When Should an Egress Window Be Used?

Bedroom

• When you add a bedroom to a house, the International Residential Code requires that the new bedroom contain an egress window. Since most local building codes follow the IRC specifications, you will usually need an egress window for a bedroom addition, regardless of your location. The requirement for the window applies to any part of the house you plan to add a bedroom to, including the attic. A dormer that meets or surpasses the IRC code requirements qualifies as an egress window.

Basement

• When you remodel an unfinished basement, the IRC requires the addition of an egress window for the new habitable space, as well. In addition to an egress window for the main space, every sleeping room added must have its own egress window. Most older basements were not built with egress windows, so adding one or more of them to your remodel may create extra expenses. However, the increased safety for you and your family can justify the cost.

Light

• Another, less serious reason to add a large egress window to your home is simply to brighten an otherwise dark and dank space. A window used to let in light, in addition to allowing for escape in case of fire, should be larger than the minimum requirements of the IRC for best results. As the best natural light comes from the east and south, you want to put your window on a wall facing either of these directions, if possible.

Requirements

• The IRC has minimum requirements that every egress window must meet to pass inspection. At the time of publication, most states in the U.S. have adopted the IRC code, but the regulations may vary in some localities, according to "The Washington Examiner." The window must permit every occupant to exit the room and a fully equipped firefighter to enter. According to Lynn Underwood, the building official for Arlington County, Virginia, the minimum height of the window's open space must be at least 24 inches, while the minimum width is 20 inches. The opening must contain 5.7 square feet of space, and the windowsill must lie no more than 44 inches from the floor.