external fire escape

[jpb75]

hi all

a customer contacted me today and requires a certificate to say his external metal fire escape has been inspected . any ideas who would carry out this task and i think it was the fire officer who asked for this to be done .
 

[nearlythere]

hi all

a customer contacted me today and requires a certificate to say his external metal fire escape has been inspected . any ideas who would carry out this task and i think it was the fire officer who asked for this to be done .
 

Structural engineer.

[Simon72]

Yep as per the previous response a Structural engineer will assess it and sign it off.....

[SandDancer]

In reference to the above is there any laid down legislation to say how often external metal escapes should be inspected?

[Midland Retty]

The short answer is no, there isn't.

Like anything really it should be fairly obvious if and when the external staircase will need possible inspection by an engineer or routine maintenance based on its condition.

Are the treads worn or coming away? are fixings secure? is the staircase steady and stable? is there significant rusting or damage? etc etc

So no set prescriptive periods - just common sense

That said Ive known some fire officers and consultants alike go mad about rusty external staircases  - rusting clearly indicates that maintenance is required, it doesn't necessarily mean the staircase is structurally unsafe however - it may just need rubbing down, rust proofing and and re-painting. 

[SandDancer]

Thanks for That Midland, I was pretty sure there wasnt, but was hoping I was wrong so that I could give our estates Dept a laid down schedule.

Laid down schedule= work budgeted for and carried out promptly
Raised as part of risk assessment= 6 months being ignored , 6 months arguing why we should carry out the work,6 months fighting over who's going pay for maintenance, 6 months arguing over who's going to carry out the work ,6 months to carry out once added to the maintenence schedule, another six months added as work slips down maintenence list due to "budget constraints" anon anon anon

Oh well, to be fair I wouldnt want it too easy

[Midland Retty]

Sounds like par for the course...and after todays budgetry announcements I dare say it will take even longer for things to get done in most organisations up and down the land!

[Davo]

Sand Dancer

You work for the police as well


davo

[Mr. P]

Don't forget to check other final exits - that the doors do open and are clear from obstruction and lead away safely from the building. - Easy to add these onto your weekly/monthly checks for other stuff.

[deaconj999]

The Fire Officer possibly would have had in mind :

Article 8 General Fire Precautions
Have appropriate measures been taken with regard to providing adequate means of escape

Article 14 Emergency Routes and Exits
Emergency routes and exits lead as directly as possible to a place of safety
In the event of danger, persons can evacuate the premises as quickly and safely as possible

Article 17 Maintenance
Are the premises and all facilities, equipment and devices etc. provided in the interest of fire safety subject to a suitable system of maintenance
maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair?

As far as a certificate being produced in terms of the above, he'd be better off looking at the maintenance records for the building to more accurately judge if the requirements of Article 17 are taken into account - and then proceeding from there on with his own judgement. Waiting for a certificate from the structural engineer may not be what he needs.