come out and give you a quote for your egress window job!