Egress Window Well Size

A permanent ladder or stairwell must be present if the window well is 44 inches or more below ground.

Egress window well size.

To ensure you install the right egress for your basement we ll break down the residential window well code requirements you ll need to abide by. The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened. In order to exit your home from a basement window or to accommodate rescue personnel your egress window well needs to be large enough to admit a person of any size. The dimensions can be no less than 36x36 inches.

The egress window must meet the requirements and the egress well must supplement it. In addition the egress window requirements for basements specifies that they be at least 36 inches in height and width with a fully functioning opening. Window wells greater than 44 inches in depth requires a permanently fixed ladder or steps to provide access. Egress wells must accommodate the full opening of the egress window.

The horizontal area of the window well shall be not less than 9 square feet 0 9 m 2 with a horizontal projection and width of not less than 36 inches 914 mm. In the event that an egress well needs a ladder or steps the ladder can be no narrower than 12 inches. Add 12 the egress well must extend above the grade level ground level at least 4 inches. See the installation instructions to determine the exact measurement.

The bottom area must be 9 feet square. The ladder must be at lease 12 inches wide and project no less than 3 inches from the window well. A ladder or steps must be permanently placed if the well is deeper than 44 inches. Size the horizontal area of the window well needs to be a minimum of nine square feet with a minimum horizontal projection and vertical width of 36 inches.

The egress well must extend below the window about 12 depending on the egress window well model chosen.