Egress Windows for Basements

Egress Window Wells give you an easy way out of your home and emergency personnel an entry to rescue you and your loved ones.

Building codes require that finished basement living areas have an emergency egress large enough for a safe exit out of the space in case of an emergency.

What exactly is an egress window well?

It’s an easy-to-open basement window that serves as an emergency exit for any kind of below-ground living space. They must meet specific requirements to qualify as an egress window.

Egress windows can also help eliminate the “dungeon feeling” that many basements have as well. Egress window wells are imperative to have in case of basement flooding or in the event of a fire. Fresh air coming through the egress windows will improve your home’s overall ventilation and brighten up the place.

Essential Parts of Egress Window Wells

A complete egress system ensures that your basement is well ventilated and code compliant. It will keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of an emergency.

• Cover Options from Helitech

A window well cover eliminates the risk of family, friends, and pets falling into the large opening of the window well. They can be lifted from below, allowing for easy escape in case of emergency.

Helitech offers Aluminum Grates (below, left) which provides ventilation for your basement. Or we have Polycarbonate Covers (right) that keeps your window well clean from leaves and debris. Both options allow natural sunlight to reach your basement.

• Ladder

If the window well is 44 inches or more below ground, a permanent ladder must be present. It must be at least 12 inches wide and project no less than 3 inches from the window well.

It cannot be obstructed by the open window or encroach on the required window well dimensions by more than 6 inches.

• Window Well & Steps

In order to exit your home from an egress basement window, the window well needs to be large enough to admit a person of any size.

Helitech has selected Window Wells that mimic stone, so the light source in your basement looks like a landscape instead of an industrial eyesore.

Our Wells are also egress compliant. With built-in steps, you will always know there’s a safe and easy way to escape your basement.

• Window

Egress windows usually swing inward or easily slide out of the way. If there is a screen, it can be removed from the inside, making your escape quick and easy.

Steps Taken to Protect Your Investment

1. Prepare the home and cover any personal belongings
2. Excavate for the window well
3. Measure and mark for the window location
4. Remove the section of the foundation wall
5. Install the Window Frame (if needed), then Window, and finally the Window Well itself.

Size Requirements for a Basement Egress Window Well

Codes may vary in certain cities and states, so please check with your city offices, but they have to satisfy International Residential Code (IRC) criteria as well.

• Minimum width of opening: 20 inches
• Minimum height of opening: 24 inches
• Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 sq. ft. (5.0 sq. ft. for ground floor)
• Maximum sill height above floor: 44 inches

Net clear opening refers to the actual free and clear space that exists when the window is open – not the rough opening size or size of the glass panel, but the size of the actual opening a person can crawl through.

The window must be operational from the inside without any keys or tools to allow easy escape during an emergency.

Why Customers Choose Helitech

Helitech is a family-owned business that takes pride in providing long-term, high-quality solutions to every homeowner. Our expertise has been tried over the years, and while we have improved the tools we utilize to create a more efficient, seamless process for the homeowner, we still use the same patented technology that we started with in 1987.

For most, a home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Your home is a source of pride and accomplishment, which is why our team will walk you through each procedure and is available to answer your questions throughout the entire project.

If you need egress windows installed or repaired, give Helitech a call and ask for a free consultation.