Spokane basement planning · Glossary
Egress window glossary: terms to know before you get quotes
Installers, permit offices and code documents use specific terms. Here is what they mean, so you can compare quotes and ask better questions.
Send project detailsEmergency escape and rescue opening
The code term for an egress window or door: an operable opening that lets someone get out, and rescuers get in, in an emergency. Required in basements and in each basement sleeping room, with limited exceptions.
Net clear opening
The open area you can actually pass through with the window fully open. The minimum is 5.7 sq ft (5.0 sq ft for grade-floor openings), with at least 24 in of height and 20 in of width.
Sill height
The distance from the finished floor to the bottom of the clear opening. The maximum is 44 in.
Area well (window well)
The excavated space outside a below-grade window. It needs at least 9 sq ft of area, 36 in of projection and 36 in of width, and must let the window open fully.
Horizontal projection
How far the well extends out from the foundation wall, measured horizontally. The minimum is 36 in.
Ladder or steps
Required, and permanently fixed, when a well is deeper than 44 in. Rungs need at least 12 in inside width, at least 3 in projection from the wall (or a 5 in tread) and no more than 18 in vertical spacing.
Public way, yard or court
Where the escape route must lead. A yard or court needs an unobstructed path at least 36 in wide to a public way.
Grade floor
A floor close to outside ground level. The code allows a smaller 5.0 sq ft clear opening for grade-floor openings, but the City of Spokane's below-grade bedroom guidesheet uses 5.7 sq ft, so plan on 5.7 unless the permit office tells you otherwise.
Foundation cut
Sawing a new or enlarged opening in a concrete foundation wall. Ask who does it and who is responsible for any structural detail.
Drainage path
Where water that enters the well goes. Ask the installer to explain it before backfilling.
Utility locates
Marking buried lines before digging. In Washington, excavators notify utilities through the one-number locator service before excavation.
Jurisdiction
The government office that issues your permit. A Spokane mailing address does not always mean the property is inside City of Spokane limits.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-10-14
Common questions
What makes a window an egress window?
It opens from inside without keys or tools, provides the required net clear opening, height and width, has a sill no higher than 44 in, and leads to a usable route outside, including a compliant well if it is below grade.
What is the difference between egress and a regular basement window?
Egress is defined by size and escape route, not location. Many existing basement windows are too small or too high to qualify.