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Building a Home
intelinside1

Window Egress.. 2nd story ..height from floor to window sill

intelinside1
9 years ago

For a two story house I was wondering what is the minimum height from the floor for the window sill bottom?

This is for a house in Los Angeles City.

Also do windows need to be tempered?

Third, what is the egress window opening amount in square feet per room? I have read 5.7 sqft, but is it the same for the SECOND STORY?

Featured Answer
  • User
    9 years ago

    I believe your building code is taken from the 2012 IRC. You should verify that with the building department. If that is the correct code and has not been amended, the applicable section is not Means of Egress (R311) but Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (R310).

    One of these escape openings must be located in each sleeping room on all floors including habitable attics and basements. There are other requirements for basements.

    When the escape opening is a window, the sill height must be no more than 44 inches above the floor.

    The minimum net clear opening is 5.7 s.f. except on the ground floor where it must be 5 s.f. The minimum opening height is 24" and the minimum width is 20 inches.

    Tempered glass would be required if the window glass was within a certain distance of a door or the floor.

    Comments (8)

    • intelinside1
      Original Author
      9 years ago

      Thanks a lot renovato8 good info

      I was wondering is the 24in minimum from floor to window sill the same for the upstairs? On second floor?

    • lazy_gardens
      9 years ago

      Yorkie -
      Call the zoning and code enforcement department ... they will know what is LOCALLY required.

    • User
      9 years ago

      It is a maximum of 44" on all levels of the house.

      Regardless of the answers you get from a building department, you will still be the person who is responsible for meeting the building code so rather than asking the local building department questions about specific requirements on the phone, it is best to ask for an internet resource that lists all of the applicable codes and amendments for your project, then buy or find free versions of the codes that cover the issues you are likely to be dealing with.

      If you have difficulty finding the applicable sections in those documents there are many people on the GW who can help you.

    • intelinside1
      Original Author
      9 years ago

      Thanks I agree I want to meet the safest code--- not just what my local building department require.

      from most places I've seen online it looks like MINIMUM for Floor-to-Window Sill is 18" generally

      For 2nd and 3rd floors it's 24" MINIMUM

      If any less then the 18 in and 24 in min

      This is the distance from the FLOORof the room up to the BOTTOM of the window sill

      Thakns guys. Please let me know if I'm off

    • PRO
      Drue Hartwell
      7 years ago

      you are off. Minimum floor to window, for egress, is 44". You are quoting minimum window height.


    • PRO
      Jewell S. Ros, Assoc.AIA
      6 years ago

      IF THE WINDOW IS IN THE 2ND FLOOR AND YOUR PROJECT IS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THE REQUIRED WINDOW SILL HEIGHT FROM FINISH FLOOR IS 42" MIN. FOR OPERABLE WINDOWS. OTHERWISE PROVIDE GUARDRAIL OUTSIDE OR MAKE YOUR WINDOW FIXED.

    • PRO
      Jewell S. Ros, Assoc.AIA
      5 years ago
      last modified: 5 years ago

      In City of LA, minimum sill height for 2nd floor is 42" from finish floor.

      The MAXIMUM sill height for Egress window is 44" from finish floor.


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