Egress Window Well Covers

When we hear the word Egress, we either do not know the definition of Egress or we think of a means to exit.  Basement Window Wells can be a form of Egress depending on their size and accessibility.

Egress Window Wells come in All Sizes and Shapes.

Some manufacturers of Egress Wells will make them of galvanized metal, concrete, plastic or the D-I-Y may use treated lumber. Dilworth Mfg. Co., makers of the Window Bubble, basement window well covers, will work with the homeowner who may have a pre-made well which did not come with a cover or may not be able to be covered with a stock unit because of the window being above the well opening or other situation.

Here are a few examples of the Egress Window Well Covers we have designed for our clients:

Your code authority may have authored its own rules or it may be among the more than 90 percent of communities in the United States that adopt the standards of the International Code Council (ICC). The council is a nonprofit organization that publishes new editions of the codes every three years and, in interim years, produces a supplement. 

The ICC’s 2006 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Story Dwellings has new language stating that basements that contain one or more sleeping rooms are required to have emergency egress and rescue openings in each sleeping room. Emergency exit and rescue openings are not required in adjoining areas of the basement, according to the code.

The code will require not only a certain size window, but also a window well opening a minimum of 36” away from the wall, with a minimum of 9 square feet total floor area (basically 3 feet by 3 feet). While you may feel that as long as you can climb through the opening that it is an egress opening, however, by code it may not be.  It’s not just about the homeowner but also about the firefighter or rescue worker carrying gear and wearing an oxygen backpack who has to get through that opening to drag you out in case you are unconscious from a fire or other emergency.” It’s also about anyone who will own the home after you and may use that basement space.

It will be important for you, as the homeowner to determine the code in your municipality.  Our covers are designed to be in compliance with the IBC (International Building Code) regarding covers for Egress wells.

We do not make wells or ladders, but can supply custom covers for most applications.