roof hatches and ladders
I need to replace a roof hatch. It will become part of a small bedroom. I need to find a good vendor for the hatch and need some ideas about the ladder. Does the ladder need to be attached? Can I have a telescoping ladder next to it, or under the bed? Where can I…
I need to replace a roof hatch. It will become part of a small bedroom. I need to find a good vendor for the hatch and need some ideas about the ladder. Does the ladder need to be attached? Can I have a telescoping ladder next to it, or under the bed? Where can I get a ladder for this? Thanks.
Did anyone ever find out about a New York approved roof hatch? I’ve seen them for sale by Bilco, for about $750 incl freight, but I wasn’t sure if that’s NYC approved?
I am having s similar issue. After checking several sites and also talking to my contractor, the code requires at least a 30×30 hatch for a multi-family dwelling. This is necessary for the firemen to get inside your burning building, and 30×30 is a minimum size. (the firemen eat lots of ice-cream, and they tend to have lots of gear on them) I am looking for a low-price option for a steel hatch. So far not much luck.
A roof hatch isn’t an FDNY approved means of egress so there probably aren’t any fire regulations regarding the ladder. As 3:34 said, about the last place you’d want to be in a fire is in an open air shaft to the roof.
I have the original old wood ladder that came with the house. The hatch is in the hall closet and the ladder is stored against the side wall with hook-and-eye fasteners.
Talk to the FDNY. Anyone who expects to exit a fire through a roof hatch is in for a hot surprise. Heat rises. Open a roof hatch and it becomes a chimney. Good luck!
I’m a woodworker and have made a ladder that worked very well in that application. I agree that you want it there for permanent access/egress, but it might as well look good. You don’t have to settle for an ugly prefab steel one. I can send you pictures if you’d like to see it.
http://www.bilco.com
How many units in building?
It may not be required as egress (you may still want it for access).
Also, if its not working there, you can move it.
Bilco is a good manufacturer of hatches. Many models. May seem like overkill (ie more than you wanted to spend, industrial..etc) but definetly worth it.
Roofers sell hatches – check with them for good ones.
Its a means to get out in case of a fire – so why WOULDN’T you want the ladder attached? (You’d hate to have to find and assemble it during a fire.) I don’t know the fire escape rules, but it wouldn’t surprise me if an attached ladder were required, for obvious reasons. Even if it isn’t, again, why WOULDN’T you want to be as safe as possible?