Bathroom window requirements???

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Dirty White Boy
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Legally, all bathrooms and kitchens must either have a window or ventalation fan...at least in the northeast...
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Yanita
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Hi,

I asked for any responses to the legality or not of windows to please be started in a seperate thread in the Off Topic forums. By doing so Audie will get the answers he is seeking for window repair and his thread will not be hijacked by the possible debate.

I will attempt to seperate your post and mine and move them to the OFF TOPIC forum. Please follow there.

If you could , would you leave a link or other info that documents what you say about bathroom windows. If I do not ask someone else surely will.

Thanks, Yanita
The difference between success and failure is who gives up first!
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JD
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This is not to be considered as the final word for your area. Your local code could have stricter requirements. But this is what I was able to find. Many municipalities have a 1.8sf minimum window size.

Bathroom windows are not considered egress windows like you would have in bedrooms. Code for egress windows is below the part about bathroom windows.

Your best source for requirements in your area is your local building inspector or code office.

JD


HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS,
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
24 C.F.R. Section 882.109

(g) Interior Air Quality:
(1) Performance Requirement. The dwelling unit shall be free of pollutants in the air at levels which threaten the health of the occupants.
(2) Acceptability Criteria. The dwelling unit shall be free from dangerous levels of air pollution from carbon monoxide, sewer gas, fuel gas, dust, and other harmful air pollutants. Air circulation shall be adequate throughout the unit. Bathroom areas shall have at least one openable window or other adequate exhaust ventilation.
Egress Windows for Manufactured Homes
1.
ANSI A119. STANDARDS: Clear opening of not less than 22 inches in least dimensions and 5 square feet in area with bottom of the opening not more than 4 feet
above the floor. (ANSI A119.1: Effective July 1, 1972, through 14, 1976.)
2.
HUD CFR 3280.106: Clear opening of not less than 20 inches width and 24 inches height in least dimensions and 5 square feet in area with bottom of the opening not more than 36 inches above the floor. Locks, latches, operating handles, tables, and other devices, which need to be operated in order to permit existing, shall not be located in excess of 54 inches from the finished floor. (HUD Standards: Effective July 15, 1976, to present.)
3.
2006 International Residential Code (IRC) Sec. 310: All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. (See
exception in R310.1.1 for 5 square feet.) The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches. The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches. Where emergency escape and rescue openings are provided they shall have a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor.

Options #2 and #3 above may be acceptable for municipalities that adopt ordinances for “Pre-Code Manufactured Homes” (homes built prior to July 1, 1972).
Note: Manufactured homes built from July 1, 1972, thru June 14, 1976, shall have egress windows in compliance with ANSI A119.1 or HUD windows in compliance with HUD CFR 3280.106 in every bedroom.

Last revised: Jan. 2, 2008
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All information and advice given is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The person doing the work is solely responsible to insure that their work complies with their local building code and OSHA safety regulations.
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Yanita
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Hi,

Thanks JD!

As JD pointed out, your local codes are what you need to go by when building/renovating.

Yanita
The difference between success and failure is who gives up first!
oldfart
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Okey-Dokey Folks..read the posts...HUD-CFR 3280.106....window must be min. 20in. wide x 24in. high and not more than 36in. above floor level. Hmmmm....??? I'm 6ft. 3in. tall...with a 35in. inseam. That window would expose me from "roughly" my ankles to my navel. Who thought this up?? Actually.... it wouldn't expose me entirely..but enough to cause possible cornea damage. Yes..this is another law that begs the question...."What idiot thought this was a good idea??" Have they ever seen an ageing old man/woman from their ankles to their navels? Do they really want to see this? Have they ever seen Star Wars and Jabba-The-Hut? If the discourse is ventilation...smoke and hot air rises well above the "36in. above floor level design"...usually to the top of the ceiling. And so I miss the point. As far as "an egress point"....you've got to be kidding me! Just for chuckles I layed this window out in a sheet of old drywall and attempted an "egress manuver." HAW!HAW!HAW!HAW!! Not gonn'a happen in my lifetime! Unless yer a size 2 in wimminfolks or Asian....it ain't likely! Audie..rotflmbo...the Oldfart...
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Yanita
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LOL Audie,

You asked and got the reply...

Hope your renovations are going well...or LOL, as well as can be expected.

Yanita
The difference between success and failure is who gives up first!
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