My company’s got a basement remodel project that requires egress through the foundation wall to meet code. Long story short, the only reasonable place to put the egress window is on a wall that has a cantilevered portion of the house above it. I figured we would just extend the window well an extra couple feet away from the foundation to give extra room. However, the building official is worried someone may “bump their head” if exiting during an emergency, and may not approve plans for the project. He wants more sketches on how I plan to deal with this.
Has anyone run into this situation before? If so, can you give any ideas or suggestions on how to deal with it?
The cantilevered section above projects about 24″ beyond the foundation wall. The house is old, and grade level is just below the top of foundation, which also makes grade just below this cantilever on the first floor. Compounding the situation is low headroom in the basement to start with. There’s only 85″ from finished slab to underside of joists.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Replies
could you do a pad then right angel the stairs
If budget allows, could you fill in below the cantilever to make that entire area livable space?
Scott.
What does the code say?
I dont think it says anything about overhead restriction but I have not read my code book in a while. (that can be your arguement for the inspector)
Otherwise, you might be stuck.
Someone might also bump their head on the window frame during an emergency. It is not meant to function as a regular usage point of egress offereing comfort and flexibility... it is a life-saving emergency exit.
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Double check the code book. You designed the building according to it, and now the BI is imposing extra levels not required on you, and your client.
I would want him to understand that he's requesting/demanding something that's not needed, and if he won't back down, I'd take it up the ladder.
If he suggests a "workaround" like padding the bottom of the cantilever, then I might keep my mouth shut, but...well, that kind of stuff just gets me going.
he needs to relax and to go bust stones at the next inspection, LOL.
Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Yeah, it's best to keep your mouth shut when you're bumping your head against something. ;)The OP can correct me if I'm wrong, but I gather that this structure is being remodeled in a way that now requires a fire exit where none was required before. So there's no "law" that says the remodel has to be possible. Likely there are some relatively well-defined rules at to what comprises a "legal" fire exit, and I would expect them to specify fairly precisely how much overhead room is required.To the OP: You might want to consider actually notching out the cantilever to provide the necessary headroom. Would be ugly (you could maybe dress it up with a small gable roof; build in a bench in the floor above to hide the notch) but ya do what ya gotta do.
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel
Thanks for the replies fellas. I'm waiting to hear back from the chief building official, who wants to discuss this with some of his inspectors. To me it's not a big deal, but to them it is and I'm somewhat at their mercy. If they shoot it down, I will go up the food chain as I have researched this pretty thoroughly, and believe I have some strong arguments for allowing the installation as planned.
For instance, the code specifically covers allowing egress windows below decks and porches as long as a 36" vertical height is provided, and the egress window can fully open. To me, a 2' cantilever projecting beyond the face of the foundation wall is no different than a deck or porch. The drawings I've submitted comply with all the code requirements as I interpret them.
I'll keep you guys "posted" as to the decision I get from the city.
Thanks for the input.
Also, just to clarify, the cantilever in question runs the entire length of the foundation wall on that side of the house.
Egrets Below Cantilever?
Damn birds'll nest anywhere.
Aitchkay
Oh man...... now I gotta clean the coffee offa my screen.....Ppffffffttttt...Scott.