Are you considering turning that random room used for
storage into a bedroom to give your in-laws a place to stay during the
holidays? As home renovations are already stressful enough, having renovations
done that do not meet code can be much more stressful. This blog will provide you
with some things to keep in mind during the remodel. Any room that will be
intended for a bedroom must follow these requirements as a fully-compliant EERO
(emergency escape and rescue openings) window, aka egress.
Safety
should always be a priority for you, your house, and anyone inside of your
house. Before installing just any window, check that it meets code with the
height and width, as well as the area directly in front of the window. These
safety measures allow for a quicker emergency escape and easy access for rescue
teams. Safety also includes the glass on the window. There are places inside
the house that are more hazardous than others, and those must be made safe by either
tempered glass or security film. The International Residential Code has 7 places deemed hazardous, so
check these areas before renovations begin. Below are listed a few:
·Glazing, aka glass, in and near swinging and
sliding doors
·Large lites of glass near walkways
·Glass around tubs, showers, pool, and similar
fixtures
·Glass near stairways, ramps, and the landings
for both
Along with emergency safety is fall protection. We all know
how children like to run around and goof off, so this will help add an extra
layer of security for your little ones. If your sill height is less than 2 feet
from the floor to the window inside the house, then that window cannot be more than 6 feet from the ground to the window outside. If you intend on changing your windows on levels
higher than the ground floor, then the sill must be taller than 2 feet from the
floor to the window inside the house.
The final things to consider are material used and style of
window. Depending on which type of material is used, there could be a change in
size, which could result in a smaller opening and would therefore have the
window be in code violation. Should the size end up changing due to the
material used, a different style of window might need to be installed, which
could result in a loss of money and unnecessary frustration. As an example, our
Infinity from Marvin fiberglass windows have smaller frames which translates to
larger openings, thus saving clients the time, hassle, and money of buying
a window that cannot be used.
Having more peace of mind during a remodel is possible when
you know the safety requirements to follow. It does not have to be a burdensome
and frustrating process as some may think. Checking these requirements will
keep your project less stressful for you and may also save you money. So go out
and make your home unique knowing that it will be safe for you, your
family, and all those visiting.
For more details on this and the full article, go to https://www.remodeling.hw.net/business/code-quandaries-the-four-major-aspects-of-code-compliance-for-windows
For more information on hazardous locations, go to https://www.nachi.org/safety-glass-for-inspectors.htm
or https://up.codes/s/hazardous-locations
For more information please contact us by visiting our showroom, calling us at 770-888-1604, or clicking here to fill out our online form.
