I’m looking at a Basement Finishing project.
My initial contact with the BI indicates that code requires a min. of two points of egress.
After explaining to him that the room is NOT a bedroom, that there is an exit to the (up 5-6steps) foyer and front door, he indicated that he would like to see a window well type exit or a door to the gagrage with a people door exit to the outside.
I was told that the OH Garage door does not qualify, the garage must have a people door to the outside.
There is no place to install that people door, the egress widow well is doable $, plus it is a Condo Bldng. which may make exterior modifications challenging.
I will get back with him this week to discuss this further. In the mean while, I’m thinking the OH door is disqualified due to the possibility of a power outage and the difficulty of opening it in that situation, particularl in an emergency.
Do you think a back up power supply for the OH door might sway him??
Can any of you come up with some other ideas?? He seemed flexible perhaps,Id like to get a little more well informed before approaching him again.
Odd thing is they DO NOT require fire proof enclosures for the furnace, just make up air!! Every job I’ve ever done required pretty strict fireproofing at the boiler room along with self closing fire rated doors.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Eric
Replies
a bilco door (pre-cast is good )
and a bilco basement egress window
That was quick!
I could probably get it in the budget but.......having to push that by the Condo Board doesn't seem like much fun. I was thinking one of those plastic window wells with the steps.
I'm also worried about how far out they blasted to fit these foundations into the granite.
Thanks,
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
[email protected]
IMHO anyone too dumb to pull the quick disconnect on an overhead door deserves to fry <G>
Just make sure it is there and well marked (new one's have red tags on them) and show a pic to the BI.
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
So your opinion would be this;
Having a exit to the garage would suffice a second means of egress, even though the garage does not have a people door to the exterior.
What if the person attemting to escape danger was a 6yo or an elderly frail person?
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
[email protected]
<<<those plastic window wells with the steps.>>
doesn't bilco make those ?... i thought that was their egress window
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
You are correct sir.
>>What if the person attemting to escape danger was a 6yo or an elderly frail person?Good question.Could either of them use a "standard" 2ndary egress?
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
Here's a source:
http://www.wellcraftwells.com/
I read on some forum that I stubled across a year or two ago that in some areas any basement work requires a 2nd means of egress.
And I can see some logic in that.
And I don't believe that a grage is allowed means of egress in any case. Not because of the garage door, but rather codes assume that is one of the most likely sources of fire.
You might want to do some talking with the code people first and see what they require and maybe some options.
heres a different way, how about a sprial stair at the other end of basement,you might lose 8sg ft out of a bedroom or something. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Here in Fairfax Co, Va., code requires 2 means of egress from any finished basement - weather there's a bedroom or not, so I had to add one.
That, and the DW made me.
I used a Bilco unit - chosen over other offerings because it's a single (and really big) molded piece, is available with an optional clear cover, and I could acquire it locally. I didn't much like the multi piece units, figuring that hydrostatic pressure and freeze/frost cycles would eventually cause separation at the joints, and many don't offer a cover.
Turned out very nice (pics on request), but did require a BA hole - in length, width, and depth (which I made my 15 year old son dig, natch) to accommodate my 4.5X4 sliding window.
Dan
Edited 5/2/2005 1:57 pm ET by DanH1