Windows in a corner, off a floor

bmt1970

I am adding on a single story addition and have a question. How close can a window be to the corner? Is there a code, or even a best practice out there?

Second, how far off the floor can they be. I have heard 18" and anything lower must be tempered. Is this universal?

thanks.

Just Bill

I have seen windows that wrap around a corner, but that takes some pretty heavy cantilever support.

IRC R613 deals with windows. Must be 24" above floor level, or if below 24", must be fixed glass or with no opening larger than 4". R308.4 states that glass below 24" must be tempered.

Localities alter the code to suit their requirements, check yours.

jlhaslip

Tempered glass isn't expensive.
I just priced a window a a double pane unit was $44 using standard glass, $57 using tempered on both sides.
Unit was about 24 " x 24 ".

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Gary in WA

Look on your approved plans. If a continuous sheathed wall, the minimum required panel at the corner is stated by your building department. OR it has to be engineered to tie the header ( mechanical connection) to the main run to transmit the wind/seismic forces at the corner loads to the earth. Shear flow is important to a wall.

Be safe, Gary

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