Egress Windows

[airman89]

I’m looking for some advice on egress windows for bedrooms in a new home build. I have to meet IRC egress and I’m wanting to get the bedroom walls framed but the building codes department hasn’t been too helpful with this.

I know the opening of the window has to be 24” minimum height and 20” minimum width and no less than 5.7 sq ft. With that being said I have no way to get that measurement until I order the windows and measure it in person because Home Depot or Menards do not show the actual openings measurements on their website.

So I have two options either order massive windows that I know will meet egress or order windows that I hope will work and if they don’t, return them. I don’t want to do either…

The downstairs is already framed but they never said I had requirements for those windows. I have 32”x60” single hung windows downstairs and was hoping to install 30”x54” single hung upstairs in the bedrooms but it looks like they’re too small and I would need a 36”x60” (larger than our first floor windows…) or larger to meet egress codes.

Am I missing something? These are pretty large windows. We have never had windows that size even in the living rooms of houses we’ve live in let alone the bedrooms. Is there a smaller single/double hung window (not casement) that we can use?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[PCustoms]

What brand windows?

Every spec sheet I have seen list egress sizes along with RO size.

 

[airman89]

The one I’m looking at now is a 36”x60” Crestline Quick series from Menards. I was looking at Jeld Wen also, and American Craftsman from Home Depot. I’m ok with any single hung, gridless window with a nailing flange. How do you find the specs sheets? I’m using my phone and maybe I’m over looking spec sheets? I’ve been looking at Menards or Home Depot.

So is a 36”x60” window really the smallest possible single hung bedroom window that could meet egress?

Thank you

 

[PCustoms]

The one I’m looking at now is a 36”x60” Crestline Quick series from Menards. I was looking at Jeld Wen also, and American Craftsman from Home Depot. I’m ok with any single hung, gridless window with a nailing flange. How do you find the specs sheets? I’m using my phone and maybe I’m over looking spec sheets? I’ve been looking at Menards or Home Depot.

So is a 36”x60” window really the smallest possible single hung bedroom window that could meet egress?

Thank you

No offense, but you might want to look into higher quality windows on a new build.

I looked at HD at didn't see anything. Those windows are ply gem, I didn't see anything there either.

When I shopped Marvin/Anderson, each series had a stock size chart that clearly demoted where the break over to easement windows was.

It's a pretty basic calculation, and you may be correct in the size you came up with. Modern easement windows are designed for a firefighter in full SCBA gear to gain entry and exit with a person. The size requirements have definitely increased, for example my 1985 build doesn't have easement windows to current requirements.

@NUTTSGT any additional insight?

 

[PCustoms]

Here you go:

https://homedepot.plygemwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ac_70_double-hung_r1.pdf

 

[loganb]

If you go into any store that sells windows and have them quote it, the quote should have it right there if it meets egress or not. A moderately competent individual can also just give you a quote for the smallest X product type that meets egress. Every manufacturer will have in their size tables what the standard sizes that meet egress are and the software can tell for special sizes as it's all formula driven.

Most of the time for egress windows in window wells a casement is used as it allows a smaller hole/shallower well etc etc to be used and meet the requirements. Doesn't mean you can't use a hung window, just means that the opening will be bigger.

 

[TRWham]

The requirement is for 5.7 square feet (or 5.0 for grade level) of clear opening. We have had to change window specs on several projects when the architect blew right past this. This applies to any space that is legally considered a bedroom (has a window and a closet) not just those that are used as such.

Only one window in each room is required, so you might be able to use a side window to meet the egress specs and keep the street facing windows uniform.

 

[finn]

I just looked at the Menards site. If you select a window, and scroll down to to specifications, there’s a line item “Meets IRC Egress Requirements” and a yes-no entry.

I only checked the Jen Weld, but Menards is pretty consistent.

 

[larry4406]

I suggest the OP review section R310 of the IRC Code.

There are several gotchas to a proper egress window including minimum vertical and horizontal clear openings, minimum glazing area, maximum height from floor, etc.

2021 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE (IRC) | ICC DIGITAL CODES

ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

codes.iccsafe.org

 

[airman89]

Thanks for all the input, it’s highly appreciated. I would like higher quality windows in our new build but the budget isn’t liking it at $400-500 per window. (It’s a 4200 sq ft Barndominium with a lot of windows.) I can’t stomach windows being half the cost of the entire shell.

after looking into it, it looks like the 36”x60” window is the smallest that I can get away with for the bedrooms. I guess the upstairs windows will just have to be 4” wider than the first floor windows (32”x60”).

Now a single hung 32”x60” should meet the 5 sq ft opening right for first floor requirements? I see online that it doesn’t not meet egress irc but I assume that’s bedroom egress not first floor?

 

[rlitman]

If you go into any store that sells windows and have them quote it, the quote should have it right there if it meets egress or not. A moderately competent individual can also just give you a quote for the smallest X product type that meets egress. Every manufacturer will have in their size tables what the standard sizes that meet egress are and the software can tell for special sizes as it's all formula driven.

Most of the time for egress windows in window wells a casement is used as it allows a smaller hole/shallower well etc etc to be used and meet the requirements. Doesn't mean you can't use a hung window, just means that the opening will be bigger.

Yes, any window manufacturer or salesperson should be able to tell you whether or not the window meets egress requirements. You still need to meet the sill height requirements as well as well sizing if it is a basement egress (plus there's the issue with falling into a deep well that has a ladder to get out.

Egress requirements don't care about the size of the glass. They care about the clear opening size. Because of how a casement swings, only about 80% of the pane moves out of the way. With a single or double hung, less than half the "opening" is free. A European tilt-turn that swings in for egress clears 100% of the opening, so you can get away with a smaller in-swing tilt-turn than a casement.

In my case, that made a huge difference. If I went with a casement, I would have had to use a taller window which means a lower sill height, which means a deeper window well, and just a few inches here means a lot. By using a tilt-turn, I was able to keep the well depth less than 30", so there was no need for a ladder or fall protection.

 

[jetnow1]

Keep in mind that the code allows you to use the measurements of the opening with the sash removed, as long as no tools are needed to remove it.