Signs Your Fire Escapes Need Repairs

Fire escapes are an essential structure to the tall buildings that New York City is known for, so any property owner who's building has these structures should learn the signs when they are failing. In the event of an emergency, the number one priority is that occupants are able to leave the building safely, and, at that moment, you don't want to be wishing you did more to improve this important place of egress. Keeping up with inspections of your fire escape can prevent any unfortunate consequences of poorly maintained emergency structures.

Defective Connections

The fire escape itself isn't the only thing to check on when inspecting your building's fire escapes. The connections of the fire escape to the wall are important points to make a habit of assessing. These connections are generally made into brick or stone walls and can involve undertaking stone or brick repair a solution when the connections become loose. You should be looking for cracks at the points of contact between the wall and the fire escape.

Paint Peeling And Rust

Fire escape repairs may be necessary if the presence of peeling paint or rust is detected. The paint that covers your fire escapes is there for more than just looks. This covering often provides a layer from the elements and prevents rust from easily manifesting, so if you see peeling paint, it's good to quickly replace that protection before rust can do structural damage. If you are already able to see rust, you should definitely look into repairs as this can quickly break down your fire escape and make it extremely dangerous.

Loose Steps, Bolts, Or Railings

Every portion of your fire escapes must be examined and okayed before you can say they are fully prepared to serve the occupants of your building during an emergency. Making sure steps are in good condition is one place to look. Weathering can cause steps to lose their tread, making them slippery without traction. If this is the case, they would need to be serviced, so it is not a fall risk. Railings should also be looked at to ensure that they can be used to support someone using it to climb down the steps without falling away. Bolts should be inspected to ensure they are threaded properly and not loose so that they can properly hold together the pieces necessary.

Routine inspections and maintenance are vital to the health and longevity of fire escapes. No property possessor would every wish for an emergency but being prepared with well-cared-for points of escape should be a high priority for any building owner.