Wisconsin Egress Window Code
A window must meet certain requirements to pass the state of Wisconsin's egress window code. This building code ensures inhabitants have a second means of exit from a basement living space, in the event of an emergency.
Make sure that your new egress window meets the Wisconsin egress window requirements by using our Egress Window Calculator and by purchasing from a trusted company like The Great Egress Company.
What are the Wisconsin Egress Window Requirements?
- The window must be openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge.
- If there is more than one sleeping room in a basement, a means of egress is required in each sleeping room.
- It must provide an unobstructed opening with a minimum area of 5.7 sq. ft. (This requirement drops to 5 sq. ft. for grade floor or below grade openings).
- The height of the clear opening must be at least 24" and the width must be at least 20".
- The sill height must not be more than 44" above the floor.
- If the sill height is below grade, the window must have a window well.
- If required, the window well must be at least 9 sq. ft. in an area with a horizontal projection and a width of at least 36" each.
- Window wells deeper than 44" must have permanent steps or a ladder that do not impede the opening of the window.
What are Egress Windows?
Egress means to go out. Egress windows are windows you can use to leave your home. While they may seem like a regulatory burden, these windows furnish occupants with natural light, provide a source of ventilation, and can become a lifesaver in an emergency.
For example, if there is a fire in your home, a single stairwell may become unusable, leaving family members and tenants without a clear path to safety. For bedrooms on floors with multiple doors that lead directly outside, these windows are not strictly necessary. This is because there are clear escape routes that can be taken in the case of an emergency.
In basements, egress windows are essential and, if there is a bedroom, they are required by law in the State of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Building Code
Section 1030: Emergency Escape and Rescue.
1030.1 General.
In addition to the means of egress required by this chapter, provisions shall be made for emergency escape and rescue openings in Group R-2 occupancies in accordance with Tables 1006.3.2(1) and 1006.3.2(2) and Group R-3 occupancies. Basements and sleeping rooms below the fourth story above grade plane shall have at least one exterior emergency escape and rescue opening in accordance with this section. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Such openings shall open directly into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.
Exceptions:
1. Basements with a ceiling height of less than 80" shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings.
2. Emergency escape and rescue openings are not required from basements or sleeping rooms that have an exit door or exit access door that opens directly into a public way or to a yard, court or exterior exit balcony that opens to a public way.
3. Basements without habitable spaces and having not more than 200 sq. ft. in floor area shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings.
1030.2 Minimum Size.
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft.
Exception: The minimum net clear opening for grade-floor emergency escape and rescue openings shall be 5 sq. ft.
1030.2.1 Minimum Dimensions.
The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 24". The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20". The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.
Windows A and B meet all of the area and dimensions requirements and would pass egress in Wisconsin. Window C, while meeting the dimension requirements, does not meet the area requirement and would not pass egress.
Windows D and E meet all of the area and dimensions requirements for floor grade and below grade window openings in Wisconsin.
1030.3 Maximum Height From Floor.
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the clear opening not greater than 44" measured from the floor.
1030.4 Operational Constraints.
Emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with Section 1030.2 and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening. Where such bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are installed in existing buildings, smoke alarms shall be installed in accordance with Section 907.2.11 regardless of the valuation of the alteration.
1030.5 Window Wells.
An emergency escape and rescue opening with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground level shall be provided with a window well in accordance with Sections 1030.5.1 and 1030.5.2.
1030.5.1 Minimum Size.
The minimum horizontal area of the window well shall be 9 sq. ft., with a minimum dimension of 36". The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened.
1030.5.2 Ladders or Steps.
Window wells with a vertical depth of more than 44" shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed ladder or steps. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of at least 12", shall project at least 3" from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18" on center (o.c.) vertically for the full height of the window well. The ladder or steps shall not encroach into the required dimensions of the window well by more than 6". The ladder or steps shall not be obstructed by the emergency escape and rescue opening. Ladders or steps required by this section are exempt from the stairway requirements of Section 1011.
