Egress Escape Windows
Information Sheet
Basement bedroom/
sleeping room requirements
Section R310
All sleeping rooms shall have at least one egress window
(see illustration) meeting all these requirements:
• Sill height not more than 44 inches above floor,
measured from nish oor to clear opening.
• Openable area not less than 5.7 square feet*
(820 square inches.)
• Opening height not less than 24 inches.
• Opening width not less than 20 inches.
• Emergency escape windows shall be operational from
the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools.
* Exception: Grade oor opening shall have a minimum
net clear opening of 5.0 square feet.
Grade oor opening
A window or other opening located such that the sill height
of the opening is not more than 44 inches (1118 mm)
above or below the finished ground level adjacent the
opening.
Minimum size for rescue/escape windows from
sleeping rooms
Emergency escapes-
window wells below grade
Section R310.2
The clear horizontal dimensions shall allow the
window to be fully opened and provide a minimum
accessible net clear opening of 9 square feet with
minimum dimensions of 36 inches.
Window wells with a vertical depth of more than 44 inches
shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed
ladder or stairs that are accessible with the window in the
fully open position. The ladder or stairs shall not encroach
into the required dimensions of the window well by more
than six inches. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside
dimension of at least 12 inches. They must project at least
3 inches from the wall and be spaced not more than 18
inches o.c. vertically for the full height of the window well.
* A minimum height clearance of 36 inches shall be
maintained above the exterior grade. (Example: a deck
above the escape window.)
Section R310.2.2
Unless on sandy, gravel type soil a positive drainage
system is required.
24"
CLEAR
MIN.
AS NEEDED TO
EQUAL 5.7 SQUARE FEET
(5.0 for exception above)
AS
NEEDED
TO
EQUAL
5.7
SQUARE
FEET
(5.0 for
exception
above)
OPENABLE
AREA
5.7 SQ. FT.
MINIMUM
OPENABLE
AREA
5.7 SQ. FT.
MINIMUM
FLOOR
SILL HEIGHT
44" MAXIMUM
TO CLEAR OPENING
20" NET
CLEAR
OPENABLE
WIDTH
Minimum access
36 inches measured horizontally from the foundation
wall to the well and 36 inches measured horizontally
from well wall to well wall.
LADDER
(Required
if well is over
44" deep.)
HOUSE WALL
WELL
AREA
CASEMENT
WINDOW
PLAN or TOP VIEW
36" min
36" min
Community Development
Building and Inspection
1800 W. Old Shakopee Road
Bloomington MN 55431-3027
PH 952-563-8930
FAX 952-563-8949
TTY 952-563-8740
BloomingtonMN.gov
web_53megress pg1 of 2 (03/15)
See reverse for information on calculating
window sizes and code requirements for dwelling
egress windows.
Calculating open area for window in square feet
web_53megress pg2 of 2 (03/15)
Height
Width
20” 21” 22” 23” 24” 25” 26” 27” 28” 29” 30” 31” 32” 33” 34” 35” 36”
24”
3.3 3.5 3.7 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.3 5.5 5.7 5.8 6.0
26”
3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.1 6.3 6.5
28”
3.9 4.1 4.3 4.5 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.3 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.6 6.8 7.0
30”
4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.3 6.5 6.7 6.9 7.1 7.3 7.5
32”
4.4 4.7 4.9 5.1 5.3 5.6 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.7 6.9 7.1 7.3 7.6 7.8 8.0
34”
4.7 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.7 5.9 6.1 6.4 6.6 6.8 7.1 7.3 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.3 8.5
36”
5.0 5.3 5.5 5.8 6.0 6.3 6.5 6.8 7.0 7.3 7.5 7.8 8.0 8.3 8.5 8.8 9.0
38”
5.3 5.5 5.8 6.1 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.1 7.4 7.7 7.9 8.2 8.4 8.7 9.0 9.2 9.5
40”
5.6 5.8 6.1 6.4 6.7 6.9 7.2 7.5 7.8 8.1 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.2 9.4 9.7 10.0
42”
5.8 6.1 6.4 6.7 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.2 8.5 8.8 9.0 9.3 9.6 9.9 10.2 10.5
44”
6.1 6.4 6.7 7.0 7.3 7.6 7.9 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.2 9.5 9.8 10.1 10.4 10.7 11.0
46”
6.4 6.7 7.0 7.3 7.7 8.0 8.3 8.6 8.9 9.3 9.6 10.0 10.2 10.5 10.9 11.2 11.5
48”
6.7 7.0 7.3 7.7 8.0 8.3 8.7 9.0 9.3 9.7 10.0 10.3 10.7 11.0 11.3 11.7 12.0
50”
6.9 7.3 7.6 8.0 8.3 8.7 9.0 9.4 9.7 10.1 10.4 10.8 11.1 11.5 11.8 12.2 12.5
52”
7.2 7.6 7.9 8.3 8.7 9.0 9.4 9.8 10.1 10.5 10.8 11.2 11.6 11.9 12.3 12.6 13.0
54”
7.5 7.9 8.3 8.6 9.0 9.4 9.8 10.1 10.5 10.9 11.3 11.6 12.0 12.4 12.8 13.1 13.5
56”
7.8 8.2 8.6 8.9 9.3 9.7 10.1 10.5 10.9 11.3 11.7 12.1 12.4 12.8 13.2 13.6 14.0
58”
8.0 8.5 8.9 9.3 9.7 10.1 10.5 10.9 11.3 11.7 12.1 12.5 12.9 13.3 13.7 14.1 14.5
60”
8.3 8.8 9.2 9.6 10.0 10.4 10.8 11.3 11.7 12.1 12.5 12.9 13.3 13.8 14.2 14.6 15.0
