You may have heard the term “egress window” bandied about in regards to bedrooms, but what exactly is an egress window? Think of egress as the opposite on ingress (meaning enter) so egress means exit. I don’t know about you, but most people exit bedrooms by using the door – unless you are a teenager or cat burglar. So really an egress window really provides secondary egress, or another method to get out in an emergency. Think you got it? Well hang on, there is much more to it.
EERO vs Egress Window
You may be surprised to find out that “egress window” is not in the code, because for the last few decades it has used the term Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening (EERO for short). The switch is important because it broadens possible methods of escape beyond just windows (door anyone?), and acknowledges that you might also need rescue. Think about children and elderly occupants who may need rescue from a firefighter to escape a burning building.
EERO Sizing
There are minimum size requirements, since the point is that full sized adults should be able to fit through, but also think about a firefighter with their protective gear and air tank – they have to fit through as well. EERO openings must have a minimum clear width of 20-inches, a minimum clear height of 24-inches, and a minimum area 5.7 square feet. The math whizzes out there have figured out that a 20-inch by 24-inch window only yields a 3.3 square foot opening, so one of the dimensions will need to get bigger to qualify. For example a 20-inch wide by 41-inch tall window barely makes the 5.7 square foot requirement.
The sill height cannot be more than 44-inches off the finished floor, and it should be noted that EERO windows close to the ground (no more than 44-inches off the ground) only require 5.0 square feet of clear opening, since a ladder would not be used by emergency personnel. Time to get out those calculators!
Location
EEROs are required in every sleeping room, as well as at least one in basements and habitable attics. Doors are a perfectly acceptable type of EERO, as long as they meet the minimum size requirements, and for this reason doors typically provide the EERO for walkout basements. If basement windows are below grade, then they require a window well at least 3-feet in depth and a ladder if deeper than 44-inches. In addition, EEROs have to open to a public way, yard, course, or a minimum 36-wide path to the same.
Other Requirements
Because people panic in emergencies, the opening of EEROs must not require the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge. Security bars (which are allowed by code but have safety concerns worthy of a separate post) are allowed, but must not require the use of keys, tools, special knowledge, or excessive force.
References:
California Residential Code
International Code Council
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