| Fires start quick and spread even quicker which often | | | | your children and your residents. The escape ladder |
| leads to panic during a dangerous situation. A well | | | | itself will be marked if approved by ATSM so this is |
| prepared home is the best defense for saving your | | | | easy to identify most the time. |
| family during a dire time of need such as a fire. If | | | | Ease of Use |
| you live in a multistory home or apartment building | | | | Deterring the length, width and standard for your fire |
| then a fire escape ladder is one product you must | | | | escape ladder will determine what ladders will actually |
| have for a safe exit. It is very common for a | | | | accommodate your situation. Before coming to a |
| building fire to cutoff access to certain areas including | | | | final decision make sure the escape ladder is easy to |
| stairways and elevators. Not to mention, it can be | | | | use. You will likely only use the escape ladder during |
| very dangerous to use an elevator during a fire since | | | | a time of dire emergency and panic is very common |
| you have no idea where the fire has spread. Here | | | | in these situations. Start by checking out how easy |
| are some tips on picking a reliable escape ladder that | | | | it is to deploy the fire escape ladder; if you are |
| will always be there for you during an emergency. | | | | ordering online because of price or convenience this |
| Determine Length | | | | may not be an option but you can call the stores |
| One of the first factors to consider in purchasing an | | | | customer support to get a better idea. If you can |
| escape ladder is making sure it is long enough to | | | | checkout the escape ladder you are considering at a |
| reach the ground from the window the escape | | | | physical store prior to purchasing online. Or you |
| ladder will be lowered. A good way to determine | | | | might check to make sure the online store has an |
| length is with a piece of rope, string or even an | | | | easy return policy in case the escape ladder does not |
| extension cord. Take the rope and drop one end | | | | meet your needs. |
| out the window while holding onto the other end. | | | | Reliability |
| Mark the rope with a marker or piece of tape | | | | Escape ladders need to be very reliable since failure |
| indicating the window sill location. Now you want to | | | | could lead to death or serious injury. I would |
| either pull the rope back up or drop it to the | | | | recommend checking out consumer reviews on |
| ground. Go outside and stretch the rope out from | | | | escape ladders as a good starting point. Another |
| the end you dropped to the ground to the marked | | | | great option is to call your local fire department and |
| location. Measure the distance and you now have | | | | ask for their recommendation. Firefighters |
| the minimum length for your escape ladder. It is a | | | | encounter more fires and escape ladders than |
| good idea to do this for each window since the | | | | anyone else so go to the experts for advice. You |
| height may be different. | | | | can also ask questions about a specific fire escape |
| Window Size | | | | ladder; most fire departments are happy to answer |
| Once you know the length you need to determine | | | | these questions because it makes everyone safer. |
| how wide the fire escape ladder can be and still fit | | | | Once you find a fire escape ladder that fulfills the |
| through the window. All you need to do is measure | | | | five requirements above you are ready to make |
| the inner width of the window. The wider the | | | | your purchase. You want to get an escape ladder |
| ladder the easier it will be to climb down; especially | | | | for each room that is more than 10 feet off the |
| during an emergency such as a fire where every | | | | ground for a completely safe escape. Once you |
| second counts. You might also want to make a | | | | have the escape ladders you want to place them in |
| note of how the escape ladder can attach to the | | | | an easy to access location. Do not put the ladder |
| window sill; if there is a large lip or outcropping then | | | | high on a shelf, behind boxes or under a stack of |
| you need to make sure your escape ladder will | | | | other items. The most common places are under |
| accommodate. | | | | the bed or under the window since they are easy to |
| Meets Fire Code - ASTM F2175 | | | | remember and easy to access. Some even opt to |
| Every reliable escape ladder that is safe for home or | | | | attach the ladder to the outside of the window with |
| commercial use has been rated by the American | | | | a quick release so that the ladder just has to drop to |
| Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM. It is | | | | the ground. This is usually not aesthetically pleasing |
| very important to make sure your fire escape ladder | | | | but does make things very easy during an |
| meets ASTM standards to ensure the safety of you, | | | | emergency. |