How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

Do replacement bedroom windows have to meet the current emergency egress standards of the Florida Building Code?

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

No. Any repairs, alterations, or additons to a home must comply with the Florida Building Code - Existing Building, which has separate standards than the Florida Building Code that is used for new construction. It is specifically for work done on existing structures and does not require that everything be brought up to current code for new buildings. For replacement bedroom windows, it only requires two things:

  1. The replacement window must be the manufacturer’s largest size that will fit within the existing frame or existing rough opening.
  2. The new window must provide equal or greater opening area as the one it replaces, and can be of the same operating style—so you can even replace jalousie with jalousie if you want.


    Here is the full citation, which is at 702.5 of the 2017 edition of the code:

    Also, see our blog post Why are window security bars dangerous?


 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •  

  To learn more about doors and windows, see these other blog posts:

What causes sweating (condensation) on the inside of windows in the winter? 

Is every exterior door of a house required to have a landing outside? 

 What are the small slots at the bottom of the outside of my window? 

Why does condensation form on the outside of some windows and not others in the morning? 

Why if the garage door track a white tube? 

What is the raised metal plate on the floor under the garage door?

 Why do I have to hold down the button to close the garage door? 

 Where is safety/tempered glass required for the windows of a house?

How can I tell if a window or glass door is safety glass? 

Should a front door swing in or out? 

Why is pressure washing double pane windows an expensive mistake? 

How many exit doors are required for a house?

 How many exit doors are required for a mobile/manufactured home? 

Are openable windows required to have window screens? Will windows with no screens pass a home inspection? 

Can a bedroom door open into the garage?

What are the building code requirements for a door from the garage to the house?

What is "low-E" window glass? 

What does ANSI 297.1 on glass mean?

Why is a double cylinder deadbolt lock on an exterior door a safety hazard?

How can I check my garage door to make sure it is safe?  

What is an egress window?

Does a home inspector test all the windows and doors in a home? 

How difficult is it to change a window to french doors or a sliding glass door?

How do you determine if a door is left-handed or right-handed?

What are the common problems you find inspecting windows?

What is causing a foggy haze on my windows? 

What do those numbers on the manufacturer's stickers in new windows mean?

What does a home inspector check on an electric garage door? 

• What is the tempered label on glass at windows and sliding glass doors called?

• Do I need to have two exterior exit doors in my house? 

• When is safety glass required for windows at stairs and stair landings?

• Is tempered/safety glass required by the building code for windows and doors? 

    Visit our DOORS AND WINDOWS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

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