emergency egress at bedrooms

[steve mcgown]

i observed windows at bedrooms that could not be opened. By code shouldn't at least one window have the capability of opening for emergency egress?

thanks un advance
steve

[Jerry Peck]

Yes, unless there is a door from the bedroom which opens directly to the outdoors.

[Rick Cantrell]

"i observed windows at bedrooms that could not be opened. By code shouldn't at least one window have the capability of opening for emergency egress?"

As Jerry said, Yes.
Also, any window that was designed to open, should be able to open. If it does not, you should report it.

[chris mcintyre]

i observed windows at bedrooms that could not be opened. By code shouldn't at least one window have the capability of opening for emergency egress?

thanks un advance
steve


A window with the "capability" to open does not = EERO

You did say windows and bedrooms, were all of the bedroom windows inoperable?

[John Dirks Jr]

Also, if one wants to comply with current code, the sill must be not highter than 44" from the floor.

[Fred Comb]

i observed windows at bedrooms that could not be opened. By code shouldn't at least one window have the capability of opening for emergency egress?

thanks un advance
steve

Steve, yes
Here's more info, but is specifically for MN: http://homeinspectionsofmn.com/publications/egress_windows.pdf Your state may vary.

Also, if that's a glass window in your photo, due to the proximity to the floor the window glass should be tempered, unless there is a guard across the lower part of the glass. IRC has specific info.

[Dave Calkins]

Also, if one wants to comply with current code, the sill must be not highter than 44" from the floor.

Not an issue in this photo. What might be at issue here would be to make sure that the glass is tempered. Around here any sill that is shorter than 18 inches from the finished floor has to be made with tempered glass.

[Darren Miller]

Around here any sill that is shorter than 18 inches from the finished floor has to be made with tempered glass.

Any glass? No matter the size of the window?

[chris mcintyre]

Around here any sill that is shorter than 18 inches from the finished floor has to be made with tempered glass.

I guess you can't have long widows in Portland if you want wood window sills. :D

[Brad Peterson]

Egress is required - but also all window less than 18" from floor need to be tempered glass for and I also recommend safety guards for child safety.

Brad - Tri-City Inspection Agency, LLC - Colorado

[Darren Miller]

but also all window less than 18" from floor need to be tempered glass
Brad - Tri-City Inspection Agency, LLC - Colorado

Is that for the state of Colorado or a city you work in?
Can you show me that requirement in writing?

Thanks

[James Duffin]

Here is what NC says about the 18". See Section 7...



R308.4 Hazardous locations.

The following shall be considered

specific hazardous locations for the purposes of glazing:
1. Glazing in swinging doors except jalousies.
2. Glazing in fixed and sliding panels of sliding door
assemblies and panels in sliding and bifold closet door
assemblies.
3. Glazing in storm doors.
4. Deleted
5. Glazing in doors and enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools,
saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs and showers.
Glazing enclosing these compartments where the bottom
exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches
(1524 mm) measured vertically above any standing or
walking surface.
6. Glazing, in an individual fixed or operable panel within
the same plane as a door where the nearest vertical edge
is within 24 inches (610 mm) of the door in a closed
position and whose bottom edge is less than 60 inches
(1524 mm) above the floor or walking surface.
7. Glazing in an individual fixed or operable panel, other
than those locations described in Items 5 and 6 above,
that meets all of the following conditions:
7.1. Exposed area of an individual pane larger than
9 square feet (0.836 m


2).

7.2. Bottom edge less than 18 inches (457 mm)
above the floor.
7.3. Top edge more than 36 inches (914 mm)
above the floor.
7.4. One or more walking surfaces within 36
inches (914 mm) horizontally of the glazing.


I

8. All glazing in railings regardless of an area or height
above a walking surface. Included are structural baluster
panels and nonstructural infill panels.
9. Glazing in walls and fences enclosing indoor and outdoor
swimming pools, hot tubs and spas where the bottom
edge of the glazing is less than 60 inches (1524 mm)
above a walking surface and within 60 inches (1524
mm) horizontally ofthe water's edge. This shall apply to
single glazing and all panes in multiple glazing.
10. Glazing in walls enclosing stairway landings or within
60 inches (1524 mm) ofthe top and bottom of stairways
in the direction of travel within 60 inches (1524 mm)
ahoye the walking surface.

[Jerry Peck]

Egress is required - but also all window less than 18" from floor need to be tempered glass for and I also recommend safety guards for child safety.

Brad - Tri-City Inspection Agency, LLC - Colorado

Brad,

What is being pointed out to you by others is that you stated "all window less than 18" from floor need to be tempered glass" and *all* windows less than 18" above the floor do not require safety glass - SOME windows do, the windows which are required to be safety glass are windows which meet ALL of the requirement, and that less than 18" above the walking surface is just *one of the requirements*, and it must meet *all* of the requirements to be required to be safety glass.

[Brad Peterson]

Good morning All

As I read the replies they all state an operable window/door is needed and that is correct. The work that allerts my attention is the work CODE. So may times others, thing we are code inspectors we are safety inspector and some time these two come close to being the same but if you are not a certified building inspector use that work cafefully.
I read my new code books and have been a builder for 35+ year and that word never shows up in my report.

Good luck - Brad / Tri-City Inspection Agency, LLC

[Cathy Anderson]

i observed windows at bedrooms that could not be opened. By code shouldn't at least one window have the capability of opening for emergency egress?

thanks un advance
steve
Are these bedrooms on a main floor? If they are than the emgerency exit would be one the doors not a window. If on a second level than yes window should open for emergency egress.

[H.G. Watson, Sr.]

Are these bedrooms on a main floor? If they are than the emgerency exit would be one the doors not a window. If on a second level than yes window should open for emergency egress.

HUH?

First of all if you actually look at the photo in the original post, you can see GRADE LEVEL through the window.

Second, the Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening from the sleeping room, be it a door to the outdoors or window opening to the outdoors IS the emergency egress. The interior door from the room itself "communicating" to the habital space and to the primary exit of the structure is not the "emergency exit" for a bedroom.

Third, where do you get this nonsense that a "main level" (can only guess that you mean grade level) sleeping room does not require an EERO, or one on a lower-than-"main level" would not require an EERO?

An EERO may be a door or a window but it must communicate directly to the outdoors and exit path from the sleeping room.

[Cathy Anderson]

HUH?

First of all if you actually look at the photo in the original post, you can see GRADE LEVEL through the window.

Second, the Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening from the sleeping room, be it a door to the outdoors or window opening to the outdoors IS the emergency egress. The interior door from the room itself "communicating" to the habital space and to the primary exit of the structure is not the "emergency exit" for a bedroom.

Third, where do you get this nonsense that a "main level" (can only guess that you mean grade level) sleeping room does not require an EERO, or one on a lower-than-"main level" would not require an EERO?

An EERO may be a door or a window but it must communicate directly to the outdoors and exit path from the sleeping room.
Yes you are right, I was just bored and thought I would try to get a rise out of someone, keep you on your toes, good job