Egress windows are essential for basements that have been converted into living space. These windows are designed as an emergency exit for bedrooms within basements where, if the standard exit is blocked by fire, you can still exit safely.
Many homeowners convert basements into living space so they can rent this space, or use this space for a child, relative or friend to live in. This can be a recipe for disaster. Many people throughout the U.S. die each year in subterranean apartments because the staircase or other main exit was blocked by fire, and no other escape route was available.
Egress windows have special specifications. These windows must be at least 5.7 square feet in size, can be no more than 44 inches from the basement floor. These windows must be at least 20 inches wide (not including the frame), and must have a window well outside the exit that is no less than 36 inches deep. This window well must not be more than 44 inches high either, unless a ladder is added. The idea here is that you must be able to quickly exit the basement in case a fire were to break out, or if a fireman needed to enter during an emergency.
If you are planning to finish your basement so it can be used as living space, find out the local requirements so you can have peace of mind. Don’t let the people living in your basement, whether they are renters, nephews and nieces, or grandmothers, become a fire statistic. Safety of people living in subterranean apartments should never be compromised.
