1031 Emergency Escape and Rescue — 2025 California Building Code

Emergency escape and rescue openings shall comply with the requirements of this section.

In addition to the means of egress required by this chapter, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be provided in Group R occupancies .

Basements and sleeping rooms below the fourth story above grade plane shall have not fewer than one emergency escape and rescue opening in accordance with this section. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue opening shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Such open ings shall open directly into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public way, or to an egress balcony that leads to a public way.

Exceptions: 1. In Groups R-1 and R-2 occupancies constructed of Type I, Type IIA, Type IIIA or Type IV construction equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. 2. Group R-2.1 occupancies meeting the requirements for delayed egress in accordance with Section 1010.2.13 may have oper- able windows that are breakable in sleeping rooms permanently restricted to a maximum of 4-inch open position. 3 . Basements with a ceiling height of less than 80 inches (2032 mm) shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings. 4 . Emergency escape and rescue openings are not required from basements or sleeping rooms that have an exit door or exit access door that opens directly into a public way or to a yard, court or exterior egress balcony that leads to a public

way. 5 . Basements without habitable spaces and having not more than 200 square feet (18.6 m [2] ) in floor area shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings. 6 . Storm shelters are not required to comply with this section where the shelter is constructed in accordance with ICC 500. 7 . Within individual dwelling and sleeping units in Groups R-2 and R-3, where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3, sleeping rooms in basements shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings provided that the basement has one of the following: 7.1. One means of egress and one emergency escape and rescue opening. 7.2. Two means of egress. 8. In Group R-2.2 occupancies a certified fire escape is acceptable as a secondary means of egress for existing buildings for this section of the code.

1031.2.1 Operational constraints and opening control devices. Emergency escape and rescue openings and any exit doors shall be maintained free of any obstructions other than those allowed by this section and shall be operational from inside the room without the use of keys or tools. Window-opening control devices complying with ASTM F2090 shall be permitted for use on windows serving as a required emergency escape and rescue opening. The release mechanism shall be maintained operable at all times.

Such bars, grills, grates or any similar devices shall be equipped with an approved exterior release device for use by the fire department only when required by the authority having jurisdiction.

Where security bars (burglar bars) are installed on emergency egress and rescue windows or doors, on or after July 1, 2000, such devices shall comply with California Building Standards Code, Part 12, Chapter 12-3 and other applicable provisions of Part 2.

Exception: Group R-1 occupancies provided with a monitored fire sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.8 and designed in accordance with NFPA 13 may have openable windows permanently restricted to a maximum 4-inch (102 mm) open position.

1031.2.2 Maintenance. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times and shall be main- tained in good working order.

1031.2.3 Examination. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered design professional or other person acceptable to the fire code official every 5 years. The examination shall determine whether the fire escape stairways and balconies can support the dead load plus a live load of not less than 100 pounds per square foot (4.78 kN/m). An inspection report shall be submitted to the fire code official after such examination.

Emergency escape and rescue openings shall comply with Sections 1031.3.1 through 1031.3.3.

1031.3.1 Minimum size. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.53 m [2] ).

Exception: The minimum net clear opening for grade-floor emergency escape and rescue openings shall be 5 square feet (0.46 m [2] ).

1031.3.2 Minimum dimensions. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 24 inches (610 mm). The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20 inches (508 mm). The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.

1031.3.3 Maximum height from floor. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the clear opening not greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) measured from the floor.

Where a door is provided as the required emergency escape and rescue opening, it shall be a swinging door or a sliding door.

An emergency escape and rescue opening with the bottom of the clear opening below the adjacent grade shall be provided with an area well in accordance with Sections 1031.5.1 through 1031.5.3.

10-60 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

MEANS OF EGRESS

1031.5.1 Minimum size. The minimum horizontal area of the area well shall be 9 square feet (0.84 m [2] ), with a horizontal projection and width of not less than 36 inches (914 mm). The area well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened.

Exception: The ladder or steps required by Section 1031.5.2 shall be permitted to encroach not more than 6 inches (152 mm) into the required dimensions of the area well.

1031.5.2 Ladders or steps. Area wells with a vertical depth of more than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed ladder or steps. The ladder or steps shall not be obstructed by the emergency escape and rescue opening when the window or door is in the open position. Ladders or steps required by this section shall not be required to comply with Section 1011.

1031.5.2.1 Ladders. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of at least 12 inches (305 mm), shall project at least 3 inches (76 mm) from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on center (o.c.) vertically for the full height of the area well.

1031.5.2.2 Steps. Steps shall have an inside width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm), shall have treads greater than 5 inches (127 mm) in depth and a riser height not greater than 18 inches (457 mm) for the full height of the area well.

1031.5.3 Drainage. Area wells shall be designed for proper drainage by connecting to the building’s foundation drainage system required by Section 1805.

Exception: A drainage system for area wells is not required where the foundation is on well-drained soil or sand-gravel mixture soils in accordance with the United Soil Classification System, Group I Soils, in accordance with Section 1803.5.1.

Where bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are placed over emergency escape and rescue openings or area wells that serve such openings, the minimum net clear opening size shall comply with Sections 1031.3 and 1031.5. Such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the emergency escape and rescue opening.

10-62 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE