When it comes to home safety, one of the most important aspects to consider is the proper installation and use of windows for emergency egress. In this blog post, we will explore the crucial role that casement windows play in meeting egress code requirements, as well as the various factors that homeowners and contractors must consider to ensure compliance and safety.
Egress codes are established by local building authorities and the International Residential Code (IRC) to ensure that occupants can quickly and easily escape a building in case of an emergency, such as a fire or a natural disaster. These codes specify the minimum size, location, and functionality of windows and doors that can be used for emergency escape and rescue.
According to the IRC, every bedroom and habitable basement space must have at least one egress window or door that meets the following requirements:
1. Minimum Opening Width:The window opening must be at least 20 inches wide.
2. Minimum Opening Height:The window opening must be at least 24 inches tall.
3. Minimum Net Clear Opening:The actual clear opening of the window must be at least 5.7 square feet for ground-floor windows and 5.0 square feet for windows on upper floors.
4. Maximum Sill Height:The window sill must be no more than 44 inches above the floor.
5. Operable from Inside:The window must be operable from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge.
Casement windows, which are hinged on one side and swing outward like a door, are an ideal choice for meeting egress code requirements. They offer several advantages over other window types, such as double-hung and sliding windows:
1. Larger Openings:Casement windows can provide larger clear openings than other window types of the same size, making it easier for occupants to escape through the window in an emergency.
2. Ease of Operation:Casement windows can be easily opened with one hand using a crank or lever, making them more accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
3. Improved Ventilation:Casement windows can be opened fully, allowing for better airflow and ventilation in the room.
4. Increased Security:Casement windows are more difficult to pry open from the outside, providing an added layer of security for your home.
When selecting and installing casement windows for egress purposes, there are several factors to consider:
1. Window Size:Ensure that the window meets the minimum opening width, height, and net clear opening requirements specified by the egress code. It is essential to measure the actual clear opening, not just the window's overall dimensions.
2. Window Location:The window must be installed in a location that allows for easy access and escape. Avoid placing the window behind furniture or other obstructions that may hinder the occupant's ability to exit quickly.
3. Window Hardware:Choose casement window hardware that is easy to operate, durable, and compliant with egress code requirements. The hardware should not require keys, tools, or special knowledge to open the window.
4. Window Well Requirements:If the casement window is installed in a basement, a window well may be required to ensure safe access and escape. The window well must be large enough to accommodate the window's full open position and provide a minimum horizontal projection of 36 inches from the window.
Once your casement windows are installed and compliant with egress code requirements, it is essential to maintain their functionality and safety:
1. Regular Inspections:Inspect your casement windows regularly to ensure that they are in proper working order. Check the hardware, hinges, and seals for signs of wear or damage.
2. Cleaning and Lubrication:Clean and lubricate the window's moving parts, such as the crank and hinges, to ensure smooth operation and prevent corrosion.
3. Window Treatments:Choose window treatments, such as blinds or curtains, that do not obstruct the window's operation or impede access to the window in an emergency.
4. Furniture Placement:Arrange furniture in the room so that it does not block access to the casement window or hinder its operation.
By understanding egress code requirements and the benefits of casement windows, homeowners and contractors can make informed decisions when selecting and installing windows for emergency escape and rescue. With proper planning, installation, and maintenance, casement windows can provide a safe and compliant means of egress while enhancing the comfort, security, and aesthetics of your home.
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.
Doorwin provides one-stop solution for professional windows doors manufacturer and installation. We have been serving customers with our high quality and branded products in United States, Asia and worldwide.
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.
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