window size compared to room size?

Question

i'm adding on a couple of bedrooms, and just framed out the window in one. i know the window size needs to be 8% of the livable sq footage of a bedroom, but what do you consider the window. what i mean is, does the actual window frame count as part of the window, or do you measure from corner to corner of the actual glass of the window? this detail matters in my situation.

the size requirement is based on the 2003 international residential code: window space is 8% of living sq ft of room, with 5.7 ft egress, and no less than 20" of horizontal egress.

that's 5.7 sq ft of egress.

Answer 1

Local codes take precedence over other codes, meaning the local officials may make regulations more strict. So take what I write with a grain of salt, and check with local inspectors.

As I understand it, the 8% is the area of the operable glass, so the frame needs to be larger. You need to have a window that is at least 20" wide frame wide, but that usually is taken care of by the area of the window. Another thing is if the glass sits below a certain height relative to the finish floor, it needs to be tempered glass. But a roughly 36" x 60" window is usually fine. You need to figure what windows you are using, get the rough opening size. If you need to procede with framing before you make a decision, frame the opening big with a header, jack studs, and king studs. That way when you get the actually size of RO, if you framed it too big, you can add some deadwood, 1x or 1/2" OSB, to frame it the right size. If you frame it too small, you need to redo the whole opening, new header, new sill, move the studs, etc.

But like I said, 3-0 x 5-0, is usually fine, if in doubt add 3-4" to the RO. It would be better to know the RO before hand. Plus you need to order the windows, because they need some lead time to get the order together, a week or so. So take care of that decision ASAP.

Answer 2

Katherine E may well be right, but there is no prescribed minimum temperature for domestic accommodation as there is in the workplace. An Environmental Health Officer may take a view, but that is all it is. Enforcement of an opinion is quite different from enforcing a statutory minimum. You could have a word with the landlord. It may carry more weight if you invest in a thermometer and log the temperature for a week or so. This morning would have been ideal. A reasonable landlord would either replace the radiator with a larger version or at least provide you with supplementary heating such as an electric fan heater for cold weather. If he won't help, look elsewhere for accommodation. In the interim, wrap up warm.

Answer 3

I may be old school ignorant, but I'm curious as to where you got that initial info.

If the detail matters critically then perhaps a company like Pella can advise?

I would probably be hesitant to be goverened by any standard as it regards size, no matter the environmental conditions, although the structure of the dwelling certainly plays a part.

I had a beach house here in FL, that at one time had the entire beach side enclosed with floor to ceiling windows.

Steven Wolf

Answer 4

Here in my county, they base that on the rough opening of the window. A phone call to your local building department could probably provide the best answer.