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City otHoptcins • inspections • nuumng inspections • winuows 1 ngroa5 vv tuuwa H6 <br />overall height. <br />This height requirement makes it undesirable for most basement egress situations. <br />Awning windows are problerpatic. Since the <br />opened sash prevents escape from most window <br />wells, they're unsuitable for basement egress. <br />And with most awning windows, the center <br />opening hardware and height don't meet egress <br />requirements. Some manufacturers offer models <br />with special detachable operators that meet <br />egress requirements. <br />Why don't my windows meet egress <br />requirements? <br />Some older homes were built before there were <br />any egress window requirements. Many more homes were built when the egress <br />window net free opening size was 5 sq. ft. Yet even newer homes often lack proper <br />egress Windows. Attics and basements were often legally remodeled into family rooms <br />or offices (which didn't require egress Windows) then later converted into bedrooms <br />(which now do require them). When bedrooms are added to basements without the <br />knowledge of inspectors <br />and without the requisite <br />egress window, they <br />create a dangerous <br />underground tretrap. <br />During remodeling, <br />homeowners often <br />unwittingly replace large <br />egress windows with <br />smaller, non - egress <br />windows. And while the <br />code will require egress <br />windows be installed when <br />bedrooms are added on, <br />they won't necessarily <br />dictate that windows in <br />existing bedrooms be <br />enlarged to egress size; <br />its simply too difficult to <br />monitor every situation. <br />Required or not, egress <br />Windows are crucial <br />lifesaving equipment. If a <br />room has even the remote <br />possibility of later <br />becoming a bedroom, <br />include an egress size window. <br />Basement Egress Windows <br />wawa <br />Basement egress windows present an added <br />challenge. Besides the height, vvidfh and <br />overall square - footage requirements that the <br />Window must meet, there are certain <br />requirements for the windowwell surrounding <br />the window. <br />Window wells must:r' <br />• Allow the rescue window opening to be fully <br />opened. <br />P <br />• Provide 9 sq, ft. of "Floor area," with a <br />x <br />minimum dimension of 36 in. in width and in <br />sxafrsw <br />. <br />length. <br />t toS&A <br />m <br />• Contain a permanently affixed ladder or <br />°.'•; <br />steps for climbing out if the window well <br />depth exceeds 44 inches in depth. The <br />ladder must be at least 12 in. wide and <br />project <br />no less than 3 in. from the window <br />M11. te +�. <br />well. <br />It can't be obstruciad by the open <br />- it <br />window or encroach on the required <br />„,.:„ „1; c Prr nnc.M,,;t ii7o /w nd�ws /eeresswindow °s.htuil 7/20/2005 <br />