FIRE ESCAPE LADDER FAQs
HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I AM CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIZE LADDER FOR MY HOME?
Werner offers both a 2 story model with 15’10” of coverage; and a 3 story model with 23’8” of coverage. If you are not sure of the distance from your window sill to the ground and you do not have a tape measure, you can take a piece of string or rope to measure the distance and then use a traditional ruler to determine the length.
CAN THE WERNER FIRE ESCAPE LADDER BE USED IN HOMES WHERE A STRAIGHT DROP TO THE GROUND DOES NOT EXIST?
Yes, the flexible nylon webbing between the rungs will allow
CAN THE WERNER FIRE ESCAPE LADDER BE MOUNTED TO THE FLOOR, OFF TO THE SIDE OF A WINDOW OR DOOR, OR OUTSIDE THE HOME?
No, the ladders were not designed or tested to be installed anywhere but directly below a window inside the home.
HOW IS THE WERNER FIRE ESCAPE LADDER SECURED TO THE WALL?
The unit is recessed into the wall space beneath an upper story window. Both units use screws to fasten the pan and ladder to the studs. The pan uses 4 – 1” hex screws and the ladder uses 2 – 3/8” x 1 ¾” hex lag screws.
WHEN I INSTALL THE WERNER FIRE ESCAPE LADDERS IN MY ROOMS WILL I HAVE SIGNIFICANT COOLING OR HEATING LOSS?
No, every unit includes an insulation sheet to give you the same insulation value as an Energy Star compliant window. The unit has a frame around the pan so it fits flush to the wall. Caulking around the unit will seal the installation area. The pan, rungs, and door all act as additional insulators to help avoid hot or cold spots.
HOW MANY UNITS DO I NEED?
It depends on the size of your home. Emergency experts recommend two ways out of every sleeping bedroom. At a minimum, there should be two units installed, one on each side of the staircase because in the event of a fire the stairwell can act like a chimney flue and divide the upper bedrooms of the house. Also, when determining the locations, keep in mind that the kitchen or garage is often the source of a fire. You can also consult your local fire department for further recommendations.
WILL MY CHILDREN USE THE WERNER FIRE ESCAPE LADDER TO SNEAK OUT?
The process of deploying the aluminum ladder is not quiet. Someone attempting to use the ladder would have to open the window, deploy the ladder and upon return, pull the ladder back in through the window and repack it without getting caught.