If you are planning on adding a bedroom to your home, there are a few standard requirements that should be taken into consideration. It might seem pretty cut and dry but there are some things that you might not think about but must exist.If you are planning on adding a bedroom to your home, there are a few standard requirements that should be taken into consideration. It might seem pretty cut and dry but there are some things that you might not think about but must must be abided by.
The Entrance:
A bedroom must have two forms of entrances and exits. The main door leading to the bedroom and either another door or a window that can be used as an exit.
Another Exit:
A bedroom must have another form of exit besides the entrance door. A door that leads to the outside of the house can be your point of exit. A window may also serve as an exit point.
The Window:
The International Residential Code states a bedroom window should be between 24 to 44 inches from the floor. It should have an opening of at least 5.7 square feet and cannot measure less than 24 inches high and 20 inches wide (R310.1)
Note:
By all states, a second entrance or exit is mandatory in case of fires or other disasters in order for those inside can escape. That includes doors and windows.
The Ceiling:
Although the average bedroom ceiling is around 8 feet, 7 feet is the minimum height of a ceiling. Although some areas can be less than that, 7 feet must equal 50 percent. In newer, high ceiling homes, the ceilings are higher even than 8 feet, so this standard is not really an issue. (R305.1)
Room Size:
The International Residential Code requires a bedroom must be at least 70 square feet and cannot be smaller than 7 feet in any horizontal direction. (R304.2) (R304.4)
All of the above define what is a bedroom. The size, entrance/exit, light and ventilation all matter.
Closets:
Many people have asked whether a closet is required in a bedroom. Although it is not required, there probably should be one. Should you sell your home, a buyer is not going to be interested in a bedroom that is minus a closet. Although there is no code addressing closets, you might want to consider what the real estate market would expect or what would be required by your local city or county. In most newer homes, closets are pretty much a requirement for most home owners.
Talking much older, historical homes, closets are not mandatory because these homes did not come with closets. A perfect example are your classical Victorian homes, they did not generally have closets.
Just A Neat Piece Of Trivia:
The reason Victorian homes did not have closets was because, back then, a homeowner’s taxes were based on the number of rooms within the home. Closets were considered rooms! Almost all Victorian homes made the armoire (wardrobe closet) a very popular fixture.
