External fire escape checks

[Paul2886]

Your help please
Is it a requirement that they are checked by a structural engineer and if so at what interval. This is over and above the visual maintenance checks given by our team and our fire risk assessor. Thanks

[jayjay]

I serched for this some time ago and never found a definitive answer.

Having seen a few badly rusted and also spalling of brickwork around the fixings I started recommending annual inspections by a structural engineer as most of them were over 30 years old.

At one time external escapes were required to be weather protected but this seems to omitted now.
Hope you can find an answer.

[AnthonyB]

I can't off hand recall where we dug it up from but our normal approach is annual visual & 5 yearly full structural survey by a specialist. Obviously this can be adjusted based on the risk most often being an immediate structural survey and repairs after our first visit as the stair hasn't been looked at since installation in the 60's!