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What is Emergency Egress?
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Emergency egress is a method of exit which people can access safely in an emergency. Many building codes cover emergency egress in detail to ensure that structures are equipped with exits which will safely accommodate people if they need to exit a structure during a fire, chemical spill, or similar emergency. The goal behind the process is to create as much redundancy as possible, so that people have many options for getting out of a structure, and that these options are easy to use even when people are panicked or confused.
In order to be considered an emergency exit, an opening must, by law, open wide enough for occupants to get out, and to allow a fully outfitted firefighter to get in. Emergency egress must also be low enough to the floor that it is easy for people to use; a large opening located well above the height of an average human, for example, is not terribly helpful in a hurry.
During an emergency evacuation, people should be able to quickly access and open a window, door, or other opening intended for emergency egress. If the opening locks, it must be easily unlocked, as for example when a window latch can be easily operated from the inside. Likewise, screens and other coverings should pop out easily so that people can clear the opening quickly. Bars and similar coverings must swing aside so that people can get out.
When structures are newly built, one of the things the building inspector does during an examination to clear the building for use is to check for emergency egress. If the building does not have adequate egress, the inspector will not clear the building until the issue has been corrected. Most building inspectors are happy to review plans and structures in progress to confirm that they meet the most current standards of the building code.
Likewise, changes to a structure which impede emergency egress or eliminate it are unlikely to be viewed favorably by building inspectors. Tenants would be well advised to confirm that they have adequate emergency exits, for their own safety, and if they do not, they should bring the issue up with the landlord. If the landlord does not want to remedy the issue, the building inspector can be consulted. Tenants should be aware that building inspectors can issue citations without informing landlords about who tipped them off, but if a recent complaint from a tenant about the same matter has been received, the landlord may assume that the citation is the result of a complaint from the tenant.
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HistoricalIndex researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HistoricalIndex researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.
Learn more...AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
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![Many building codes require that bedrooms have at least one window that people can escape through.]()
By: Iriana ShiyanMany building codes require that bedrooms have at least one window that people can escape through. -
![A kitted-out firefighter must be able to get through an emergency egress.]()
By: Ingus EvertovskisA kitted-out firefighter must be able to get through an emergency egress. -
![A window that opens may be an emergency egress.]()
By: thingamajiggsA window that opens may be an emergency egress. -
![Each habitable room must have a way that people can exit to the outdoors in case of fire or other disasters.]()
By: HomeSpot HQEach habitable room must have a way that people can exit to the outdoors in case of fire or other disasters.
Discussion Comments
We have a finished basement that includes a family room, two bedrooms and a bathroom. All of the windows in our basement are emergency egress windows.
These windows crank open from the inside, and the screens on them are easy to pop on and off. Another thing I like about this is that they are easy to clean.
Whenever I need to clean the windows downstairs, I can easily remove the screens and clean both the inside and outside of the windows.
We have never had to use them in an emergency situation, but I know they would be easy to escape from if we ever needed to.
I can see why many building codes require this type of emergency window in a place like a basement. Our basement is not a walk-out, so in case of emergency, these windows would be the only way out.
The house we used to live in had bedrooms in the basement that had windows in them, but they were not emergency egress windows.
When we were ready to sell the house, we could not count the bedrooms in the basement because they were not egress windows.
In case of an emergency, these windows did not easily open up to the outside. You would have had to somehow break the window in order to get out of the basement through the windows.
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