Quantcast
Channel: wenatcheehomeinspection » property inspection
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 7

Leavenworth and Cle Elum Home Inspection- The Great Escape

0
0

Leavenworth and Cle Elum Home Inspection- The Great Escape

When performing home inspection basements need to evaluated in the context of how the occupant will be able to exit in an emergency. But there is another factor involved here that need to be accounted for.

One of the things that many people do not understand in terms of the basement egress is that not only is this for your safety to be able to exit a home in an emergency but it is equally important that it can be entered by a rescuer. This is mainly firemen/women.

In a home emergency the rescue personnel need to be able to enter this egress point and so many of the code are actually crafted with this in mind.

If you look at how the IRC (International Residential Code) titles the section it shows what the intent is-

IRC SECTION R310- EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS

                                                                         Minimum Window size

The requirements are that a basements and every sleeping room should have at least one operable emergency and rescue opening. The minimum size of this opening is 5.7 sq ft with a minimum 24 inches in height and 20 inches in width (clear opening). The sill height should not be more than 44 inches off the floor.

Another very important item is the emergency escape and rescue openings should be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge.

When the escape/rescue opening is a window the well must meet some criteria also.

This well must have a minimum horizontal area of the window well of 9 square feet (example 3x 3 feet), with a minimum depth and width of 36 inches.

                                                                Well design

If the window well is greater than 44 inches deep it should be equipped with a permanently affixed ladder or steps usable with the window in the fully open position.

And in this example another rule comes into play. If the emergency escape is under decks and porches it is allowed provided the location of the deck allows the emergency escape to be fully opened and provides a path not less than 36 inches in height to a yard or court.

Basement escape         Deck Exit

A view from above

 

Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspection- The Great Escape. Let’s hope you never have to use this for the design purpose.

 

“Inspecting the World-One Home at a Time”

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572



Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 7

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images