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A window well cover is a sheet of material manufactured to fit over the top of an exposed window well to cover the well and basement window. Its purpose is to prevent accidental falls inside the window well and to prevent buildup of water, snow, and debris in the window well which could lead to basement flooding.
Contents
Materials
Window well covers are available in different materials:
Polycarbonate window well covers provide added durability over their polyethylene counterparts. Covers made from polycarbonate are more than 200 times stronger than covers made from polyethylene and can withstand temperature changes with less expansion.
Window well covers made from metal typically only allow air-flow and protection from large objects entering the window well such as people, large falling debris, and large pets. These style of covers can be combined with a clear plastic top cover made of Polycarbonate or Polyethylene to provide protection from water, snow, and smaller debris.
Home inspection requirements
Regarding window well cover strength and operation, the International Code Council (ICC) 2007 edition, Section 3.4, states that window well covers shall support "a minimum live load of 40 pounds per square foot. The cover shall be operable from within the window well without the use of tools or special knowledge, and shall require no more than 30 pounds of force to fully open."
Depending on the type of basement window, and if the basement window extends above the well, a window well cover may be required to allow enough clearance for the basement window to open properly in case of emergency egress. Casement, hopper, and awning style basement windows require extra room in order to function properly.
Liability
There have been historical instances where unprotected window wells have been the center of lawsuits against homeowners and landlords. In the case of MULL v. KERSTETTER 373 Pa.Super. 228 (1988), a volunteer firefighter was injured after falling into an unprotected window well, the court ruled that a police officer entering land in his or her official capacity, and in response to a call for assistance, is viewed as a “licensee”, and is therefore owed the same duty of care that any citizen who is permitted to be on the property would receive.