Floor To Window Sill Height

In dwelling units where the top of the sill of an operable window opening is located less than 24 inches 610 mm above the finished floor and greater than 72 inches 1829 mm above the finished grade or other surface below on the exterior of the building the operable window shall comply with one of the following.

Floor to window sill height.

Minimum window sill heights the 2012 ibc international building code and the irc international residential code requires the bottom sill of operable windows to be a minimum height above the interior floor when they are 72 inches or more above the grade outside the window. Also note that if a window is being used to meet the egress requirements in addition to the above the sill height of the window shall not be more than 44 inches above the finished floor. Standard height of window from floor level. Similarly many windows can be set lower than the common height of 3 feet above the floor.

In the 2012 ibc the required height of the window sill. Some windows based on their height from the floor or ground must be made of tempered glass. So there are two levels that are important while placing the window in position. But if nothing is in front of the window lowering the sill will increase ventilation the more operable glass the greater the air flow and allow you to bring in.

When a door is being used to meet the egress requirements it must be either a side hinged door or a slider. Window sill materials traditionally window sills were made of wood stone granite brick or other locally available materials that made their construction convenient and inexpensive. Minimum window sill heights according to the 2018 irc all windows that are more than 6 feet above the grade outside the window must have a bottom opening a minimum of 24 inches above the room s interior floor. The 24 inch sill height is typically above a small child s center of gravity reducing the likelihood of the child s toppling over the sill.

Operable windows with openings that will not allow a 4 inch diameter 102 mm. The minimum window sill height requirements are intended to reduce the number of injuries from falls by children through open windows. The location of the windows is critical when choosing the glass used. If you adjust the height of the installation you may be able to opt out of using this specialty glass and install regular window glass instead.

The code regulates this minimum sill height only. Window and window sills are installed at a standard height generally accepted by most contractors unless other design considerations come into play.