Egress For Finished Attic Spaces

Egress windows are required to turn your attic into a bedroom compliant with building codes.

Egress for finished attic spaces.

Enforcement varies but codes typically say that at least half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high and that this area must be a minimum of 7 feet wide and 70 square feet. An egress window is a window that is large enough according to local building codes to enter or exit a room during an emergency. Have an egress point attics are the worst place to be in a fire because heat and fire rise rapidly. Have a minimum opening height of at least 24 inches.

When does an attic count as finished square footage. A finished or unfinished area not considered a story complying with all of the following. Attic egress openings must. Have a minimum opening width of at least 20 inches.

The erc guideline also states. Egress is defined as the act of coming or going out. High above ground level your finished attic space will be more valuable in the eyes of the appraiser explains berg who was an appraiser for 14 years before he became a real estate agent. If a room which meets guideline 5 and should be included in gla has a sloping ceiling the appraiser should consider the 5 foot height rule for calculating livable space.

Yes especially when you compare to the value of a finished basement which will appraise for about 30 less in value than above ground space. Be aware that the structural limitations of the roof will affect the size and placement of your windows. The fannie mae selling guide does not specifically identify any requirements for inclusion of finished attic spaces or ceiling heights. In addition to providing an emergency exit in case of fire windows will add more light and ventilation to the space.

For a basement bedroom that would typically require an egress window in addition to the square footage requirements. Included in the calculation would be only that floor area for which there is a vertical distance of 5 or more feet between floor and ceiling. Some people wonder if an attic can be included in the finished square footage of a home if there is a pull down ladder or existing stairway to the space. Egress windows are usually required when finishing a basement or attic.

In most codes this means an opening not fixed window to the outside. Have a minimum net opening area of at least 5 7 square feet. Since the staircase to the attic can act as a chimney for the fire to quickly spread it s necessary to have a secondary point of egress or exit.