Basement access windows

The grade on the opposite side is set at floor level for the basement. The daylight side of the basement is often constructed as a framed wall rather than a poured foundation. Ordinary patio or entrance doors are then installed to provide access. In some cases, a home might be built with a partially exposed basement. This allows basement spaces to have large windows, making them suitable for living space. This type of basement offers emergency access through windows but generally relies on sunken exterior stairwells for direct access.

Gregory Hanson. Please enter the following code:. The most common basement egress window are slider windows which come in sizes of 48" - 72" wide x 48" high. With the 48" wide x 48" high being the most popular and which come in most of the Complete Egress Kits. Rising in popularity are the in-swing casement style windows for egress.

These are great for when you are taking out a small, non-egress basement window. For example, a square-foot basement bedroom would require an Egress window with a minimum opening of 12 square feet and a minimum glass size of 24 square feet. This standard is intended to promote natural light and ventilation.

When rebuilding their basement, many homeowners use casement windows. This style can be modified to fulfill these specifications, and it opens with hinged sashes that create a clear escape space. In the majority of circumstances, the answer is yes.

A finished basement project must include an Egress window if any portion of the space will be utilized as a bedroom or if another habitable space such as a family room does not already have a door or an Egress window. If the basement is to be separated into rooms, each bedroom and usable space must have its own Egress window.

Even if you currently have windows in your basement, they may not meet existing Egress window regulations. The International Residential Code was updated in ; earlier, the required opening was 5 square feet, not 5. If a window is installed beneath a deck or porch, it must have a clearance of at least 48 in.