A lot of people are killed every year when they become trapped in a house fire. Home fires start for a variety of reasons, but they all spread quickly throughout a house. Statistics show that a fire can double in size within thirty seconds. If you are on the upper floor of a house then your escape routes may be cut off quickly.

This is why you need to have a quick escape route. Nothing is better than a fire escape ladder. With so many options to choose from how can you know which to choose? Consider the following choices to find the right option for your home.

Safety experts created fire escape ladders when they realized the need for a product that would allow people a safe and quick escape route from upper floor windows in the event of a fire. Since conventional ladders are bulky they can be difficult to store or maneuver quickly. This is why experts came up with the specially designed fire escape ladder. We highly recommend the PEARL recessed permanent ladder. These unique ladders address several specific issues related to fire safety that regular ladders don't.

Types of Fire Escape Ladders

There are two main types of fire escape ladders that you need to choose from, the permanent fire escape ladder and the portable fire escape ladder. The permanent fire escape ladder is one that is permanently attached to upper floor windows. They can never be misplaced. However, the portable ladder can be more economical.

The ladder will automatically drop to the ground when released to provide rapid escape. These permanent ladders are sturdy and quicker to use if there isn't time to grab and extend a portable version. This escape plan is much easier for a child to do on their own is necessary. However, these permanent options are much more costly than the portable option.

Portable fire escape ladders can vary in length from two to six stories depending on what floor you live on in an apartment complex. Many of these ladders are made from metals and plastics so they are lightweight. This makes them easy to retrieve and deploy in the event of a fire. The construction of portable fire ladders allow them to support up to a thousand pounds of weight so more than one individual can escape down the ladder at one time. The portable fire escape ladder is also excellent for storage.

What to Consider

No matter which type of fire escape ladder you choose there are some important features you need to consider. The first is the number of standoffs. The standoff is something that protrudes from the ladder to create the separation from the house to the ladder and creates stabilization. A ladder would be pinned against the wall without these standoffs. This means an individual wouldn't have sufficient footholds to escape in the event of a fire.

You should also consider the height, weight, weight tolerance and storage ability when choose a fire escape ladder. All of these factors will influence your ability to use the ladder in the event of an emergency and improve your odds of surviving. So carefully consider the design and structure of all fire escape ladders before making your choice.