Egress Windows for Fire Safety
Egress: Basements and every sleeping room should have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening that opens directly onto a public street, public alley, yard or court. This standard is required because many deaths and injuries happen when occupants are asleep at the time of a house fire and the normal means of escape (through doors) are typically blocked.
Ideally, The sill height of the emergency escape and rescue opening should not be more than 44 inches above the floor. If the window has a sill height below ground level, a window well should be provided. The window well should have a horizontal area of at least 9 square feet, with a minimum horizontal projection and width of 36 inches (with the exception of a ladder encroachment into the required dimension). If an emergency escape window is located under a porch or deck, the porch or deck should allow the window to be fully opened and the escape path should be at least 3 feet high.
Egress Windows or Doors for Bedrooms – Minimum Requirements according to NBC 2015
1) Except where the suite is sprinklered, each bedroom or combination bedroom shall have at least one outside window or exterior door openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge and without the removal of sashes or hardware.
2) The window referred to must provide an unobstructed opening of not less than 0.35 m2 in area with no dimension less than 380 mm and maintain the required opening during an emergency without the need for additional support.
3) Where a window required opens into a window well, a clearance of not less than 760 mm shall be provided in front of the window.
4) Where the sash of a egress window swings towards the window well, the operation of the sash shall not reduce the clearance in a manner that
would restrict escape in an emergency.
5) Where a protective enclosure is installed over the window well, the enclosure shall be openable from the inside without the use of keys,tools or special knowledge of the opening mechanism.
You can’t be prepared to act in an emergency if you don’t have a plan and everybody knows what that plan is. Panic and fear can spread as quickly as a fire, so map out an escape route and a meeting place outdoors, and involve even the youngest family members so that everyone can work as a unit to make a safe escape.
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