To fully understand whether you need fire escape windows or not, you first need to learn how it is defined, because, generally, there are a lot of misconceptions about the term. Fire escape windows aren’t a special type of windows you go out and buy, but it refers to a very specific set of requirements that needs to be in a window for it to be classified as a fire escape window.
Depending on your state or country, a fire escape window is typically a window that can be opened up to 45 centimetres along its width and 45 centimetres along its height and isn’t higher than 80 centimetres off the ground of the room. Any window that fulfils those requirements is a fire escape window.
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Do I Need to Install a Window with Those Qualities?
Well, the question is more than whether you need to or not. In some places, you’re mandated by law to install fire escape windows in your houses. The rules are quite clear:
- All rooms on the ground floor should either have a fire escape window or should lead to a hallway that has a fire escape window.
- If your first floor rooms aren’t higher than 4.5 metres off the ground, the same rules apply to them.
- For higher rooms, you need to have a staircase in case of emergencies. So, you should be going with an industrial staircase design to help you get set up.
So, depending on your state, you might not even have a choice in whether you’ll be getting fire escape windows or not.
Even if you don’t have to install it by law, there are still multiple benefits you get from installing these types of windows in your home:
- It makes your home safer: the most obvious benefit would be the added safety. Fires are one of the main causes of death in homes, and having large windows you and your family can escape through in case of an emergency makes you a lot safer.
- Lighting and ventilation are important for any home and installing relatively large windows in the ground and the first floor ensures ample light and air circulation in your home. If you want to make sure your rooms are naturally-lit and fresh air is always present, installing these windows are a great idea. Of course, this is only for the ground and the first floor, if your house has more floors, roof windows are an excellent idea.
- Larger windows provide a great view to the outside – if your home is overlooking a nice lake or a garden, installing large windows will be a great way to make your house look more attractive.
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Frequently Asked Question
What is Fire Escape Windows?
Fire escape windows refer to windows that are big enough for humans to escape through in case of a fire emergency. They are typically installed in the ground and first floor of a home.
Do I Need a Building Permit to Install the Windows?
Whether you need building permits or not depends on your local laws. You can easily look them up on the government’s website. But, as a general rule of thumb, if you are just going to upgrade existing windows, you don’t need a permit, but if you’re going to remodel your house and install windows where there were none, you probably do need one.
How to Choose a Window Company?
If you’ve decided to install fire escape windows in your home, you probably need to find a trustworthy and professional company to help you do it. You need to look at how many years they’ve been in services, what are the reviews about them, and learn what kind of products they are offering.
