What might surprise you the most is that the fire code does not necessarily require a window in the bedroom itself. It covers such things as square footage ceiling height electrical outlets lighting and ventilation closets and emergency exits. Sample code requirements for finished concrete basements.
Meeting egress window code.
Bedroom in basement code. The following requirements are meant as a guideline which may apply to most simple residential. May 21 2020. By todd fratzel on basements design. Finished basement bedroom egress requirements.
The international residential code irc which is updated every three years catalogues the requirements for a bedroom. At a minimum the bottom of the window must be no more than 44 inches from the floor and that the actual opening be a minimum of 20 inches wide and 24 inches high. But for purposes of meeting code a basement bedroom requires a legal egress window an escape route in case of fire. It is meant as a guideline only.
To meet building code an egress window must be easy to open and big enough for escape or for a firefighter to climb into the house. Egress and basement windows 1 bed at landmark 81 code l81q basement egress window requirements bedroom in the basement add home value how to finish a basement onbasement bedroom windows sizes requirements or codebasement building codes 101basement window requirements what you need to know before addingbasement window requirements what you continue reading. All building codes address a means of egress as part of life safety measures meant to protect occupants in case of emergencies like a fire. The international residential code irc requires.
The following information is supplied as a guideline of what may be encountered as far as local building codes are concerned. Skip to content. Otherwise the space isnt safe and cant be considered a bedroom for resale purposes. The code is a model meant to be adopted by local governments and about 90 percent of communities in the united states have done so but some municipalities amend it so the rules may vary from state to state.
Basically bedroom windows must be large enough and low enough to enable emergency escape and the window size must meet minimum standards to privide natural light and adequate ventilation. Building codes require a basement bedroom has a window for fire escape purposes. For emergency escape the. Certainly it is one option for meeting the egress.
These standards can vary in their specifics depending on which building code is used in your area but the general intent is the same regardless of the code that is in force. Actual building codes may vary greatly depending upon region state and city. Converting your basement is like finding new space fully equipped with plumbing and heat. Emergency escape and rescue.
Oh dont sigh at the. Egress for buildings is defined as a means of escape and rescue. Ive stood in many basement bedrooms with a buyer or seller talking about the fact that there is no closet or that the window may or may not be large enough to call the room a bedroom or to legally call it a bedroom. Before you begin your remodeling however youll need to check local codes for safety exits or egress.
