While most houses, apartments, and commercial buildings have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, these items are not the only safety equipment you should keep on hand. A fire escape ladder is an essential element of emergency planning if you live or work on an upper level of a building. The experts at A-1 Fire Protection in Olive Branch, MS, hope you never need these devices but want you to be prepared for potentially dangerous events, so they explain your options for emergency ladders.

3 Fire Escape Ladder Designs

1. Portable With Hooks

Many businesses, schools, and apartment buildings keep portable ladders on each floor. They have a curved end that goes over a windowsill or balcony and attaches to the structure with hooks, stabilizing the ladder to make it easier for building occupants to climb down. This ladder may be used in any room that has a window, and you can relocate it if necessary.

2. Permanent & Retractable

A more intricate yet easy-to-use ladder is a retractable version that is permanently affixed to an exterior wall. It looks similar to a drain pipe in its closed position, but you expose the rungs during an emergency by cranking a handle to open it. While these ladders are not portable, you can place them strategically in parts of a building that have the best access.

3. Portable With a Permanent Bar

Another option is a ladder that utilizes a metal bar installed permanently beneath a windowsill. During an emergency, building occupants attach a chain escape ladder to the bar and unroll it out the window. While you could move the ladder to other rooms, you would need to connect it to a bar or another fixed item.

If you’re looking for the perfect emergency escape ladder and other fire equipment, such as fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems, the experts at A-1 Fire Protection in Olive Branch, MS, will help you choose the right products. They have been helping residents of DeSoto County and surrounding areas protect their homes and businesses since 1970. Call (662) 895-2177 to speak with a fire prevention expert and visit their website for information about their services.