Fire Escapes Portland OR – THE fire escape experts!

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The City of Portland currently has more than 600 fire escapes that are attached to existing buildings and are part of the required emergency egress system or serve as firefighting platforms. Many of these fire escapes and the buildings they are attached to are very old. Without routine maintenance, deterioration can result in fire escapes becoming unsafe for use by occupants or firefighters during an emergency.

Portland, Oregon Fire Escape Reference Codes

• Portland City Code (PCC) Title 31, 31.20.080 https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/28741#cid_579524
• 2016 Portland Fire Code (PFC) https://www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/48127
• 2014 Oregon Fire Code http://ecodes.biz/ecodes_support/free_resources/Oregon/14_Fire/14_ORFire_main.html
• 2014 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) https://www.oregon.gov/bcd/codes-stand/Documents/st-14ossc-newadoptedamendments-summ.pdf
• Portland, Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office releases Fire Escape Issues FMO Policy CE B-8 FIR-2.08 https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/634225

Portland, Oregon Fire Escape Code History

Under Portland City Code Title 31.20.080 Authority to Establish Fire Escape Maintenance and Removal Standards was assigned to The Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal is authorized to develop and enforce standards for the maintenance and removal of fire escapes in accordance with provisions of the 2014 Oregon Fire Code

Fire Escape Issues FMO Policy CE B-8 FIR-2.08

This policy combines elements from all three policies, the 2016 Portland Fire Code, and the 2014 Oregon Structural Specialty Code into this single document. Click here https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/634225to access this document.

It is the purpose of this policy to:

1. Establish procedures for the inspection, evaluation and testing of fire escapes, and to provide information pertaining to the acceptable methods of repair when needed.
2. Address the process for removal of counterbalance stairs.
3. Address the removal of fire escapes.

Highlight Code

2016Portland Fire CodeSection 1104.16.5.1 Examination.

Fire escape stairs, balconies, rails and ladders shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety in accordance with Section 1104.16.5 and the Oregon Structural Specialty Code by a registered design professional or others acceptable to the fire code official every five years or as required by the fire code official. An inspection report shall be submitted to the fire code official after such examination. Exception:The testing interval for fire escapes that have all connections replaced, re-enforced, and/or duplicated may be extended as specified by the design professional if approved by the fire code official.

Send us photos of your fire escape by email: info@FireEscapesPortlandOR.com

Portland, Oregon Fire Escape Code History 

Under Portland City Code Title 31.20.080 Authority to Establish Fire Escape Maintenance and Removal Standards was assigned to The Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal is authorized to develop and enforce standards for the maintenance and removal of fire escapes in accordance with provisions of the 2014 Oregon Fire Code. 

Fire Escape Issues FMO Policy CE B-8 FIR-2.08 

This policy combines elements from all three policies, the 2016 Portland Fire Code, and the 2014 Oregon Structural Specialty Code into this single document. Click here https://www.portlandoregon.gov/citycode/article/634225 to access this document. 

It is the purpose of this policy to: 

1. Establish procedures for the inspection, evaluation and testing of fire escapes, and to

provide information pertaining to the acceptable methods of repair when needed. 

2. Address the process for removal of counterbalance stairs.
3. Address the removal of fire escapes.

Section 104 – General Authority and Responsibilities 

104.6.2 Inspections. The code official shall keep a record of each inspection made, including notices and orders issued, showing the findings and disposition of each. 

104.8.1 Material and Equipment Reuse. Materials,equipment and devices shall not be reused or reinstalled unless such elements have been reconditioned, tested and placed in good and proper working condition and approved. 

104.8.2 Technical Assistance. To determine the acceptability of technologies, processes, products, facilities,materials and uses attending the design, operation or use of a building or premises subject to inspection by the code official, the code official is authorized to require the owner or agent to provide, without charge to the District ofColumbia government, a technical opinion and report.The opinion and report shall be prepared by a qualified engineer, specialist, laboratory, or fire safety specialty organization acceptable to the code official and shall analyze the fire safety properties of the design, operation or use of the building or premises and the facilities and appurtenances situated thereon, to recommend necessary changes. The fire code official is authorized to require design submittals to be prepared by, and bear the stamp of a, registered design professional. 

