Section 1031 — EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE

[BE] 1031.1 General. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall comply with the requirements of this section.

[BE] 1031.2 Where required. In addition to the means of egress required by this chapter, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be provided in Group R occupancies:

1. Group R-2 occupancies located in stories with only one exit or access to only one exit as permitted by Tables 1006.3.4(1) and 1006.3.4(2).

2. Group R-3 and R-4 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

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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 of existing buildings for this section of the code.

ping 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 of existing buildings for this section of the code.

[BE] 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.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.2] Labeling.

Burglar bars shall not be sold in California at wholesale or retail unless warning information as specified in California Code of Regula- tions, Title 19, Division 1, Section 4.3 is provided either on the packaging or provided inside the packaging along with the burglar bars.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.3(a) through (c)] Warning Information.

(a) Warning information located on or in burglar bar packaging shall contain the following information: (1) Warning that the burglar bars are intended to deter or delay intruders, they are not intended to prevent entry. (2) A reprint of the following requirements from California Building Code, Part 2, Chapter 10: “Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices may be installed on emergency escape or rescue windows, doors or window wells or any required exit door, provided: 1. The devices are equipped with approved release mechanisms which are openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort; and 2. The building is equipped with smoke alarms installed in accordance with California Building Code, Part 2, Section 907.

nstalled on emergency escape or rescue windows, doors or window_ wells or any required exit door, provided: 1. The devices are equipped with approved release mechanisms which are openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort; and 2. The building is equipped with smoke alarms installed in accordance with California Building Code, Part 2, Section 907.

Such bars, grilles, grates or similar devices shall be equipped with an approved release device for use by the fire department only on the exterior side for the purpose of fire department emergency access, when required by the authority having jurisdiction.” (3) A statement regarding the necessity of installing early warning smoke alarms (as required by the California Building Code, Part 2, Section 907) and planning occupant’s escape routes and meeting places. (4) Contact the local building and fire official to determine if a local ordinance requires a building permit prior to installa- tion and if the burglar bars are required to have a release mechanism on the outside for use by the fire department in the event of a fire emergency.

10-62 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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(5) Written directions and illustrations on the operation of the emergency escape release mechanisms. These directions shall include a warning that the mechanisms be tested on a monthly basis.

(b) The textual information required by this section shall be printed in a minimum 12-point nondecorative lettering providing a sharp contrast to the background.

(c) Graphical information required by this section shall be of sufficient size to clearly illustrate the intended actions.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.4] Warning Information Location.

When placed on burglar bar packaging, the information required by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 4.3 shall be conspicuously located and shall not be covered or made illegible by product advertising not required by Section 4.3.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.5(a)] Contractor or Installer Disclosures.

Any contractor or installer of burglar bars shall provide the owner of the residential dwelling the warning information required pursu- ant to California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 4.3 prior to installing burglar bars.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.6(a) and (b)] Prohibited Installations.

No person shall install for profit unopenable burglar bars on a residential dwelling:

(a) Where the California Building Code requires openable burglar bars for emergency escape or rescue, or

(b) On mobile homes, manufactured homes or multi-unit manufactured housing unless at least one window or door to the exterior in each bedroom is openable for emergency escape or rescue.

[BE] 1031.3 Emergency escape and rescue openings. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall comply with Sections 1031.3.1 through 1031.3.3.

[BE] 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] ).

[BE] 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.

[BE] 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.

[BE] 1031.4 Emergency escape and rescue doors. Where a door is provided as the required emergency escape and rescue opening, it shall be a swinging door or a sliding door.

[BE] 1031.5 Area wells. 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.

[BE] 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.

[BE] 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.

[BE] 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.

[BE] 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.

[BE] 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 of the California Building Code .

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 of the Califor- nia Building Code .

[BE] 1031.6 Bars, grilles, covers and screens. Where bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are permitted to be 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 escape and rescue opening.

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