Casement windows are known for their unique design and functionality, often adding an elegant touch to any home. But can these windows also serve as egress windows? In this blog post, we'll explore the possibilities and discuss the requirements for egress windows, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using casement windows in this capacity.
Egress windows are specifically designed for emergency exits in case of a fire or other life-threatening situations. According to the International Residential Code (IRC), every bedroom and habitable basement space must have at least one egress window or door to provide a safe escape route.
There are certain requirements that an egress window must meet:
1. Minimum width:The clear opening width must be at least 20 inches.
2. Minimum height:The clear opening height must be at least 24 inches.
3. Minimum net clear opening area:The net clear opening area must be at least 5.7 square feet for ground floor windows and 5.0 square feet for windows above the ground floor.
4. Maximum sill height:The window sill must be no more than 44 inches above the floor.
It's essential to note that these requirements are for the actual clear opening and not the overall window dimensions. The clear opening is the unobstructed space that a person can pass through when the window is fully open.
Casement windows are hinged on one side and open outward, usually with the help of a crank or lever. They offer excellent ventilation and unobstructed views, making them a popular choice for homeowners. Casement windows come in various sizes and styles, which can be customized to suit the aesthetic of your home.
The short answer is yes; casement windows can serve as egress windows as long as they meet the minimum requirements set by the IRC. The hinged design of casement windows allows them to open fully, providing a large clear opening for easy escape in case of an emergency.
When considering casement windows as egress windows, it's essential to ensure that the window dimensions meet the minimum width, height, and net clear opening area requirements. Additionally, the window sill must be at the appropriate height for easy access.
There are several advantages to using casement windows as egress windows:
1. Large clear opening:Casement windows can provide a large clear opening when fully opened, making it easier for people to escape in an emergency.
2. Ease of operation:The crank or lever mechanism makes it easy to open and close casement windows, even for children and elderly individuals.
3. Enhanced ventilation:Casement windows offer excellent ventilation, which can be beneficial in case of a fire or other emergency situations where fresh air is needed.
4. Aesthetics:Casement windows can be customized to match the style and design of your home, ensuring that your egress windows look just as beautiful as the rest of your windows.
While there are several advantages to using casement windows as egress windows, there are also a few drawbacks to consider:
1. Space requirements:Casement windows open outward, which means they require more exterior space to operate. This may not be ideal for homes with limited outdoor space or those with obstructions such as bushes or trees near the window.
2. Maintenance:The crank or lever mechanism in casement windows may require more maintenance than other window types, especially if the window is used frequently.
3. Cost:Customizing casement windows to meet egress requirements can be more expensive than installing standard egress windows.
Ultimately, the decision to use casement windows as egress windows will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you value aesthetics, ventilation, and ease of operation, casement windows may be an excellent choice for your egress windows. However, if you have limited exterior space or are concerned about maintenance and cost, you may want to consider other egress window options.
When selecting egress windows for your home, it's crucial to consult with a professional to ensure that the windows meet all safety requirements and building codes. A knowledgeable contractor or window specialist can help you choose the best egress window solution for your home and ensure that it is installed correctly for optimal safety and functionality.
Casement windows are the most common style of window. They feature hinged panels that swing open and closed. Casement windows are available in single panels or multiple panels. The direction a door swings, either to the right or the left, is called the handing. In addition to handing, window are identified as either inswing or outswing depending on whether they open into the house or towards the outside.
Our team of experts will work with you to develop a bespoke plan that fits your needs. We take a holistic approach to the planning process, combining our technical expertise with our knowledge of customer requirements and project constraints.
This newly built private house is in Sydney, Australia. The area occupied by the fenestration system in our scheduled design drawings was up to more than 110 square meters. A wide range of design details made the perfect mix of modern aesthetics and traditional sophistication, the simulated vertical hung windows with tilt & turn opening systems in this home are absolutely breathtaking. SDLS (Simulated Divided Lites with Spacer Bar) brings some historical vintage feeling to the whole building without losing any energy saving performance. Long narrow fixed windows creating larger-than-life expenses, coupled with German high-end systems made this project stand out from the rest.
The client's idea was to maintain a certain vintage feel, and our aim was to meet the energy efficiency needs and standards of modern houses as much as possible while maintaining a retro design. Doorwin’s 61S simulated hung windows with tilt & turn openings is a respectful modernization of a classic architectural masterwork.
Why choose the tilt and turn opening method?
