Fire Escape

Fit a fire escape and you may not be taking those three steps to heaven for a bit longer!

Climb on the ladder and find safety - have you thought about how you would evacuate your family in the event of a fire?

Fitting a fire escape can be done by either a professional installation company or by any competent DIY person. To fit a fire escape you will need several steel gratings and ladders to connect them. There are a few simple steps to follow starting, as always, by considering the basic function of the facility.

The function of a fire escape is to provide your premises with an emergency exit which ideally would be sited as far away from the main exit(s) as possible. This will make a dramatic difference to the time it takes to evacuate the building in the event of a fire. If you can, choose an area inside the building which does not receive an excess of human traffic but which, at the same time, is easy to get to for anyone in its vicinity.

To fit the fire escape decide which window provides the best exit from the building. Having a specific window in mind will help you specify the ladder requirements of the fire escape. Normally, the window with the least height one can drop to the ground is ideal. It is also advisable to avoid windows that have other windows below them.

If the window you have chosen is a vertical normal window, you can just take its measurements. Using a plumb line or tape, measure the length from the outside sill to the ground. If the window you have chosen is sloping, measure the length between the sloping roof window and the edge of the roof. Then measure the length from the roof to the ground. The length will give the measurements of a ladder that will meet your requirements. Different ladders in the market leave one spoilt for choice. One can choose between rung or chain ladders. Other ladders are collapsible and others may be fixed permanently outside or inside the window. There should be an escape balcony - this is a residential accessory that provides safety from fire.

For a vertical window, an X-IT Ladder is appropriate for any height not exceeding 7.6 meters. It has an adjustable frame that hooks over the wall. The X-IT ladder can be folded for easy storage and does not require any permanent fixings. It has an adjustable hook that is attached to the wall instead of the window. It also reduces swinging when one is climbing down because of its semi-rigidity.

If the window is sloping, a Rollo Ladder will serve better. This type of ladder is designed to be used in unusual escape windows although it is fitted like the X-IT ladder. However, if the Rollo ladder does not fit the window correctly you can detach the frame. Using eyebolts, you can fit the ladder below the window or into the main roof timber. Using this type of ladder can help you or your child get over the roof guttering. When being deployed over the roof it is designed not to get tangled. The ladder can be folded away for storage.

Another option is the Modum Fold Out Fire Escape Ladder. This is a permanently installed device that changes from a drain-like slim shape to a sturdy ladder. It easy to climb and can be used by the elderly and children. It can also be used in multi-storey buildings where each escape window has a release station. It can withstand more or less any weather conditions.

Fires start easily and having a fire escape in the house can help your family in case of a fire. Fire escapes are particularly important if everyone sleeps upstairs and the fire is downstairs thus cutting off the normal exit route. Having regular fire drills will speed up the evacuation process in the event of a real fire as well as highlighting problem areas like bottlenecks, unclear instructions etc.

It's never too late and always better late than never when it comes to fitting a fire escape.