Evacuation Equipment FAQs
Once you have familiarised yourself with the escape ladder it is best to keep the ladder in the cardboard box it was supplied in and to store it under the bed or on top of a wardrobe. Please make sure that young children have no unsupervised access to the escape ladder.
Fire escape ladders with clips or fixed hooks designed to attach to pre-installed fixings underneath a window would be suitable for balconies, for example:
- EasyScape – 4.3m / 14ft (2 storey) and 7.0m / 23ft (3 storey) lengths available
- Kletter-Fix – 5.0m / 16ft (2 storey) and 12.0m / 39ft (4 storey) lengths available
- Kletter-Fix Modules – 4.0m / 13ft (2 storey) lengths, can be clipped together
Do not use standard "hook type" portable escape ladders as these are designed to fit over a windowsill and will not hold securely onto a balcony or other railings.
To be able to carry small children and pets down an escape ladder, you would require a
child harness or pet harness.These harnesses are suitable for use with all the escape ladders.
The escape ladder that is most suitable for use with children, old enough to climb themselves, is the externally fixed
Saffold ladder. If you would like a portable fire escape ladder suitable for children the
X-IT ladder offers the most stability.
The
Rollo Roll-Out portable ladder and the
EasyScape semi-fixed ladder are suitable for Velux window escape.
They feature fire retardant backing to protect you from heat, and distance spacers to allow a good grip on the rungs. These ladders are stored rolled up ready for quick deployment by simply rolling out of the window over the sloping roof.
The ladder that is the most suitable for limited space under the window is the EasyScape fire escape ladder which has unique eyebolt and carabiner fittings.
Most of our portable fire escape ladders would also be suitable. These ladders have large hooks which are designed to fit over a windowsill to hold securely.
If there does not seem to be enough space under the windowsill for these types of ladders then a fixed fire escape ladder outside the window would be more suitable. The Saffold Fold-Out Fire Escape Ladder has a very low profile when stored in its folded position and features an anti-tamper, burglar proof release pin or optional key lock for security, and can even be configured with additional release stations along the ladder's length to enable escape from multiple floors.
Yes you can, if you are able to break the bottom pane of glass safely to escape. We would recommend that you place an
emergency escape hammer next to this window to ensure you are able to escape in an emergency. You would then need to purchase the most suitable
fire escape ladder for your wall thickness.
Please note: we recommend that you lay a coat or similar item over the shards of glass before deploying the ladder.Fire escape ladders can be used with double glazed windows as long as the window can be safely broken by hitting the corner with an emergency escape hammer to allow the ladder to be deployed.
Please note: we recommend that you lay a coat or similar item over the shards of glass before deploying the ladder.
Most of our fire escape ladders can be tested successfully without compromising their effectiveness when they are repacked.
As each fire escape ladder has specific testing and repacking instructions, we recommend that you check these requirements before choosing your ladder.
When using a
fire escape ladder in an emergency small children should be carried on your front in a child carrier. Older children can climb by themselves. Make sure that an adult climbs ahead of the child to stabilise the ladder with their weight and to help the child find their foothold during descend. An adult exiting first also helps the child to overcome their natural fear of height.
Our full range of fire escape ladders, including those featuring hooks, are suitable to use if you have an unsound window sill, as they do not use the window sill for anchoring.
Yes, you can use a fire escape ladder if you have a radiator underneath the window. The
Saf-Escape ladders only require about one inch of space underneath the window sill. The
X-It escape ladder and the
Rollo escape ladders can clamp over the radiator. The
Easyscape ladder is clipped into eyebolts which can be fitted underneath or above the radiator, space allowing.
Yes, you can. None of our
fire escape ladders require an overhang of the sill, neither on the inside nor the outside, as the ladders should locate against the wall and the top of the sill only. The sill itself does not take any of the weight or provide any of the support for the ladder.
Yes, some
fire escape ladders are adjustable such as the
Rollo roll-out ladder. However, the
most important measurement is the wall thickness unless you have extremely deep windowsills.
If your wall or sill depth is especially large (more than 20 inches) ladders such as the
Easyscape fire escape ladder that are independent of the wall or sill thickness may be the most suitable.
Reviewed: 01/02/2023 (doc:538 V1.0). Our articles are reviewed regularly. However, any changes made to standards or legislation following the review date will not have been considered. Please note that we provide abridged, easy-to-understand guidance. To make detailed decisions about your fire safety provisions, you might require further advice or need to consult the full standards and legislation.
