Buying an fire escape

I have a two-family brownstone but it’s four stories tall and without a fire escape. Recently, I was in the backyard with my contractor and thought ‘how the hell will everyone get out without a fire escape?!’ I’m assuming that since the house is a 2-family and legally a fire escape is not required is the reason the previous owners never installed one. I’m very nervous now about not having one-I have smoke and carbon dioxide dectectors throughout and recently purchased fire extinguishers for each floor and the common areas- and I’m thinking of buying folding ladders to put by the windows. Is this enough? Or I am being a nervous nelly? And where could I find used fire escapes?

bedstuyreno

in Roofers 11 years and 4 months ago

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arch007 | 11 years and 4 months ago

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I was just reading a case in the Bronx where 2 fireman died (and a couple more badly injured) while jumping from the 4th floor due to illegal partitions that blocked access to the fire escape. The tenants and property manager were convicted of second degree manslaughter. Just buy a new metal fire escape, they are not that expensive. I would not trust an old rusty thing that has been painted 7 times, unless you totally strip it down to bare metal. I believe they would let you install one on the basis of life safety. Let me know if you want me to investigate it at DOB. I can make some drawings and file the application cheap. We are architects and expeditors. http://nyc-dob.com

catboot | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Well, I’m not an expert on the matter – that’s just what I heard from a real estate broker way back when we were looking for a place. You might want to double check. Incidentally, we ended up buying the one house on our block that has a fire escape. Most of the houses are legal 3 fam, none (but ours) has a fire escape. Don’t think anyone has sprinklers, either.

bedstuyreno | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks I didn’t know about the grandfather clause. Well, I won’t be installing a sprinkler systems, so I guess it’s ladders and fire extinguishers.

catboot | 11 years and 4 months ago

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I was told that existing fire escapes are grandfathered in, but that no new ones are permitted. I believe sprinklers are considered the “new fire escapes’.

dorkofwindsor | 11 years and 4 months ago

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sure the folding ladders are a great idea. also keep in mind that access to the roof of attached brownstones usually implies safe passage at least one way over the neighbors roof. If you are a corner building i’d be more worried, but chances of fire of neighbors on each side before you can walk over the roofline is less. So if you have regular stairs, roof, and rope ladder that’s not too bad for me to sleep at night but certainly elderly and children are a concern. I personally don’t care for fire escape in 2 fam because it provides amazing access for illegal forced entry. I’m sure for every one who thinks like me there is someone who disagrees, but at the end of the day you need to get comfortable with ease of egress in your situation.