Do security bars or window grates affect egress compliance?

Yes. Security bars or fixed grates installed over egress windows will cause the window to fail egress compliance unless they meet a specific requirement under IRC R310. Fixed bars that cannot be released from the interior make the window unusable as an emergency exit and are prohibited on egress windows in sleeping rooms.

The code allows security bars and grates on egress windows only if they can be opened or released from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or special knowledge and without requiring force greater than required to operate the window itself. These are called quick-release or breakaway security bars, and they are available from specialty hardware suppliers.

If you have existing security bars on a basement window that is intended to serve as egress for a sleeping room, those bars must be replaced with a quick-release system or removed entirely. Scaldino Basement Solutions checks all of these conditions during the egress window assessment process.

Contact us if you have questions about your specific window and security setup.