Fire extinguishers and fire escape ladders?

Question

Jeremy Mullin · Answer

Just reading through old posts for advice and tips. I'm renting to college students and this is EXACTLY my thought. Whether I'm required to do it or not, each floor has a fire extinguisher, every bedroom has a smoke alarm, every hallway outside a bedroom has a CO alarm.  I put one emergency ladder in each room above the 1st floor. There's a big sign taped to the box that says "for emergency use only". Maybe some slick lawyer will fight it in court if someone does something stupid when there's not an emergency, but conscience won't allow me to put these kids in a room without a means of escape. My son and his friends were my first tenants so I did everything I'd want done as a parent.  Might have cost me a bit more one time (in 10 years I'll need to spend again on detectors and in a few years I'll need to replace extinguishers), I'm willing to sacrifice a couple of hundred extra dollars every few years to make sure I can sleep at night.

Scott Weaner · Answer

So Deandra, you install sprinkler systems in all of your properties?

Deandra Perruccio · Answer

I signed up for this site just so I can respond to this forum chain because I think people are misjudging the comparability between a fire extinguisher and a ladder. If there is an emergency where a fire ladder would be needed, NO extinguisher is going to do the job at that point. Especially should a fire reach the second or third floor of a building, it is most likely to a point where a fire extinguisher will not be effective. If a fire ladder is needing to be used that means possibility of evacuation through the building has passed and this is most likely a potentially fatal situation. As a previous writer said, the death of tenants in comparison to the cost (and alleged liability- although I find it hard to believe any court would condone improper use of an emergency fire ladder by faulting a landlord) of a fire ladder is something that may be a problem for 1. legal liability, and 2. YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE. The death of young tenants due to my lack of responsibility would certainly keep me up at night more than concern over what I am seeing as an ageist assumption that they will "party hard" with the emergency ladder.

Troy Sheets · Answer

http://www.fireescapesystems.com/pearl.asp

Interesting option...

Bryan N. · Answer

I put a fire extinguisher under the sink in the kitchen.  If they use it, it may save me some headache.

Charles Gillis · Answer

For those of you who have installed fire extinguishers within apartment units, any  suggestions on where to mount them or how? I'm comfortable with the  glass-doored wall boxes used in hallways for mounting fire extinguishers  in common areas; but I'm not sure how to put these within units without  looking horrible.

Richard C. · Answer

Make sure to check with your insurance company. Providing the invoices that proved I hada fire protection company testing the smoke detectors and keeping the eextinguishers charged got me a discount that covers about 2/3 of the cost.

Colleen F. · Answer

We do student rentals and provide fire extinguishers in that house on both floors.  They have never been discharged by the students (even the students who set the couch on fire-go figure).  I would not do a ladder for the students though because I don't trust them. Maybe if it was permanently attached but I think if they go out the second floor window they are just going to break a leg  but second floor is not so high in that house.   It is funny what parents will ask you to do (I had one parent ask me to get rid of the propane tank which I did as it was rented).  I know you can probably get into something as far as a lawsuit over such things as fire extinguishers not functioning but I would rather have these things  then not.  Someone is going to sue you in any case if something happens. For the ladder I figure they are going to sue me because I provide it and junior misuses it therefor I stay away from them. Extinguishers not so much.

Steve Babiak · Answer

My latest insurance company requires that the 10 year lithium batteries get used.  And the City of Philadelphia also requires that the battery powered detectors be equipped with 10 year batteries that are sealed in the unit.  That is the way to go from the standpoint of economy - no repeated chirping when the battery goes low, one roughly $7 battery lasts the same as 5 or more alkaline batteries, and getting the ladder out to change batteries regularly is no longer necessary.  BTW - since the lifespan of the detector (minus batteries) is 10 years (or less for some manufacturers), you just throw the whole thing away in 10 years by DESIGN.