There are specific egress requirements that Florida homeowners must comply with when installing or replacing windows. For instance, if you have a basement you need at least one egress opening. In addition, your home’s bedrooms need at least one egress (escape opening) opening as well. If you are working with an impact window installation company in your local area they can help you understand these requirements and select windows that comply. However, it is still helpful to know what the egress requirements are.
What are Egress Windows
Egress means to exit, leave, or climb out of. In turn, Egress windows are windows that provide an emergency escape and allow for rescue. In other words, they provide a safe exit out your home in the event of an emergency. At the same time they give first responders a way to enter your home if they need to.
Egress windows are typically normal windows. There are two key defining attributes for a window to meet egress requirements. Those attributes are the size of their actual opening and the height of the window sill from the floor. There are many types of egress windows to pick from for your home. One of the most commonly used types of egress windows are sliding windows.
Now we give an overview of the requirements that egress windows must meet in Florida. If you have any questions, make sure to contact our team for help (you can use the form below). Or you can always consult the Florida Building Code documents directly.
Florida Egress Window Requirements
There are indeed egress requirements in the sunshine state. These apply to you if you are building a home or replacing your home’s windows.
Egress windows for Florida homes have to be big enough for a large adult male to fit through them easily. The Florida Building Code means of egress chapter cites that such a window on the first floor has to have a minimum opening of 5 square feet. And a window for this purpose on the second or higher level has to have a minimum opening of 5.7 square feet.
Below we have quoted the requirements for emergency exits directly from the Florida Building Code’s Commission Education POC document:
Basements and each sleeping room need to have at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening with a minimum clear opening of 5.7 square feet, which opens directly into a public street, public alley, yard, or court. (FBC-Residential R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required and R310.1.1 Minimum opening area.)
Emergency escape openings can have a minimum net clear opening height of 24 inches or a minimum width of 20 inches (FBC-Residential R310.1.2 Minimum opening height and R310.1.3 Minimum opening width.), and must have sill height within 44 inches of the floor. (FBCResidential R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required.)
Emergency escape openings must be operable from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools or special knowledge. (FBC-Residential R310.1.4 Operational constraints.) This gives occupants in each sleeping area a method of escape in case of a fire.
Florida Building Code’s Commission Education POC document
Second Floor Egress Window Requirements
Just a special note that if you have a two-story home (or higher level) then the requirements are a bit different. Egress openings on the second floor or a higher-level home have to have a minimum opening of 5.7 square feet.
Egress Window Opening Example
The important thing to note is that the requirements are based on the window opening. They are not based on the window size as a whole.
For example, say you plan to install a sliding window as an egress window in a bedroom. The window has overall dimensions of 4ft wide by 3 ft tall. As we mentioned, egress compliance depends on the opening of the sliding window, not the overall window size. The actual opening, or how large you can open the window is what matters. Sliding windows have openings that are usually half the width of the total window. This would mean the actual opening is only 2 ft wide by 3ft tall. In this case, the window would meet the requirements as the opening size is 6 ft2.
Conclusion
Understanding Florida’s egress window requirements is essential for any homeowner replacing their windows or building a new construction. Yes you need to meet the regulations in order to be in compliance. However, Florida’s egress requirements are also about ensuring the safety of your family. They do this by providing clear escape routes out of your home in an emergency. They also provide access for first responders into your home in these cases.
Navigating the specifics of the Florida Building Code can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re looking for help with impact windows in Southwest Florida and want to ensure your home meets all necessary safety codes, don’t hesitate to reach out to Eurex Shutters. Call us or submit an inquiry today for a free consultation or to start your project.
Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.
