Attic Egress Window

Since any staircase to the attic can act as a chimney for the fire to quickly spread it s necessary to have a secondary point of egress or exit.

Attic egress window.

Attics are the worst place to be in the event of a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5 7 square feet. V 2500 series white vinyl right handed sliding window with fiberglass mesh screen. A rose window is circular and decorative.

Attics that meet the size and ceiling height criteria of the habitable attic definition in chapter 2 are considered habitable. The minimum egress window opening is 20 wide. Egress is literally defined as a path out or to emerge and these terms directly apply to the design principles behind egress windows. Attic ventilation natural lighting and aesthetic value.

Egress is defined as the act of coming or going out. The area of a window well shall not be less than 9 square feet with a horizontal length width of no less than 36 inches. An egress window is a window that is large enough according to local building codes to enter or exit a room during an emergency. Egress windows are usually required when finishing a basement or attic.

Since the staircase to the attic can act as a chimney for the fire to quickly spread it s necessary to have a secondary point of egress or exit. When the sill height of an egress window is located below grade common for egress windows provided for a basement a window well must be provided. Attic windows or roof windows are commonly installed for three main purposes. Two means of egress.

Egress window well code requirements. The egress window must have a glass area of not less than 8 of the total floor area of room s for which it is servicing to allow the minimum amount of sufficient natural light. Have an egress point. There are different types of new construction and replacement windows that are specially designed for attic installation.

The minimum egress window opening height is 24 high. In most codes this means an operable not fixed window to the outside or patio door. The 2009 and 2015 irc verbiage is similar and still applicable. Please be aware of the definition and egress requirements of a habitable attic as it relates to dwellings built from the 2012 irc.