44 inch floor to sill requirement for window.

[Anonymous]

We have a split level and we are converting a room located one level before the basement into a bedroom.

When I measure the distance from the window sill to the floor in that bedroom it was 47 in. So it won't meet code. What do people do in this situation?

My friend told me some inspectors may turn a blind eye since it's only 3 inch higher than the max height.

[Anonymous]

How difficult/expensive would it be to change the window opening so it would be the right height?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How difficult/expensive would it be to change the window opening so it would be the right height?

OP. We plan to change the window from double hung to casement to meet the requirement for opening area.

If you mean structurally changing the size of the window it will be quite expensive I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How difficult/expensive would it be to change the window opening so it would be the right height?

OP. We plan to change the window from double hung to casement to meet the requirement for opening area.

If you mean structurally changing the size of the window it will be quite expensive I think.

If you’re changing the window anyway, why not just have a bigger opening cut and install a bigger window? We’ve had something like this done and it wasn’t ridiculously expensive. And you’ll enjoy having more light in the room.

[Anonymous]

Code says finished floor if I recall correctly.

Three inches is a lot for an inspector to let slide in my experience if it’s not grandfathered as an existing bedroom. I’ve never had one allow anything more than 44 and I have never had one allow me to just “raise the floor” in the vicinity of the window to meet the code.

If there is an existing window can you take it down three inches be removing the wood casing if there is one, for example? Otherwise you’re pretty much stuck with having to cut the brick, cmu, etc to get it to code.

This will typically run you several thousand of paying a contractor.

[Anonymous]

Can you raise the floor with a removable platform?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a split level and we are converting a room located one level before the basement into a bedroom.

When I measure the distance from the window sill to the floor in that bedroom it was 47 in. So it won't meet code. What do people do in this situation?

My friend told me some inspectors may turn a blind eye since it's only 3 inch higher than the max height.

What kind of work is being inspected? Electrical? Structural? If you are "officially" converting the room to a bedroom and want it to be reflected in the county records as a bedroom (for resale purposes), you'll have to meet the 44" requirement. If you are simply moving a bed in there and having a closet put in, I can't imagine anyone inspecting any other facet of the conversion will care about the egress. The times that I've had inspectors over, they are looking at a specific thing.

[Anonymous]

People down the block built a low, wide, step like seat or chest under the window that people could stand on to get out. See if that would pass fire code where you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People down the block built a low, wide, step like seat or chest under the window that people could stand on to get out. See if that would pass fire code where you are.

OP here. That's one of the issue. We have the same seat under the window. I just measured the distance again. The distance from the seat to the finished floor is 46 inch.

[Anonymous]

Well make a double step higher seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How difficult/expensive would it be to change the window opening so it would be the right height?

OP. We plan to change the window from double hung to casement to meet the requirement for opening area.

If you mean structurally changing the size of the window it will be quite expensive I think.

Changing the width is expensive, changing the height is not. Making the opening 3 inches longer is $200 at most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People down the block built a low, wide, step like seat or chest under the window that people could stand on to get out. See if that would pass fire code where you are.

OP here. That's one of the issue. We have the same seat under the window. I just measured the distance again. The distance from the seat to the finished floor is 46 inch.

The window also must be large enough for a fireman with full gear to get in and out.

How large is the actual window?

[Anonymous]

Minimum Egress Window Dimensions (R310.2)

Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 square feet
(5.0 square feet if window opens at grade-floor level)

Minimum clear opening height: 24 inches

Minimum clear opening width: 20 inches

Maximum sill height from floor: 44 inches

Note: These are net clear opening measurements—not the rough opening or frame size. A 48″x48″ window won’t automatically pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People down the block built a low, wide, step like seat or chest under the window that people could stand on to get out. See if that would pass fire code where you are.

OP here. That's one of the issue. We have the same seat under the window. I just measured the distance again. The distance from the seat to the finished floor is 46 inch.

The window also must be large enough for a fireman with full gear to get in and out.

How large is the actual window?

OP here. We plan to replace the window because it's a double hung window and doesn't meet the size requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Minimum Egress Window Dimensions (R310.2)

Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 square feet
(5.0 square feet if window opens at grade-floor level)

Minimum clear opening height: 24 inches

Minimum clear opening width: 20 inches

Maximum sill height from floor: 44 inches

Note: These are net clear opening measurements—not the rough opening or frame size. A 48″x48″ window won’t automatically pass.

Lol I know a lot of houses in my neighborhood that clearly don't meet the opening measurements.