OTHER EGRESSES AND EXTERIOR STRUCTURES WE SERVICE
Ladders • Wood Staircases • Spiral Staircases • Balconies • Porches • Decks • Roof Decks • Ramps • Elevated WalkWays • Pedestrian Bridges • Guard Rails
California Fire Escape Codes
2022 California Fire Code, Title 24, Part 9 CHAPTER 10 MEANS OF EGRESS
Required exit accesses, exits and exit discharges shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency where the building area served by the means of egress is occupied. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any purpose that interferes with a means of egress.
(BE] 1028.2 Exit discharge.
Exits shall discharge directly to the exterior of the building. The exit discharge shall be at grade or shall provide a direct path of egress travel to grade.
1032.2.1.3 Examination.
Fire escape stairways and balconies shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered design
The examination shall determine
whether the fire escape stairways and balconies can support
pounds per square foot ( 4. 78 kN/m) An inspection report shall be submitted to the fire code official after such examination.
(BE] 1028.5 Access to a public way.
The exit discharge shall provide a direct and unobstructed access to a public way
3312.2 Maintenance.
Required means of egress and required accessible means of egress shall be maintained during construction and demolition, remodeling or alterations and additions to any building.
Exception: Approved temporary means of egress and accessible means of egress systems and facilities.
STEPS to Certify a Fire Escape:
- Verify with your local official, the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction), the requisite certification procedure for your jurisdiction. The NATIONAL code requires fire escapes be certified every five years.
- Schedule An Inspection or a Pre-Load Test Evaluation with Load Test
- Submit certification if the fire escape system passed. If the fire escape failed, submit Inspection/Deficiency Report to AHJ.
- Do repairs if required to certify. A Technical Repair Report is a Construction Control Document that is used for bidding by fire escape repair vendors. Vendor oversight is when the chosen vendor’s work is overseen by a Certified Fire Escape Engineer and then certifies the work to the AHJ. Vendors must be qualified with correct licenses and insurance to do fire escape repairs and cannot certify their own work.
- Certification by Load Test, Restoration (Other Evidence of Strength) or Repairs with disclaimer of liability.
Fire Escapes Los Angeles
Fire Escape Assemblies (one of the test categories of Regulation 4)
A Reg 4 Test certifies the fire escape assembly (or fire ladder) as operational and ready to use in case of an emergency.
Fire Chief accepted testers – we can inspect and certify fire escapes and fire ladders.
All fire escape assemblies and fire ladders must be regulation 4 tested and certified every year.
48 hours notice must be given to the Fire Department before Reg 4 testing and then results submitted in a report to the Fire Department within 7 days.
If you have received a written violation, Reg4FireEscapesLA can remedy any violation issued on your fire escape assembly.
Repairs must be done within 30 days of notice of violation.
Our testers will certify the fire escape / fire ladder after any repairs have been done.