Wisconsin Administrative Code
In addition to specific egress window requirements, the state of Wisconsin also has natural light requirements that you must abide by. These natural light requirements are detailed by the Wisconsin Administrative Code, specifically Chapter SPS 321. Please contact your local county building inspector to confirm your code requirements.
SPS 321.05 Natural light and natural ventilation.
1. Natural Light.
Each habitable room shall be provided with natural light by means of glazed openings. The area of the glazed openings shall be at least 8% of the net floor area, except under the following circumstances:
(a) Exception: Habitable rooms, other than bedrooms, located in basements, ground floors or above garages do not require natural light.
(b) Exception: Natural light may be obtained from adjoining areas through glazed openings, louvers or other approved methods. Door openings into adjoining areas may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
(1m) NET FLOOR AREA. For the purposes of sub-sections Admin Code SPS 321.06 (1) Natural Light and Admin Code SPS 321.06 (2) Ventilation, "net floor area" does not include any area with a ceiling height of less than 5 ft.
2. Ventilation.
(a) Natural ventilation.
1. Natural ventilation shall be provided to each habitable room by means of openable doors, skylights or windows. The net area of the openable doors, skylights or windows shall be at least 3.5% of the net floor area of the room, except as provided in sub-section Admin Code SPS 321.05(2)(a). 2.2. Balanced mechanical ventilation may be provided in lieu of openable exterior doors, skylights or windows provided the system is capable of providing at least one air change per hour of fresh outside air while the room is occupied. Infiltration may not be considered as make-up air for balancing purposes.
2. Any area with a ceiling height of less than 5 ft. may be excluded from the net floor area.
(b) Exhaust ventilation.
All exhaust ventilation shall terminate outside the building.
3. Safety Glass.
(am) Except as provided in par. Admin Code SPS 321.05 (3) (bm), glazing shall consist of safety glass meeting the requirements of either 16 CFR Part 1201 or ANSI Z97.1 when installed in any of the following locations:
1. In any sidelight or glazing adjacent to a door, that meets all of the following:
a. The nearest point of the glazing is within 2 ft. of the door when the door is in the closed position.
b. The nearest point of the glazing is within 5 ft. of the floor.
c. The plane of the glazing is within 30 degrees of the plane of the door when the door is in the closed position.
2. In any wall where the glazing is within 5 ft. vertically of the lowest drain inlet and within 3 ft. horizontally of the nearest part of the inner rim of a bathtub, hot tub, shower, spa or whirlpool appliance.
3. Within 4 ft. vertically of a tread or landing in a stairway and within one foot horizontally of the near edge of the tread or landing.
4. Within 4 ft. vertically of the floor and 3 ft. horizontally of the nosing of the top or bottom tread of a stair.
5. In guard assemblies.
(bm) Safety glass is not required where glazing meets any of the following:
1. The size of an individual pane of glass is 8" or less in the least dimension.
2. The safety glass is required by sub-section Admin Code SPS 321.05(3)(am)1. and the only door within 2 ft. of the glazing is the fixed panel of a patio door.
3. The safety glass is required by Admin Code SPS 321.05(3)(am)1. and there is an intervening wall or other permanent barrier between the door and the glazing.
Note: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires safety glass for glazing in internal and external doors, including storm doors and patio doors, as well as for the tub or shower enclosures themselves. These federal rules, contained in 16 CFR, subchapter B, part 1201, apply in addition to any state rules or statutes.
Note: Glass blocks are considered to be masonry products and are regulated under the ACI 530 standard adopted under s. SPS 320.24. They are not required to be safety glazing.
Complying With Wisconsin Egress Window Code
To put it simply, if you are renovating your basement in Wisconsin, you will need an egress window that has a wide clearance and can be easily opened.
The Great Egress Company provides a curated collection of windows that meet egress window requirements in Wisconsin. The easiest way to get your hands on a code-compliant egress window is to let us ship one straight to your door. Have a look for yourself.
Our windows come in several types and sizes that will pass the egress window code in Wisconsin. Contact our team if you have additional egress window questions.