November 2016
FireNuggets, Inc
Window Egress Code from the Exterior Perspective: Building codes in
response areas can differentiate. Window codes can be of significant
Stairs: Having prior knowledge of building construction, type and
era in your area along with sizing-up windows can assist in locating
information to search crews for various reasons. They assist in room
type size-ups, to target high probability VES. The size and floor the
interior stairwells. A window that is not in line with the others and
seems to be in between floors can indicate location of the stairs (this
window is on, can indicate window sill to interior floor height prior
to head first window entry during VES.
only happens on outside wall stairwells and typically on the Bravo
(side 2) and Delta sides (side 4) and not era dependent). Know and
Basements (over 200 sq/ft) and All Bedrooms:
understand building construction by era in your own first due to
assist in locating stairs from the exterior.
• The bottom of the egress window opening can’t exceed 44”
from the finished floor.
• The minimum egress window opening height is 24” high.
• The minimum egress window opening is 20” wide.
Bedrooms: Typical window sill to floor height is 24” - 36” depending
on code.
Living Areas: Family/Living room windows are typically larger in size
(60” in height) and have sills lower to the floor (20”) to increase the
view and light.
Vent Enter Search (VES):
Windows aid in sizing up rooms that are isolatable (having a door bedrooms and bathrooms). The ability to isolate the room is crucial
for VES, for the civilians, firefighters on the interior, and the
ventilation flow path. A non-operable window on floor two, that is
inline with the front door can be a warning that it is a vaulted entry
and attempting a VES can negatively affect the entire fireground.
Prior to VES, be efficient and size-up for interior door location. In
bedrooms, doors are in or within a few feet of the corners. Bedrooms
that are on outside corners of the structure will typically have interior
doors on the inside corner. Midspan or non-corner bedrooms will
have interior doors that are typically placed on the far side of a wall
By Firefighters, For Firefighters
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