The Saf-Escape line of personal fire ladders from the Westchester County, N.Y., company Safe Escape ranges from two to five stories long (13 to 45 feet) and are made of zinc-plated 18 gauge steel that's been chain-tension tested to hold up to 1,000 pounds. They're designed to be stored underneath a bed or window, and come in models suitable for walls up to 18 inches thick. Each comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Prices range from $64.95 for a two-story, 14-foot ladder for 10-inch walls to $204.95 for a four- to five-story, 35-foot ladder for 14- to 18-inch walls.
That fairly modest price range means co-op shareholders and condo unit-owners can buy these personal fire ladders themselves — or even via the board taking orders, buying them in bulk and distributing them to the residents with a reasonable fee on top that can go into your building's coffers. (If you get a good bulk rate, the total cost to a resident could still be less than their buying it retail.) If enough residents get them, then you can approach your insurance carrier — or a new one — to see if they'll shave a few points off your bill, being as how your co-op/condo is so safety-conscious.
And even if your insurer won't, you might be helping save a life someday. Seriously.
Safe Escape, Inc. • 200 Weskora Road, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598 • toll-free (888) 735-7522 • Sales@SafeEscape.com