Exterior Window Allowed on Fire-Rated Stair?

7/8/2026

Is a window allowed in the exterior wall of a fire rated egress stair enclosure?

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9 Comments

Glenn Berger

7/8/2026 08:32:11 am

YES -

NFPA 101 has requirements that addresses discharge from the means of egress that could be applicable in your complete design.

Chad

7/8/2026 08:35:11 am

As long as they can afford the appropriate fire rated window yes. It will need to be fixed, not operable.

In line with the egress stair enclosure rating. Its part of the enclosure.

Chad

7/8/2026 08:37:31 am

As it turns out, from the appendix, the 'intent' is no but this is not strictly enforcable

1 NFPA 101 (2024)

A.7.1.3.2.1(8)
Means of egress from the level of exit discharge is permitted to pass through an exit stair enclosure or exit passageway serving other floors. Doors for convenience purposes and unrelated to egress also are permitted to provide access to and from exit stair enclosures and exit passageways, provided that such doors are from corridors or normally occupied spaces. It is also the intent of this provision to prohibit exit enclosure windows, other than approved vision panels in doors, that are not mounted in an exterior wall.

Chad

7/8/2026 08:38:27 am

wait you said exterior wall, disregard.

chad

7/8/2026 08:39:05 am

wait you said exterior wall, disregard

Todd Wyatt

7/8/2026 08:36:20 am

It depends on the following ...

Non-fire rated resistance (FRR) openings (e.g. exterior windows) are permitted in FRR Interior Exit Stairways (IES ... 1 or 2-Hrs) if the Exterior Wall (EW) of the IES are exposed by other parts of the building at an angle of greater than180 degrees" per IBC-2024 1023.7.

Depending on the window's height from the landings and flights, the glazing in these non-FRR openings may require safety glazing per IBC-2024 2406.4.6 Glazing Adjacent to Stairways and Ramps.

If the Exterior Walls (EW) including the non-FRR IES EWs are required to be FRR based on the Type of Construction (e.g. Bearing Walls - Exterior ... BWE), the non-FRR openings are not required to be rated. However, if the EWs are FRR based on the Fire Separation Diastance (FSD), these openings may be required to be protected ... either by rated glazing and/or provided with a Fire Shutter.

Tim link

7/8/2026 09:17:07 am

The simple answer is that if the wall is not required to be rated, then openings are allowed.

Kelley Stalder

7/8/2026 09:30:33 am

Yes, under NFPA 101 in fire rated stairs of 1 hour or less, a fire-rated window assembly is permitted (8.3.3.5.3, 2024 edition)

Jack G

7/8/2026 11:08:23 am

Depends . If not bigger than 10x 10 inches and glazed properly no.
If bigger than window sprinklers are required if stair window is at a right angle and within 10 feet of the main building per the IBC. Please review.
Balacynwood library phila. Pa.

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Exterior Window Allowed on Fire-Rated Stair?

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