Fire escape recertification is how a building proves — on paper and on the structure itself — that its fire escape is still safe to use. In Portland, that proof comes from an engineer-certified load test and stamped documentation filed with the local jurisdiction. Portland Fire Escape Testing and Repair, a K and H Construction Services company (Oregon CCB #252033), handles the entire recertification process in-house for apartment and commercial buildings in Portland and most of Oregon.
What is fire escape recertification?
A fire escape can look solid from the sidewalk long after rust, loose anchors or fatigued welds have quietly weakened it. Recertification is the scheduled re-examination that catches those problems before they matter: the structure is inspected and load tested, any deficiencies are repaired, and the engineer of record signs off that the escape can safely carry the loads required by code. The result is a stamped report for your records — and our dated certification placard mounted on the fire escape itself, so tenants, inspectors and future buyers can see the current status at a glance.
Recertification requirements in Portland, Oregon
For most Portland buildings, fire escapes need to be load tested every 10 years and recertified every 5 years by the engineer of record. Our documentation follows Portland Fire and Rescue requirements and is prepared to each jurisdiction’s standards, so the paperwork lands with the right people the first time. Not sure where your building stands in its cycle? The date on the existing placard usually tells the story — or send us the address and we’ll check for you.
Our recertification process
- Site visit and visual inspection. We assess anchors, welds, stair treads, drop ladders and wall connections up close — not from the ground.
- Engineer-certified load testing. Using calibrated equipment, we load test each landing and stair run to the capacity required by code, with real measured numbers.
- Repairs, if needed. Our own crew handles welding, structural repairs and painting — no subcontractors and no waiting on a second contractor’s schedule.
- Retest and verify. Any repaired section is tested again before it gets signed off.
- Stamped documentation. The engineer of record signs the certification and we submit it to your jurisdiction.
- Placard and reminders. Your fire escape gets our dated certification placard, and we track your next deadline so you don’t have to.
What if the fire escape doesn’t pass?
A failed test isn’t a catastrophe — it’s the reason testing exists. Because the same in-house crew does both the testing and the repairs, you get one assessment, one plan and contractor-direct pricing instead of a chain of subcontractors, and the retest happens as soon as the repair is done. Many of the fire escapes we recertify today first came to us as failed tests from years past. See what Portland building owners say about how we handle it.
Serving Portland and most of Oregon
Our crew is based at 2114 NE Multnomah St in Portland, and we regularly recertify buildings well beyond the city — the placard photo on this page is from a high-rise we tested and certified in Salem in December 2024. Wherever your building is, the process and the paperwork are the same, and we group nearby buildings to keep travel costs down. You can also browse all of our fire escape services.
Need your fire escape recertified? Call (971) 220-6397 or request a free quote — engineer-certified, Oregon CCB #252033, rated 5.0 on Google.