Home›Knowledge›IBC Section 1027 — Emergency Escape Windows in Residential Buildings
📋 Codeconstruction

IBC Section 1027 — Emergency Escape Windows in Residential Buildings

Updated Apr 3, 2026
Requires emergency escape windows in bedrooms and basements for occupant rescue.

Section 1027 requires that bedrooms and basements have emergency escape windows accessible to occupants. Window opening area must be minimum 5.7 square feet for adults (5 square feet for attic or loft). Sill height above floor must be maximum 44 inches. Exterior opening must be clear of obstructions. Window wells for basement windows must have ladders or steps for escape. These windows permit occupants to exit without using interior corridors if fire blocks egress routes.

TAGS
ibcemergency-escapewindows
DETAILS
section
1027
category
Means of Egress
code body
IBC
code year
2021
RELATED KNOWLEDGE
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.1 — Group A Occupancies (Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with Group A occupancy where fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet, or overall building area exceeds 12,000 square feet, or occupant load of the fire area exceeds 300.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.7 — Group M Occupancies (Retail Sprinkler Requirements)
Automatic sprinkler system required in Group M (mercantile) occupancies where fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet or building is more than three stories above grade.
📋 Code
IBC 903.2.11.3 — Buildings 55 Feet or More in Height
Automatic sprinkler system required throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
📋 Code
IBC 1015.1 — Exit and Exit Access Doorways Required
Two exits or exit access doorways required from any space where occupant load exceeds the table values. Spaces with occupant load exceeding 500 require a minimum of 3 exits. Spaces exceeding 1,000 require 4 exits.
📋 Code
IBC 1017.2 — Exit Access Travel Distance
Maximum travel distance from any point in a building to an exit shall not exceed 200 feet unsprinklered or 250 feet sprinklered for most occupancies. Specific occupancies have modified limits.
📋 Code
IBC Table 601 — Fire-Resistance Rating Requirements
Specifies minimum fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on construction type (Type I through V). Type IA requires 3-hour rated structural frame, 2-hour floors, and 1.5-hour roof.
← Back to Knowledge Garden