The windows of a home are said to be the eyes of the home. Staring into the windows of someone’s home can give you a great amount of insight into the people who live inside. Windows are not just for bringing in light and allowing the world to see your life. They are also an important component of fire safety. Every bedroom in your home is required to have an egress window. An egress window is just another name for an exit window. Being able to safely exit your home during a fire or another home emergency is important. The standard basement window size requirements specify that a basement bedroom window must be no more than forty-four inches off the ground. The opening of the actual window needs to be at least twenty inches wide and two feet high. It is best to have a larger window so that fire safety personnel can move in and out of the window easily with their tools and machines.
The Importance of Egress Window Sizes
Standard window sizes can vary greatly depending on local building codes, but the standard basement window size stays the same for safety reasons. There are a few other rules and requirements that go along with basement bedroom windows. If there are security bars on bedroom basement windows, they need to be operated from the inside without special knowledge or tools. The whole point of an egress window is to make it as simple as possible to get out in case of a fire. Egress window requirements have helped save countless lives. If a sprinkler system is installed in a basement bedroom, there is no need for an egress window. This means that you have a little bit more wiggle room when it comes to designing your home.
Following the Rules and Regulations of Basement Bedroom Windows
If you plan on renovating your basement into a bedroom, you need to know the rules and regulations that go along with having a bedroom in your basement. You would not want a family member to be stuck in the basement during a fire with no way out. Your local building codes need to be followed to a tee to ensure that you are following safety requirements. Failure to do so could end up costing you a lot of money in hefty fines. Basement awning windows hardly meet building codes because they do not provide enough passage for an exit. Your basement egress window size could end up being a life-or-death situation in a dire emergency.
Promoting Safety for Your Family and Loved Ones
Standard window sizes in Canada need to comply with building codes for your safety and the safety of your family. Following the rules of standard window sizes, Canada can stop you from being fined for going against building codes. The size of a standard window in Canada does not have to be the same as an egress window size in a basement bedroom. It is important to hire a contractor who is up to date about egress window sizes and bedroom basement windows. A contractor who knows the building codes well can provide you with safe, functional windows that will make your home look great.
Turning a Basement Window into a Bedroom Window
Some contractors can help you turn a standard basement window into an egress basement window size. Concrete cutting is more than likely going to be required to transform a standard basement window into an egress window. It is just as important to have safe windows as it is to have fire alarms and smoke detectors in your home. Contact Window Tech Windows and Doors to learn more information.
