Snow, a problem for Egress TAGS: Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

  This year it seems that everyone is shoveling snow.  No matter where you live in the country.  There seems to be snow EVERYWHERE!  My question; is that snow making it impossible to use your Egress Window?  Please be sure to clear off your egress well cover so that lifting it in case of an emergency is easy.  Too much weight from accumulated snow on top of your cover can make it difficult or impossible to open.  More house fires occur during the winter than any other time of the year.  So now is the time to be sure to keep …Continue reading →

Fire Prevention Week TAGS: basement | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Last week was Notional Fire Prevention Week in the United States and Canada – an event we always take serious at Egresswindows.com because of the nature of what we sell; a product that has been proven to save lives during fires time after time. National Fire Prevention Week dates back to 1922, and occurs every year during the week that includes October 9th. The reason October 9th was picked it because it’s the date of the Great Chicago Fire – one of the greatest fires in modern history, which destroyed more than 17,000 structures in 1871, and left over 100,000 …Continue reading →

Egress Windows More Important Than Ever TAGS: basement egress windows | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

There are a whole host of reasons why basement egress windows are a good addition to your home – including better air circulation, more natural light and simply better aesthetics. But as this recent story from St. Paul, Minnesota reminds us – the most important reason for having them is to save lives. The St. Paul Star Tribune recently published an article that serves as a chilling reminder of the importance of a safe means of egress. It reported the narrow escape of a St. Mary’s University graduate, who was trapped inside her parent’s basement when the house caught fire. …Continue reading →

Safety First – Egress Windows, Fire Extinguishers & More in Basement Apartments TAGS: Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Let’s take a quick look at the basement safety essentials. Renovating or refinishing a basement is a fantastic way to increase the livable space in your home, and increase your property values. However, it’s a project worth doing right – if your basement space isn’t completed to match building code, it can actually hurt your home’s value – and, even worse, pose a life-threatening risk to anybody occupying it. Basement apartments are at the top of the list when it comes to basement projects that require attention to safety details. Features like kitchens and water-heaters pose the same risk of …Continue reading →

The Utility of Basement Window Wells TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement remodel ideas | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Many household utilities are located in the basement – which is why a window well is an important addition to your finished basement. Basements are one of the most functional areas of any home – a great place to locate important utilities like a furnace, hot water heater and electric boxes out of sight, and away from children. But utilities are one of the leading causes of fires – so placing them downstairs, in a basement, increases the risk of a basement fire. If one breaks out – does your basement have a means of egress? A means of egress …Continue reading →

Wooden Stairs Pose a Risk During Basement Fires TAGS: Egress windows | emergeny escape | Installing an Egress Window | means of egress | Refinishing your basement | safe basement exit

If the stairs to your basement are made from wood, a means of egress is especially important. The vast majority of American homes are made using simple wooden framing in their construction – and while this is an affordable, durable and versatile material; it’s also vulnerable to fire. As a result, one of the “hot spots” of fire risk has always been basement stairs. If they’re made of wood, they can quickly become inaccessible and unsafe in the event of a fire; trapping people downstairs. This is why adding a means of egress to your basement is so important – …Continue reading →

Basement Window Wells Saved a Book Collector’s Life TAGS: basement egress windows | basement remodel ideas | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Bruno Holmes is a rare book collector, who remembers vividly why he is passionate about fire safety in his new basement library. “Back when I was working in England,” explains Bruno Holmes, a rare book dealer for a prestigious auction house in New York City, “I was caught in a fire once that nearly claimed my life.” Born and raised in the south coast of England, Bruno’s first foray into collector’s books was running a second hand bookshop in a basement-level store in greater London. “It was an old Georgian building, accessible by steps in the front, and a little …Continue reading →

If you can’t stand the heat, can you get out of the kitchen? TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

I thought it would be a good idea to look at one of the most important reasons why a basement window well is important – kitchen fires. Basement apartments are a great option for homeowners looking to bring in a little extra money, and for renters looking for an affordable and well-located place to live. There are drawbacks that need to be addressed, though – and one of them is safety. Adding a fully functional kitchen into a basement apartment presents the risk (fortunately a small one) of a fire breaking out down there. And if that happens, how will …Continue reading →

Fire Prevention Safety Week: Prevent Kitchen Fires TAGS: basement egress windows | Egress windows | emergency escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

This week is national Fire Prevention Safety Week – and this year they’re striking out against the leading cause of fires at home. “More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home,” warn the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), during their Fire Prevention Safety Week. “Cooking is the leading cause home fires and home fire injuries. Between 2007 and 2011, U.S. Fire Departments responded to an estimated annual average of 156,600 cooking-related fires – resulting in 400 civilian deaths, 5,080 civilian injuries and $853 million in direct damage.” Kitchen fires hit particularly close to home …Continue reading →

Meeting Egress Requirements with a Basement Rental Apartment: Making the Most of your Space TAGS: Adding egress windows | basement egress windows | building codes | Egress windows | emergeny escape | means of egress | safe basement exit

Over the course of the next few blog posts, we’ll be examining some of the best ways to expand your home and make use of your available basement space. In this post we will address the right way to meet egress requirements for a finished basement turned rental apartment. America is in the midst of a crisis right now – even a couple of years after the recession supposedly ended. The problem is that millions of American homeowners have been hit hard by the housing crash and now owe more on their homes than their properties are actually worth. One …Continue reading →