Donald Hester
Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
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509-670-9572
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Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #647
WSDA#80050
InterNachi Member #NACHI10022401
509-670-9572
Contact Us
DonHester's blog
Emergency Egress and Rescue openings per the 2015 IRC
Submitted by DonHester on Sun, 01/22/2017 - 11:06.
Emergency Egress and Rescue openings (Windows or Doors) per the 2015 IRC
Wenatchee Home Inspections
The rules on the openable area of an emergency egress window (officially an Emergency Egress and Rescue opening) for sleeping rooms (they have also removed the term “bedrooms” from the code) have changed slightly with the 2015 IRC.
In many jurisdictions the rule was that the opening had to meet the 5.7 sq ft rule to meet the requirement with an exception allowed for grade level window which it would only need to be 5.0 sq ft. This has been interpreted in most areas as those windows that exit out to the yard or court and not more than 6 feet above it.
Grade Level- Grade refers to the construction level relative to the ground around it. Below grade is below ground level, on grade is at ground level, and above grade is above ground level.
So the standard requirement was that all emergency escape and rescue openings requirements will have: The bottom of the opening shall not be more than 44 inches above the floor with a minimum net clear opening height of 24” and width of 20” and a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (or 5.0 at grade level via exception). You should note that in order to meet the minimum clear opening of 5.7 square feet, either the width or height, or both, must exceed the minimum dimensions required.
The 2015 IRC now has modified the window opening exception to now include those windows below grade. So those windows in basement sleeping rooms that are below grade will now only be required to meet the 5.0 sq ft requirement and not the 5.7 sq ft requirement as required before.
Here is how the code have changed- (Underline was added to show the change)
2012 IRC-
R310.1.1 Minimum opening area.
All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.530 m2).
Exception: Grade floor openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5 square feet (0.465 m2).
2015 IRC-
R310.2 Emergency escape and rescue openings.
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have minimum dimensions as specified in this section.
R310.2.1 Minimum opening area.
Emergency and escape rescue openings shall have a net clear opening of not less than 5.7 square feet (0.530 m2). The net clear opening dimensions required by this section shall be obtained by the normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening from the inside. The net clear height opening shall be not less than 24 inches (610 mm) and the net clear width shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm).
Exception: Grade floor or below grade openings shall have a net clear opening of not less than 5 square feet
Below are some historic codes for emergency egress and rescue openings requirements.
BOCA: Building Officials Code Administrators
The National Building Code, Chapter 10, Section 1010.4 (1999)
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
ICBO: International Council of Building Officials
The Uniform Building Code, Chapter 3, Section 310.4 (1999)
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
CABO: Council of American Building Officials
The One and Two Family Dwelling Code, Chapter 3, Section 310 (1995)
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 22 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
SBCCI: Southern Building Code Congress International
The Standard Building Code, Chapter 10, Section 1005.4 (1999)
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows
may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
ICC: International Code Council
The International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings,
Chapter 3, Section R310 (2000 (first edition))
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows
may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
FBC: Florida Building Code
Florida Building Code 2001, Chapter 10, Section 1005.4 (2001)
Sill height shall not exceed 44 inches above the floor.
Minimum net clear opening shall be 5.7 square feet; exception – grade level windows
may have a minimum clear opening of 5 square feet.
Minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches.
Minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches.
“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”
George Washington
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
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