Because it generally has better air seals than sliding, single hung, or double hung window frames. Tilt and turn windows form a complete seal when fully closed, this means they are less prone to water leakage, and cold draughts and you’ll keep more of your heating indoors where it belongs. They can be opened in the upper tilt way to ventilate at a minimum opening status and are easy to clean outside of the glass; when there’s a good day, they can be opened as normal inward casement windows.
Our well-crafted bespoke systems enhance the functionality and panoramic view of this modern house.
Huge, fixed glass walls up to seven meters long and two meters high bring great lighting and open views, making it really refreshing to the mind. Five meters high long narrow windows give the whole building a contemporary aesthetic.
Every window’s placement and shape not only add to the uniqueness of this home but also provide a more energy-saving ability for the owners.
Doorwin energy-efficient integrated glazing units feature double-pane glass, warm-edge spacers, argon gas fill, Low-E coatings, and fully tempered glass, they can not only create a comfortable and natural indoor environment but also save electricity bills and heating bills of more than 100 USD for the owner, it’s a real bargain compared to choosing a regular glazing set.
Aluminum Door offered an air of uniqueness and elegance to a home. With their luxurious patterns and beautiful finishes, it provides this house with a bounty of aesthetics and security. Aluminum entry doors allow you to resist any weather extremes, corrosion, and pests. So aluminum is one of the most resilient and durable materials you can select for front doors considering the price/performance ratio.
With pieces of double panes, and Low-E tempered glass. The door provides a good insulation performance.
Divided lite windows and doors offer unique architectural solutions for buildings without compromising energy efficiency or aesthetics. Doorwin provides multiple muntin and glass options to customize your divided lite windows and doors. Further customization is available with a variety of colors and materials, creating an infinite number of design combinations to best suit your style.
In this project, we use SDLS (simulated divided lites with spacer bars), these bars permanently adhere to both sides of the glass, and spacer bars are installed between the glass, this is the most energy-efficient way to create the look of classical décor grilles. The windows in the bathroom bedroom and study have an Arch Transom Design, making these rooms, which are often used by the owner, have some traditional aesthetics.
BTW, Doorwin offers free design assistance, so if you need a custom design like this one, contact us right away and we will provide you with the most aesthetically and functionally pleasing design solution.
For windows and doors, hardware is as important as the engine is to the car. The continuous technological innovation of the European hardware industry has strongly promoted the performance improvement and functional innovation of windows and doors. In this project, Doorwin uses Hoppe™ multi-point locks, hinges, and handles from Germany.
Multi-point lock systems provide not only the burglar-resistance but also a tighter compression seam, making the window keeps good energy-efficient performance. Together with Technoform Bautec’s insulation edge bond and sealant strips, these make up our products' top insulation and energy-saving performance.
We have several international patents to reduce clients’ labor costs, such as our unique flanges and assembly type tubular design, which is different from the other products on the market. What sets us apart among Chinese counterpart is that all our products are equipped with nail fin structures for quick and easy installation. Labor costs during installation may exceed of the window and door price, therefore, our exclusive patent allows users to not only get a significant increase in installation efficiency, but also greatly reduce the labor cost of window and door installation. A cost that may bring you unexpected savings that far exceed the price difference you may care about now.
With our own expertise, we provided the no-cost design development and contract documentation with CAD & BIM drawings, including elevation, details about the project, and installation help.
Before production, we will provide accurate sample drawings, which will clearly show the cross-sectional pattern, size, opening method and direction, pattern of the warm spacer, and the installation nodes. We will not go into production until you have signed off on the drawing to ensure that you receive a final product that meets the exact requirements of your project.
Doorwin's professional packing system guarantees all products are delivered safely and without any damage. We apply a four-point packing system. Firstly, adhesive plastic film is applied on interior wood frames and exterior aluminum frames to avoid scratches on the surface. Then, a paper board is applied after we apply air bubble film surrounding the whole windows/ doors to avoid any destruction or clash. Lastly, we place them into a durable non-fumigation plywood crate to avoid any possible damage during transportation.
With years of experience shipping our products worldwide, we could guarantee to ship our products to their final destinations intact and without any damage.
Doorwin is one of the most professional window & door manufacturers are known for its great customized products. In Doorwin, a variety of colors, styles, and sizes of products are available to meet the client’s unique requirements. We own three ISO9000-certified modern factories in China. With a factory area of 20,000 m2 and a production capacity of 100,000 m2 per year. Doorwin Group has the scale to ensure timely delivery and the flexibility to reduce manufacturing lead times to as short as 18 days.