Blog image_Egress Escape and Rescue Window
Blog, Home Education, Home Safety

Egress or Escape and Rescue?

We have many older homes here in the Spokane area with basements that have been converted to finished living spaces. Very rarely are the windows part of that upgrade. I often hear people say, “This bedroom doesn’t have an egress window” or “Every bedroom needs two forms of egress”. These statements are not entirely correct.

Building code only requires on form of egress (a clear path out of the building) per bedroom. So where is the confusion? When people say ‘Egress’ they are usually referring to ‘Emergency Escape and Rescue’. The intent of an emergency escape and rescue opening is not only to escape but for rescue services to enter! Egress is definitely a lot easier to say, which might be why we default to using this term.

Building Code Definitions:

  • Egress: The action of going out of or leaving a place. 
  • Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening: An operable exterior window, door or similar device that provides for a means of escape and access for rescue in the event of an emergency.

Here are a few modern requirements for emergency escape and rescue openings:

  • The sill height of the opening shall not be more than 44” above the floor
  • If the sill height is below the grade elevation a window well should be provided
    • The window well should be at least 3’ x 3’ to allow the window to open all the way
    • If the window well is deeper than 44” a ladder should be present
  • If there is a deck or porch above the opening there must be 3’ of clearance
  • The opening should be a minimum of 5.7 sq ft
  • The minimum height should be 24” with a minimum width of 20”
  • Opening must be operational from the inside of the home without tools or keys
  • Blog Image_Safe Escape Window Sizes
  • Blog Image_Egress Window Well
  • Blog Image_Egress safe escape and rescue window below a deck

So what does all this mean? Do we need to break out the measuring tape to ensure our opening meets all these measurements? NO! Think back the the intent and ask yourself can a person safely escape in case of an emergency and can rescue crews enter to get them out if needed.

In many of our older homes the answer to this question would be no. The window is either very high up on the wall, too small to even fit your shoulders through, or no longer opens. I often advise my clients to upgrade these windows or use with extreme caution if they plan to have a family member’s sleeping area in the basement.