The Egress standard, a regulation for emergency exits

For windows, when it comes to emergency exits, there are strict regulations. The Egress standard of the National Building Code has tightened the requirements regarding these emergency exits. During renovations or new construction, this standard must be applied.

All rooms in a home, including bedrooms and basements, are subject to the Egress standard. This regulation ensures that in the event of a fire, a safe and easily accessible emergency exit is available.

Here is a summary of the requirements to follow. The window must:

_ must open from the inside in an emergency, without tools, keys, or special knowledge.

_ be easily accessible. It must not be placed more than 150 cm from the floor. If located in a basement, a step must be installed to facilitate access.

_ be sufficiently large. It must measure at least 15 inches on each side and have a minimum total area of 3.77 sq ft. However, a 15 x 15 inch window does not meet the Egress standard, as its area is 1.56 sq ft.

_ if there is a window well or light well, a 30-inch clearance in front of the window must be provided to allow sufficient passage.

However, if there are sprinklers or a door leading to the outside, the Egress standard does not apply to the windows in that room.

How to calculate your window area?

To calculate the window area, multiply its width by its height and convert the result into square feet. For example, a window measuring 36.2 inches in width by 15 inches in height. (15 x 36.2) gives 543, which equals 3.77 sq ft. This area represents the minimum requirement for an Egress-compliant window.

Attention: Before starting any work, check with local authorities, as provinces and municipalities may impose even stricter requirements.

For more details, contact our experts.