Egress window requirements
An egress window has to satisfy three dimensions at once and be an operator type that actually clears the opening. Getting either wrong is caught at inspection, not at order.
Key facts
- Minimum clear width
- 2 ft (610 mm)
- Minimum clear height
- 2 ft 6 in (762 mm)
- Cannot be used for egress
- Awning units and single tilt-only units, at any size
Three dimensions, all of them binding
Clear width, clear height and clear area are separate requirements. A window can pass two and fail the third, and the third is usually area — because clear area is measured on the actual opening the sash leaves behind, not on the rough opening or the glass size.
The manufacturer’s stated minimums for these products are below. They are product minimums, not a code citation.
| Minimum clear width | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Minimum clear height | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
These are NOT the US code numbers. IRC R310 sets a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq ft, a minimum clear height of 24 in and a minimum clear width of 20 in for residential emergency escape and rescue openings — a materially different and generally smaller set. The code your jurisdiction has adopted governs, and it may amend the model code. Never size an egress opening from a manufacturer’s chart alone.
Operator types that cannot be used for egress
Awning units and single tilt-only units cannot serve as escape windows, because the sash itself sits across the opening when it is open. No size makes them compliant.
What you need is an operator that swings or turns fully clear: a casement, a push-out casement, or a tilt-and-turn used in its turn mode rather than its tilt mode. If a bedroom is designated for egress, decide the operator before you decide anything else about that opening.
The practical sequence
Identify which openings are designated for egress, on the plan, before selecting products. Then pick the operator, then size to the governing code, then confirm the clear opening against the manufacturer’s tested figures for that exact unit — not the platform.
Send us the opening schedule and the project address and we will confirm in writing which units satisfy the code that applies there.
FAQ
Can an awning window be used as an egress window?
No. The manufacturer excludes awning units and single tilt-only units from escape-window use, because the sash obstructs the opening when open. No size makes them compliant — you need a casement, push-out casement or a tilt-and-turn used in turn mode.
What is the minimum size for an egress window?
It depends whose number you mean. The manufacturer states a minimum clear width of 2 ft and a minimum clear height of 2 ft 6 in for its product. US residential code under IRC R310 is what actually governs a US project, and it is a different set: 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, 24 in minimum height, 20 in minimum width. Size to the adopted code for your jurisdiction, and send us the opening — we confirm the clear opening for the exact unit in writing.
Is clear opening the same as the rough opening?
No, and this is where most failures happen. Clear opening is what remains after the frame and the open sash, which is smaller than the rough opening and smaller than the glass. Size to the clear opening figure for the exact unit.
Source: Manufacturer minimums: published product specifications for the push-out casement. IRC R310 figures: International Residential Code, quoted for contrast only.
See this in a real project
- Multifamily building, Frisco — Frisco, Texas
Related
Send us the opening schedule and the project location and we will confirm in writing what applies to your case.
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