Code Requirements for an Egress Window

When Egress Windows Are Required

• Rooms used for sleeping in a home must have at least one exterior exit. For basements and attics, egress windows are usually the means of emergency exit if there is no door to the outside. In case of an emergency, egress windows must be large enough to serve as escape routes from the basement or attic.

When Egress Windows Are Not Needed

• You might be able to avoid installing an egress window in a room used for sleeping and still have your home meet the code standards. If the room has an exterior door, you need not install an egress. If you are remodeling an apartment in a high-rise building of 75 feet or taller, you do not need an egress window. Remodeling basements with a ceiling lower than 80 inches and an area of less than 200 square feet and no habitable space do not need an egress window, according to "The Architect's Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design," by Edward Allen.

Height from Floor

• The height of an egress window cannot be greater than 44 inches from the floor to the windowsill. This sets it low enough to serve as an exit for an adult or large child, according to Allen.

Window Dimensions

• The dimensions of the window include the length and width of the window and the size of the opening. The window cannot be narrower than 20 inches or shorter than 22 inches. Because it is an egress, the window must be operational and be able to open. With the window fully opened, measure the size of the opening. Egress windows meeting code have an opening no smaller than 5.7 square inches, according to "Ortho's Home Improvement Encyclopedia Problem Solving A to Z," by Charles G. Wing.