Basement living space

[socaldano]

On the code, the bedroom must have requirements, so many sq feet per person, in most cases a window large enough for light and ventilation (so many sq feet of glass and screen based on size of room, but exceptions exist if acceptable alternate ventilation and light are provided) but waterproof and windproof. the bedroom cannot use another bedroom for egress, the ceiling must be 8', but half the room can be as low as 7.5'. The bedroom must have two exits. did I miss any?

Really my question is "when is a sectioned off basement space a bedroom". I would think a 10x8 or larger room with two exits, at least one not through another bedroom. Two exits can be a walk out stairs and stairs to the house, or a window of sufficient size and not more than a certain height from floor or permanent step.

Moderator note: The post has incorrect information that is now struck through. I woulkd have deleted the entire post but that would delete the thread and other members have put in time here so I chose to strike the BS and keep the rest.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

On the code, the bedroom must have requirements, so many sq feet per person, in most cases a window large enough for light and ventilation (so many sq feet of glass and screen based on size of room, but exceptions exist if acceptable alternate ventilation and light are provided) but waterproof and windproof. the bedroom cannot use another bedroom for egress, the ceiling must be 8', but half the room can be as low as 7.5'. The bedroom must have two exits. did I miss any?

Really my question is "when is a sectioned off basement space a bedroom". I would think a 10x8 or larger room with two exits, at least one not through another bedroom. Two exits can be a walk out stairs and stairs to the house, or a window of sufficient size and not more than a certain height from floor or permanent step.

Where did you find a requirement for 50 s.f. per person? That's not in the IRC as adopted in my state, and it's not in the 2021 model IRC as published by the ICC.

Also, minimum ceiling height for habitable spaces is 7 feet, not 8 feet.

 

[steveray]

On the code, the bedroom must have requirements, so many sq feet per person, in most cases a window large enough for light and ventilation (so many sq feet of glass and screen based on size of room, but exceptions exist if acceptable alternate ventilation and light are provided) but waterproof and windproof. the bedroom cannot use another bedroom for egress, the ceiling must be 8', but half the room can be as low as 7.5'. The bedroom must have two exits. did I miss any?

Really my question is "when is a sectioned off basement space a bedroom". I would think a 10x8 or larger room with two exits, at least one not through another bedroom. Two exits can be a walk out stairs and stairs to the house, or a window of sufficient size and not more than a certain height from floor or permanent step.

Min 7' any direction
50 sq feet per person
window 5.7 square feet which opens
ceiling 8', never less than 7', average cannot be less than 7.5'
2 exits, one cannot be through another bedroom (the other can)

Where are you getting your code knowledge? Do they have a return policy?

 

[socaldano]

Where are you getting your code knowledge? Do they have a return

 

[socaldano]

Where did you find a requirement for 50 s.f. per person? That's not in the IRC as adopted in my state, and it's not in the 2021 model IRC as published by the ICC.

Also, minimum ceiling height for habitable spaces is 7 feet, not 8 feet.

My bad, I chased these down and sourced them from somewhere and did not cite it. Inspectors in my area come up with all kinds of requirements not in the building code. We are constantly in debate about what constitutes a bedroom. Last year, one try to tell me each bedroom MUST have a closet, and the ceiling height is only 7.5' on one wall. Many local inspectors refuse to acknowledge a basement can have a bedroom. I was in a bit of a hurry and used one state's requirements without properly citing it.

 

[Gregg Harris]

Missouri building codes require that basement bedrooms have an emergency escape route, such as a window or door. The escape route must be operable without special tools or knowledge.

Escape route requirements

• The window or door must open directly to the outside
  
  
• The bottom of the window's clear opening can't be more than 44 inches above the floor
  
  
• The minimum clear opening must be 24 inches high and 20 inches wide
  
  
• The minimum net clear opening must be 5 square feet
  
  
• If the sill height is below grade, the window must have a window well
  

Other basement bedroom requirements

• Smoke detectors must be installed in sleeping rooms, within 3 feet of basement stairs, and in close proximity outside sleeping rooms
  
  
• The minimum finish ceiling height for habitable spaces is 7 feet
  
  
• R-13 insulation is required on all exterior walls
  
  
• All subfloor penetrations must be sealed before installing ceiling finishes
  

Permits
A permit is required to finish a basement area into living space. Str

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

My bad, I chased these down and sourced them from somewhere and did not cite it. Inspectors in my area come up with all kinds of requirements not in the building code. We are constantly in debate about what constitutes a bedroom. Last year, one try to tell me each bedroom MUST have a closet, and the ceiling height is only 7.5' on one wall. Many local inspectors refuse to acknowledge a basement can have a bedroom. I was in a bit of a hurry and used one state's requirements without properly citing it.

We probably can't help you with things local inspectors make up that aren't in the code.

 

[ICE]

Inspectors in my area come up with all kinds of requirements not in the building code.

Since you are aware of that, please do not post those ridiculous requirements as if they are actual code. That will keep the forum on the right path and relieve moderators from having to delete the wrong information.

 

[ICE]

The minimum net clear opening must be 5 square feet

If it is a grade floor opening the minumim is 5 square feet. While it is easy to assume that a basement EERO would qualify it is just as easy to assume that it would not and if not, that requires a 5.7 square foot opening.

GRADE FLOOR OPENING. A window or other opening located such that the sill height of the opening is not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above or below the finished ground level adjacent to the opening. (See also “Emergency escape and rescue opening.”)