Why emergency evacuation ladders are a must-have for families in multi-storey dwellings

Every home and workplace needs an evacuation plan – and if you live or work in a multi-storey building, you’ll also need to plan how occupants, including children, will escape if the usual exits are blocked. An emergency evacuation ladder provides an affordable and practical solution, transforming almost any upper-storey window into a portable fire escape. And importantly, they can be used to carry children and infants safely to the ground in the event of a fire. This makes them a potentially life-saving emergency tool – and one that every multi-storey home should have.

Choosing Your Escape Ladder

Because emergency evacuation ladders come in many shapes and sizes, it can be tricky to know which is best for you and your family. There are a number of designs and sizes on the market, and they’re suited to both domestic and commercial use. The differences lie mainly in their length, how they attach to the windowsill, the weight they can hold and how they are stored. Some can be used multiple times, while others are for single use only.

Emergency evacuation ladders are available in various sizes. For example, a two-storey ladder is usually around five metres long, and a three-storey ladder is around eight metres long. Always check the length from your windowsill to the ground before purchasing to be sure you’ve got the right size.

Ensure the escape ladder you choose is strong and sturdy, suitable for older children to descend independently, and for adults carrying younger children and babies to climb down safely. Your ladder should have anti-slip features and ladder stabilisers to hold it away from the house so you can get a good toehold. Also, make sure the ladder can carry a minimum of 450kg – this will safely hold two to three adults at a time, plus the same number of children, allowing multiple occupants to evacuate at the same time.

Using Your Escape Ladder

Emergency evacuation ladder on window sill

It’s important that everyone in the home who can operate the ladder knows how to use it correctly – and can set it up fast in the event of a fire. All adults in the house should be confident in how to unpack, set up and deploy it. Depending on the ladder’s size and weight, children over 10 should be able to deploy it too, make sure they understand the instructions and only practice using it with an adult.

It’s best to test it out before you need to use it in an emergency. Review the manufacturer’s instructions closely and practice setting it up from a first-floor window. Make sure everyone knows how to connect it to the windowsill and lower it down – it sounds simple, but every window and ladder has unique characteristics. You want to be sure you’ve had a practice run and can operate it immediately.

Smart Storage

Emergency evacuation ladders are compact and easy to store. They’re best kept close to the window you plan to use them on—under the bed or in a cupboard is ideal. Make sure they’re accessible at all times. Don’t pile boxes on top of them or bury them under clothes—you want them to be easy to reach in an emergency.

Bottom Line

If you live in a multi-story dwelling, having an evacuation plan, plus emergency escape ladders for upstairs bedrooms, gives you and your family the best chance of getting out safely if there’s a fire. Emergency evacuation ladders are affordable, convenient to store, and easy to use. Moreover, they provide a safe escape route and peace of mind for you and your family.