Basement egress question

[Dave F]

Hello,

I've looked at other questions, and the code, but its tough to interpret, so I'll ask a specific question. I'm planning an addition that will include a section of new basement. the new section will be 16 feet wide and 20 feet long. It wont be a bedroom, but it may be finished into a family room, or similar. There will be a stairway in this room that will lead up to a foyer that has an exterior door. there will also be a door that leads to the existing basement which has another stairway to the kitchen, and a hatchway that leads outside. Do these two exits meet the code requirements for a finished basement, or does there need to be a third way out. I did not plan to put any windows in this new section of basement, but I want to know if I have to.

Thanks, Dave F

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

[Dave F]

Thanks for the thorough and quick reply.

After reading you response, I looked up the window area requirements. it looks like there needs to be window area equal to 8% of the floor area. that would mean I would need roughly 26 square feet of window area for the 320 square feet of space. That's quite a bit of window area through a basement wall. I would think they would think that much open area in the foundation walls to be a structural integrity issue, but be that as it may, I'm just trying to put together the best plan I can before I talk to the local building inspector.

Thanks again

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]