Egress Window Well

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Overall thoughts on this.....

[Larry D. Kage]

It may not be within 3 feet of a walkway but I recommend a guard for safety against a fall hazard. They can do what they wish.

[Richard A. Hetzel]

Depends which version of the International Residential Code applies...it may or may not be code-compliant.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Home was built / completed in the latter part of 2005.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

Home was built / completed in the latter part of 2005.

Joe; I have got some dumb questions here;

The grade seems to close to the bottom of the windows.

Assumming it is good grading stone, and no drain.

Fall hazard as Larry pointed out.

Not legal steps for exit.

How much snow do you get in the winter.

Can't see the roof line, and therefore wondering if it is under the roof drip edge which would contribute to ice build-up and snow.

What 's the garden hose for? ha. ha.

Negative pitch on the landscape towards the exit well.

Assumming the windows are no more than 44" above FF.

Do the double hung window meet the egress size?

Sorry, full of questions. But that is just me. ha. ha.

Marcel

[Nick Gromicko]

Emergency egress appears to be up to code.

[gbeaumont]

Hi Joe,

what is the depth of the well below grade??

Regards

Gerry

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

Overall thoughts on this.....

Unbeliveable...............

Life Flight (for the person who cracks their head open after the fall)

Law Suit (from the person who fell if he lived, or next of kin)

Water Intrusion (seems imminent from the photo regardless of drainage, it freezes there)

Occupants might need to watch Chimpanzee movies (Tarzan perhaps) (or rock climbing videos)

But I'm sure you covered all the bases Joe...!!

Unreal.

[Christopher Currins]

[quote=dduffy] Occupants might need to watch Chimpanzee movies Tarzan perhaps or rock climbing videos



That's what the cable is for. You simply throw it to the nearest tree and pull yourself out. Unless there is a foot of snow or the windows are froze shut from ice, but I'm sure they have a pic hanging nearby.

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

If it were going to leak, it probably would have by now. Signs of leakage at interior sill? I'm surprised at how often I find similar windows in wells with not much clearance to gravel, but they seem fine. I call them out, but mention no visible damage if that's the case.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by gbeaumont

what is the depth of the well below grade??

Between 4-5 feet.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by kshepard

If it were going to leak, it probably would have by now. Signs of leakage at interior sill?

With the rain yesterday, the corners of the sills were actively leaking to the interior of the basement.

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

Between 4-5 feet.

Hi Joe, that being the case it should have safety rails, and as the height is more than 44 inches a fixed egress ladder a minimum of 12 inch wide rungs should be installed.

As to the potential moisture problems there should be a drain at the bottom of the well tied into the houses drain tile.

Regards

Gerry

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hi. Gerry;

I think the argument here could be that it meets Code.

Since we HI's can not enforce Codes, it must be alright, right?

So, Joe, how did you write it up. Just curious.

Marcel

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Hi. Gerry;

I think the argument here could be that it meets Code.

Since we HI's can not enforce Codes, it must be alright, right?

So, Joe, how did you write it up. Just curious.

Marcel

Hi Marcel, firstly I don't believe that it does meet code, but that is realy not the point, the design and construction of that well leave several unsafe and undesirable conditions.

Regards

Gerry