Fire Escape Evaluation Using Structural Analysis and Limited Testing
The fire escape shall first be visually inspected by a registered design professional and the following shall be completed:
• The entire fire escape shall be checked for rust, damage and unauthorized modifications.
• Handrails must be physically checked for integrity.
• All welds, rivets, bolts, grates, hangars, framework, etc. must be inspected.
• Faulty welds, loose bolts, grates, rivets, and framework should be tightened, repaired, or
replaced as necessary.
• The ladder must be checked for unauthorized modification.
• All safety chains shall be in good repair.
The counterbalanced stair or ladder release mechanism must be checked twice for proper
operation. The stair or ladder must travel to the ground without hesitation and it must be stable and firm in its position after reaching the ground or sidewalk.
A complete structural analysis of all the elements and connections shall be completed for each fire escape on the building. The analysis shall be done by a registered design professional. The analysis shall be based on the design criteria in Attachment #1. Fire escapes and parts thereof shall be analyzed in accordance with the provisions of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code. The structural analysis shall be based on actual material properties and other as-built conditions. In addition to the structural analysis, limited testing shall be conducted to determine the adequacy of the anchorage of the fire escape to the building structure or for any connection that cannot be analyzed due to the connection being hidden from view. Unless agreed to by the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) upon recommendation from the design professional performing the analysis, testing of anchorage for the fire escape to concrete or reinforced or unreinforced masonry structure is required to determine the capacity of the anchors.
Testing is not required when all anchors are being replaced and shown by analysis to meet the requirements of the Oregon Structural Specialty Code. The new anchors shall be designed to resist all loads imposed on the connection by the fire escape.
Testing Requirements:
- Testing shall be conducted by a qualified testing agency under the supervision of the registered design professional.
- The anchors shall be tested to two times the unfactored design loads. See Attachment #1 for minimum design loads. Modifications to these loads shall be appealed through the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) as part of the permit process.
- The anchors shall be tested for all loads imposed on the anchor (shear and tension). Test loads shall be left in place for one hour.
- The registered design professional shall prepare and submit a plan for testing of the anchors. This testing plan shall be submitted to the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), Development Services
Center (DSC) for approval prior to being carried out. - A minimum of 20% of the anchors shall be tested.
- The anchors shall be considered to have successfully met the test requirements if 90% or more of the tested anchors pass the test and 100% of the anchors have a capacity of at-least 150% of the unfactored design loads. If this is not the case another 20% of the anchors shall be tested. The tests shall be repeated until the anchors meet the criteria defined above.
- All failed anchors shall be retrofitted and the new anchors shall carry the entire load imposed by the fire escape. There shall be no load sharing between existing and new anchors in a connection. At the conclusion of the evaluation and testing of the fire escape, the following shall be completed:
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- A report prepared and stamped by a design professional that includes but is not limited to drawings, calculations and test results shall be submitted to the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), Development Services Center (DSC) for approval.
- The engineer of record shall submit to the building inspector a letter of structural observations stating the testing was completed in accordance with the approved testing plan and the fire escape passed the test in accordance with the criterion established in the plan which is based on FMO policy document FIR 2.08.
- The owner and the engineer of record shall submit the completed “Fire Escape and Fire Balcony” affidavit (Attachment #4) to the Fire Marshal’s Office as required in FMO policy document FIR 2.08.
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