The Four Types — Three Qualify, One Doesn't
We supply White Vinyl LOW-E Argon Gas windows in three egress-compliant styles. Here's how they compare.
Casement Window
Hinged on the side, swings outward
Casement windows are hinged on one side and swing outward when opened — like a door. This means the entire sash opens, giving you the maximum possible clear opening from the smallest frame size. If your opening is tight, a casement window is almost always the best choice for meeting the 0.35 m² code requirement.
Casements are also easier to operate in an emergency — one hand cranks it open, no sliding or lifting required. The full opening makes them the clearest emergency exit of all egress styles. For most Calgary basement egress window installations, this is what we recommend and what we install most often.
Pros & Cons
Sliding Window
Slides horizontally on a track
Sliding windows open horizontally along a track — one pane slides behind the other. The key limitation is that only half the window opens. This means you need a larger overall frame to achieve the same 0.35 m² clear opening compared to a casement.
Sliding windows are a popular choice where a wider, lower profile is preferred aesthetically, or where the outward swing of a casement creates a clearance issue (near a walkway, patio furniture, or tight exterior space). They work well as egress windows provided the frame is sized correctly. We ensure every sliding egress window we install meets code.
Pros & Cons
Hopper Window
Hinged at the top, swings inward — lies flat at 90°
Hopper windows are hinged at the top and swing inward into the room. When fully open at 90 degrees, the sash lies horizontal — parallel to the ceiling. Because it swings inward, it requires no exterior clearance, making it practical for tight side yards, window wells close to fences, or anywhere an outward-swinging casement is impractical.
The entire sash opens (unlike a sliding window), which means no partial-opening penalty. Hopper windows can meet egress code requirements when properly sized to achieve the 0.35 m² minimum clear opening with no dimension smaller than 380 mm. One consideration: the inward swing means the open sash sits inside the room, so you need ceiling clearance above the window for a full 90° opening.
Pros & Cons
Awning Window & Other Outward-Swinging Styles
Hinged at top or bottom — swings outward
The key rule: any window that swings outward does not qualify as egress, regardless of whether it is hinged at the top or bottom. An awning window (hinged at top, bottom swings out) is the most common example in basements — but a bottom-hinged window that pushes outward fails for the same reason.
When a window swings outward into a window well, it pushes against the well wall and cannot achieve the full unobstructed 0.35 m² clear opening required for emergency exit. The sash itself blocks the exit path. Only inward-opening styles (casement, hopper) or non-swinging styles (sliding) can reliably achieve a compliant, unobstructed egress opening.
If your basement currently has awning windows, those openings need to be upgraded. We cut the existing opening wider if needed and install a code-compliant style. Basement window replacement →
Why Outward-Swinging Fails
