fire ladder - out the window or to the roof or both?

Hi, We are settling in to a three-floor south slope frame house that has been medium-renovated.  There is a very old ladder in a closet on the third floor that goes up to the roof  (so i’m told, I haven’t taken a gander yet as I was, until recently, enormously pregnant).  We would like to replace it with something metal and tiny that would, in my dreams, free up the space in the *only* closet we have, while still being very safe in case of fire or other emergency. Our contractor recommended having a metal fabricator build one custom, so the ladder wouldn’t move around if we were actually using it for escape, with babe in arms, etc.  But I really just want the fold up kind so I don’t lose all that space.  Or the kind that drops out of your window and is only the size of an envelope in the meantime. Has anyone been through this?  Or am I the only brooklyn parent who would, in her secret heart, choose closet space over the safety of her family?? What can anyone tell me about what’s *really* necessary, safe, and possible? Thanks! ps, before anyone calls child services on me, it is worth noting that at the moment we have neither a boiler or a stove, so our chances of starting a fire are actually quite low . . .

elm_bk

in Brownstoner Renovation 12 years and 11 months ago

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BobMarvin | 12 years and 11 months ago

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I’m no expert, but I’d think that one of the last things you’d want to do in a fire is open the hatch to the roof–out the window would probably be better. You will, however, need access to the roof for maintanance so you need a sturdy ladder in that closet, even though it takes up space.