by Bob Rood » Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:03 pm
With the adoption of the 2007 State Residential Code, the language relating to basements with habitable space has been deleted. In new construction all basements require an emergency escape regardless of their use. The habitable question is now a moot point.
The question now is how to deal with existing basements where no sleeping room is proposed, and a building permit application has been received to "finish" the space. Even though there are requirements concerning framing, mechanical, electrical, etc. the addition of cosmetic finishes, and interior partitions, may not change the original use of the space.
There is nothing I can find in the code that addresses, other than the addition of a sleeping room where none previously existed, the requirement for an emergency escape in an existing basement. Keep in mind that the upstairs bedrooms are also probably noncompliant.