Common Fire Escape Repairs

Safe Boston Fire Escapes

From nuts and bolts replacement and rust removal to priming and painting, there are many things you can do to spruce up your fire escape so it not only looks good but remains safe and functional. Regular fire escape inspections are imperative in order to catch issues early, make necessary repairs and ensure good working order.

Here are some common fire escape repairs to be aware of:

  • Remove and replace nuts and bolts as needed
  • Perform welding if needed
  • Replace mortar for brick wall fire escapes
  • Seal all major connections for rust prevention with silicone or similar material
  • Remove rust by scraping, then painting or replacing metal, depending on severity of condition.
  • Reinforce any connections to building as necessary to ensure structural safety and prevent water from seeping into the walls
  • Paint all stairs and rails to safeguard against rusting
  • Repair or replace cable for safe operation of drop ladder
  • Ladder repair (counter-balanced, sliders, hydraulic and torque)
  • Repair and re-balance staircase cantilevers
  • Scrape and paint
  • Remove any violations and make updates as needed
  • Engage in yearly maintenance plans
  • Perform load tests

Regular inspections are necessary if you own a building with a fire escape. Building owners in Boston, for instance, are required to obtain fire escape certification every five years, and file that fire escape certification with the city. Highly trained technicians will perform a multi-point fire escape inspection that covers every component of the current fire escape system. Specifically, they will be on the lookout for any areas of rust, damage, or wear and tear. Such fire escape inspections are designed to ensure the system is safe at every point, including pulleys, cables and ladder support brackets. When all these elements pass inspection, certification is issued.

Fire Escape – Paint and Scrape

One of the most common and frequent repairs needed to fire escapes is painting and scraping. This involves removing loose paint and priming all bare metal before painting. Proper preparation of the surface with high-quality paints and materials is crucial, as it helps to extend the longevity of the paint job.

General steps are taken before painting a fire escape:

  1. Scraping off existing rust and flaking paint.
  2. Hand wire brushing the entire system.
  3. Applying a coat of primer using a paintbrush.
  4. Allowing the primer to dry.
  5. Re-packing of any loose cement where connections meet the cement wall.
  6. Hand painting all treads and rails.
  7. Applying a coat of exterior paint.
  8. Allowing the paint to dry.

Because proper repair is necessary for certification, it’s important to ensure that your fire escape is repaired safely and correctly. We can help with that.

Contact AD Construction

To learn more about our fire escape repairs and fire escape inspections, call us at 877-345-BUILD (2845) or fill out our online form. We repair fire escapes on apartment buildings, brownstones, offices, multi-family homes and more.

Inspecting & Repairing Fire Escapes in Boston; South End, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Dorchester, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, MA since 1988

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