External Stairwells....confused??

[brearabbit]

Morning all,

I have recently been told that the external stairwell to our building (iron type one painted black) has to be assessed every 3 years by a structural engineer.  According to the report I had done 'the external stairwell or any other external structure used as a means of escape has to be inspected by a structural engineer every 3 years'?  

I am interested to know where the requirement for this comes from??  Is it statutury??  Can anyone help.

Thanks,

Steve

[wee brian]

Not laid down in any particular regs - you have duties to ensure safety and maintenance of escape routes under fire safety and general health and safety law.

The 3 years comes (from memory) in the recomendations of a British Standard. They suggest it gets a regular once over as they can get rusty and unsafe.

If you think 3 years is over the top then you need to be able to evidence why you are doing something different from normal practice.