104.10.2 Tests. Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with the provisions of the Fire Code, or evidence that a material or method does not conform to the requirements of the Fire Code, or in order to substantiate claims for alternative materials or methods, the code official shall have the authority to require tests as evidence of compliance to be made at no expense to the jurisdiction. Test methods shall be as specified in the Fire Code or by other recognized test standards. In the absence of recognized and accepted test methods, the code official shall approve the testing procedures. Tests shall be performed by an agency approved by the code official. Reports of such tests shall be retained by the code official for the period required for retention of public records. 

104.11.3 Systems and devices. Persons shall not render a system or device inoperative during an emergency unless by direction of the fire chief or fire department official in charge of the incident.

Section 106 – Inspections 

106.2 Inspections. The code official is authorized to conduct such inspections as are deemed necessary to determine the extent of compliance with the provisions of the Fire Code and to approve reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. All reports of such inspections shall be prepared and submitted in writing for review and approval. Inspection reports shall be certified by a responsible officer of such approved agency or by the responsible individual. The fire code official is authorized to engage such expert opinion as deemed necessary to report upon unusual, detailed or complex technical issues subject to the approval of the governing body. 

106.3 Approvals. Approval as the result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. 

Section 107 – Maintenance 

107.1 Maintenance of safeguards. Where any device, equipment, system, condition, arrangement, level of protection, or any other feature is required for compliance with the provisions of this code, or otherwise installed, such device, equipment, system, condition, arrangement, level of protection, or other feature shall thereafter be continuously maintained in accordance with this code and applicable referenced standards. 

107.2 Testing and operation. Equipment requiring periodic testing or operation to ensure maintenance shall be tested or operated as specified in this code. 

107.2.1 Re-inspection and testing. Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made so as to achieve compliance with this fire code. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the fire code official for inspection and testing.[Text Wrapping Break] 

107.3 Supervision. Maintenance and testing shall be under the supervision of a responsible person who shall ensure that such maintenance and testing is conducted at specified intervals in accordance with this code. 

107.4 Rendering Equipment Inoperable. Portable or fixed fire-extinguishing systems or devices and fire-warning systems shall not be rendered inoperative or inaccessible except as necessary during emergencies, maintenance, repairs, alterations, drills or prescribed testing. 

Section 109 – Violations 

109.1 Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for a person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, repair, remove, demolish or utilize a building, occupancy, premises or system regulated by this code, or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of any of the provisions of this code. 

109.2 Owner/occupant responsibility. Correction and abatement of violations of this code shall be the responsibility of the owner or owner’s authorized agent. If an occupant creates, or allows to be created, hazardous conditions in violation of this code, the occupant shall be held responsible for the abatement of such hazardous conditions. 

Section 110 – Unsafe  Structures & Equipment 

110.1 General. If during the inspection of a premises, a building or structure, or any building system, in whole or in part, constitutes a clear and inimical threat to human life, safety or health, the fire code official shall issue such notice or orders to remove or remedy the conditions as shall be deemed necessary in accordance with this section, and shall refer the building to the building department for any repairs, alterations, remodeling, removing or demolition required. 

110.1.1 Unsafe conditions. Structures or existing equipment that are or hereafter become unsafe or deficient because of inadequate means of egress or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare, or which involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance, shall be deemed an unsafe condition. A vacant structure that is not secured against unauthorized entry as required by Section 311 shall be deemed unsafe. Actions to corrects hazards shall be according to ORS 470.160, 470.170 and 470.195. See the procedures in OAR 837-041-0050. 

110.1.2 Structural hazards. Where an apparent structural hazard is caused by the faulty installation, operation or malfunction of any of the items or devices governed by the fire code, the fire code official shall immediately notify the building code official in accordance with Section 110.1. 

110.3 Summary Abatement. Where conditions exist that violate the Fire Code and are deemed hazardous to life and property, the fire code official or fire department official in charge of the incident is authorized to abate summarily such hazardous conditions that are in violation of this code. 

110.4 Abatement. The owner, operator or occupant of a premises, including any buildings or structures thereon,deemed unsafe by the fire code official shall abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe conditions either by repair,rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action. 

SOURCE: 

City of Portland 2016 Fire Code – Oregon 2014 Fire Code 

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/chapter/6390/   

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IFC 2015 1104.16 Fire Escape PDF actual code

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