Security Guide
Basement Window Security Bars
Basement windows are the #1 under-secured entry point in most homes. Here's what you need to know.
Updated: May 2026 · Marcus Reid · IDA Certified Security Consultant
Quick Answer
The best window bars for basement windows depend on window type: hopper windows need Model B (wall-mount masonry) because the frame moves; slider windows can use Model A or B. Finished basements used as bedrooms require quick-release egress (Model A/EXIT) under IBC § 1030. Unfinished utility basements: no egress required. Prices start at $99.
Why Basement Windows Are High-Risk
Risk Factor
In 71% of residential burglaries the FBI classifies as "unlawful entry," the point of entry was a first-floor or below-grade window — not the front door. If you have an unbarred basement window, that's where the risk lives.
The FBI's burglary data consistently shows basement windows as one of the top three residential entry points — yet they're the ones homeowners are least likely to secure. Below-grade, obscured by landscaping, rarely alarmed, and often with weaker frames than upper floors. For a burglar who wants to work unobserved, a basement window is the ideal entry.
Basement windows present unique security challenges that make them disproportionately attractive to burglars:
The paradox: homeowners who alarm their front door and deadbolt their back door leave the basement window wide open. Burglars know this.
Hidden from view
Below grade or behind shrubs — burglars can work unobserved
Weaker frames
Older homes often have single-pane hopper windows with minimal frame strength
Missed by alarm sensors
Many homeowners don't alarm basement windows
Easy egress for criminals
Small enough to avoid attention, large enough for entry
Basement Window Types & Bar Compatibility
Type 01
Hopper Windows (Most Common)
Hopper windows are hinged at the bottom and tilt inward for ventilation. Because the frame moves, bars must mount to the surrounding wall, not the window frame. SWB Model B's wall-mount system is purpose-built for this scenario.
Measure the masonry opening (not the window itself). Model B's masonry anchors provide a secure grip in concrete or block foundation walls.
Type 02
Slider / Single-Hung Basement Windows
Sliding basement windows can use either frame-mount (Model A) or wall-mount (Model B) depending on frame material. Measure the clear opening width and height.
Type 03
Glass Block Windows
Glass block provides inherently high security — it's extremely difficult to breach quickly. Window bars over glass block are rarely necessary unless the space has been vandalized previously.
Egress Requirements for Basement Bedrooms
FIRE SAFETY — IBC § 1030
Finished basements used as sleeping areas (bedrooms, guest rooms, in-law suites) are subject to the same IBC § 1030 egress requirements as above-grade bedrooms. If you install bars on basement bedroom windows, you must use Model A/EXIT or add a compliant quick-release kit.
NOT SUBJECT TO EGRESS
Unfinished utility basements, laundry areas, and mechanical rooms are NOT subject to egress requirements.