Two Story Home Windows Take Extra Care In Choosing

Choosing two story home windows (and other multi-story homes) requires special attention to several important factors. The primary concerns for two story home windows are: safety, emergency escape, structural considerations, and maintenance.

Let’s look at some of these concerns when choosing two story home windows.

1. Safety and Fall Prevention

• Window Fall Protection: Building codes often require measures to prevent accidental falls from windows on upper stories, especially when the window sill is low. Local building codes are usually concerned with window sills below 24″ to 36″ from the floor.
  • Low Sill Height: If a window is installed with a sill height below the code-mandated minimum, it must include safety features.
  • Safety Mechanisms: This can be achieved using window opening control devices that limit the window opening to less than 4 inches, or guards/railings that are permanently affixed and prevent the passage of a 4-inch sphere. These devices must typically be releasable in an emergency (for egress windows).
  • Safety Glazing: Tempered or laminated safety glass may be required in windows near the floor, near doors, or in other designated “hazardous locations” to prevent injury from glass breakage.

2. Emergency Escape and Rescue (Egress)

• Egress Requirements: Every sleeping room (bedroom) on the second and third stories must have at least one emergency escape and rescue opening (EERO), which is typically a window, that meets specific size and height criteria to allow occupants to escape and firefighters to enter.
  • Minimum Clear Opening: The window, when fully open, must have a minimum net clear opening area. Local codes vary and will specify if a 5.7 square feet opening for above-grade floors is require for egress.
  • Minimum Dimensions: Often, two story home windows must have a minimum net clear opening height and a minimum net clear opening width which is usually 24 inches high by 20 inches wide.
  • Maximum Sill Height: The bottom of the clear opening must be no more than 44 inches above the finished floor, ensuring it is accessible without a ladder or step stool.
  • Operability: The window must be easily and fully operable from the inside without the use of tools, keys, or special knowledge.

3. Structural and Environmental Considerations

• Wind Load Resistance: Upper-story windows are exposed to higher wind pressures than those on the first floor.
  • Performance Rating: Windows must be selected with a design pressure (DP) rating that meets or exceeds the wind load requirements for the specific building height, location, and exposure category. Usually, single story and first floor windows require a DP of 30-35 while second and third floor windows the recommendation is for a higher DP of 40-50.
• Air and Water Penetration: Higher winds also increase the risk of air and water leakage. High-quality seals, proper flashing, and a low Air Leakage (AL) rating are crucial to prevent water infiltration and maintain energy efficiency.

4. Maintenance and Cleaning

• Cleaning Access: Cleaning the exterior of upper-story windows can be challenging or dangerous. Consider window types that simplify this process:
  • Tilt-in or Tilt-wash windows (common for double-hung) allow the sash to pivot inward for interior cleaning of the exterior surface.
  • Casement windows (crank out) or gliding windows can sometimes be cleaned from inside, depending on the size and location.
  • Magnetic cleaners or long telescoping poles are often required for windows that don’t allow easy interior access.

5. Energy Efficiency

Should 2nd and 3rd floor windows have better ratings than first floor windows?

• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): On upper floors, windows are less likely to be shaded by adjacent structures, so managing solar heat gain is very important, especially on south or west-facing elevations. A lower SHGC rating helps reduce cooling costs. The rooms will also be more comfortable.
• U-Factor: A low U-factor is always important for insulation, minimizing heat loss in the winter.

Which Brands Are Best For Two Story Home Windows?

Honestly, all of our nearly two dozen quality brands work well on multi-story homes. Choose from Infinity from Marvin, Western Windows and Doors, Anlin, Don Young Windows, etc. What should really determine the brand you pick is the type of material, the color and opening style. Each manufacturer publishes their specification on the NFRC label on each window and door.

The brands we offer are the highest quality windows available. Best Products, is one of our three promises to you. Fully vetted, sold, installed and serviced by the Best People who always treat customers, employees and the public with kindness, respect and dignity! Every window we install comes with our Lifetime Leak-Free Guarantee because we have honed our craft and scripted every procedure. The result is our third promise of Best Processes!

What Window Frame and Style Is Recommended for Two Story Home Windows

Remember that multi-story windows have special design and safety measures to consider.

1. Upper story widows receive higher wind forces. Get the code recommended design pressure rating. Fiberglass, Composite, and Aluminum windows have the sturdiest frames. Quality vinyl frames with sufficient DP ratings work as well.
2. Building codes require windows on upstairs bedrooms to have a proper egress opening. This is not only for fire escape but, also for rescue. It should be noted that picture windows do not offer egress. Sliding windows and single-hung windows offer sufficient egress.
3. Remember not to block your windows and make sure they remain easy to operate.

Comparative Tensile Strength of Window Frames in pounds per square inch (PSI):

• Aluminum: 22,000 to 32,000 PSI
• Fiberglass: 7-8 times stronger than vinyl…almost as strong as steel.
• Wood: 12,400 to 14,400 PSI
• Vinyl: 5,000 to 8,000 PSI

Learn More By Visiting Our Houston Showroom!