Make sure window replacement maintains life-saving feature

A fatal fire at a boarding house near 22nd and M Streets in late December 2014 prompted questions about Omaha building code.

Video: 7 CAN HELP: Make sure window replacement maintains life-saving feature

As the investigation into what sparked the fire continues, the city's chief building inspector is going public -- warning residents about a often-overlooked part of the code that's in place to help people escape a house or apartment: Egress windows.

"They're one part of what saves lives," said Jay Davis, permits and inspections superintendent for the City of Omaha. "You're looking at the front door, you're looking at egress windows and most importantly, you're looking at smoke detectors to alert you to get out of these egress windows."

READ THE CITY CODE ABOUT EGRESS WINDOWS

What is an egress window? It's a window required in every sleeping room of a residential property. Per city code, an egress window must provide an opening no smaller than 5.7 square feet. The window serves a dual purpose -- letting occupants escape outside and giving firefighters an alternate entrance to the building.

The problem, according to Davis: Some contractors --unbeknownst to homeowners --are cutting corners during windowreplacement jobs, and substituting an egress window with a smaller window.

Davis says it happens with alarming frequency, especially when contractors use pocket windows on replacement jobs.

"They take [the original window] out and they put [the pocket window in] this opening, decreasing the size that was originally there," Davis explained.

That's not to say contractors can't properly install pocket windows following the city code for egress -- it just takes more care.

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Make sure window replacement maintains life-saving feature