Egress Window for Safe, Bright & Code-Compliant Basement

An egress window is a building code-required window that provides a safe emergency exit from a basement or below-grade space. It must meet specific size and operability standards defined in the National Building Code of Canada and its provincial adoptions. Egress windows serve as critical components for fire safety, natural light access, and passive ventilation. Common types include casement windows and sliding windows, each installed with a window well, clear opening, and compliant sill height to allow unassisted escape during emergencies.

At least one egress window is required in every basement bedroom or any habitable basement space used for sleeping, according to building code. If a basement includes multiple bedrooms, each must have its own dedicated egress window that meets minimum clear opening area, width and height, and sill height criteria. The intent of this requirement, as specified by the Canadian Building Code, is to ensure that each occupant has an independent means of emergency exit in case of fire or other emergencies.

Yes, modern egress windows installed by Norden Seal include energy-saving features such as Low-E glass and insulated frames. These windows help regulate indoor temperatures, reduce heat loss, and improve thermal insulation in below-grade spaces. Our models are Energy Star-rated and include air leakage control for better moisture and condensation prevention.

An egress window resembles a standard basement window but is larger, fully operable, and installed to meet emergency exit standards. Common configurations include casement windows, which hinge on one side and open outward, and sliding windows, which move horizontally. The unit is often paired with a galvanized steel window well, drainage gravel, and a well cover. The entire assembly is integrated into the foundation wall and sealed with a waterproof membrane to prevent leakage.

No, egress windows are not permitted to open inward under Canadian Building Code and IRC guidelines. The window must open outward or slide horizontally to avoid blocking escape routes in an emergency. Inward-opening designs may obstruct exit due to furniture, interior walls, or structural limitations. For this reason, outward-opening casement windows are most frequently used in residential egress applications.

Yes, properly installed egress windows are waterproof when sealed with drainage systems, waterproof membranes, and backfill gravel. Norden Seal integrates foundation-grade waterproofing solutions into each installation, including weeping tiles, sealed window wells, and sill flashing. While the window itself may feature insulated glass and air-tight frames, the surrounding system must be engineered to manage water infiltration from heavy rainfall or snowmelt.

A complete egress window installation runs $3,100 to $7,750. That breaks down as $650 to $2,500 for the window, $1,050 to $2,850 for excavation and installation, $350 to $750 for the window well, $100 to $500 for a cover, and $1,050 to $1,650 for permits. The spread depends on foundation depth, soil conditions, and whether drainage work is required.

The clear opening must be at least 0.35 square metres, which is 3.77 square feet, with no single dimension under 380 mm or 15 inches, and the sill cannot sit more than 1.5 metres or 59 inches above the finished floor. Clear opening means the actual open area when the sash is fully open, not the frame size. A casement typically hits the minimum in a smaller frame than a slider.

No. Only basement bedrooms require one, and only where the bedroom has no door leading directly outside. Other basement windows can be any size. If you are finishing a basement and creating a bedroom, the egress window is not optional and an inspector will look for it.

Two to three days for a single window in most cases. Day one is excavation and foundation cutting, day two is window and well installation, and day three is backfill, drainage, and finishing. Permit approval beforehand typically takes one to three weeks depending on the municipality. Frozen ground in a Prairie winter extends the excavation stage.