Departmental Procedures & Guidelines for Inspections, Certifications, Load Testing, Repairs & Painting of Fire Escapes
Inspections by Structural Engineers, Fire Escape Engineers or others acceptable to the Official:
In layman’s terms, the city official is looking for a registered structural engineer or others qualified and acceptable by the Fire/Code Official to do a Critical Examination in lieu of a Live Load Test (criteria submitted or discussed prior to inspection) and issues written verification and certification that all connections are free of internal rust or rot as well as all original hardware (square head bolts or rivet) are reinforced and or replaced in lieu of Live Load Test. All supports (thru-bolts or cemented) into the wall must be verified and certified in lieu of Live Load Test. A fire escape confidence test and tag must be submitted if fire escape passed. The report with photos identifying violations for repairs must include repair criteria submitted to the official for repair vendor to use as a guide during and with engineer oversight of permitted repairs. A Fire Escape Confidence Test and tags identifying certified condition are then submitted. Recommended cycle for live load testing is 20 yrs after total refurbishment or as required by official.
Repairs by Ornamental Ironworkers, Welding Companies or others acceptable to the Official:
In layman’s terms, the city official is looking for a qualified licensed repair vendor to do all work under repair permit (if required) with engineer oversight of repair criteria submitted for approval to the official in lieu of Live Load Test. All connections must be free of internal rust or rot, spot primed and sealed. All worn material repaired and or replaced. All supports into wall reinforced, repaired and certified in a Fire Escape Confidence Test. In lieu of Live Load Test, all square head bolts, rivets and or welded connections must be certified, reinforced and or replaced based on age or condition. All ladders and cantilevers must be balanced and drop 2-3 ft per second, hit the ground and stay down and must lead to a public way. All roof ladders must be secure. No full painting of any fire escape until all spot painted repairs are inspected and certified under engineer oversight and or city official permit sign-off. Full replacement is subject to permits and or possible code upgrade requirements.
Painting by EPA Licensed Renovators (if lead paint is present) or others acceptable to Official:
In layman’s terms, the city official is looking for a paint vendor (EPA Certified Renovator if required) to do all work as per EPA Guidelines due to the fact that all fire escapes older than 1978 are presumed to have lead (EPA) unless identified as no lead or low lead by a licensed lead inspector. Entire building will be notified with signage and all precautions shall be taken to collect paint chips at grade. No sandblasting or power assisted scraping without full fire escape encapsulation under EPA Guidelines. All major connection shall be sealed from water intrusion before during or after painting. All escapes should be spot painted every 3-5 yrs and fully painted every 5-10 yrs or as needed or ordered by a Fire/Code Official.
Fire Escape Codes:
NFPA Lifesafety Code 101 7.2.8.6.2 The authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to approve any existing fire escape Stair that has been shown by load test or other satisfactory evidence to have adequate strength.
For more information please visit our website at https://fireescapeengineers.com or call 866-649-0333
Fire Escape Engineers is an approved member of the Fire Escape Services Network https://www.fireescpeservices.com and a founding member of the National Fire Escape Association (NFEA) https://www.nationalfireescapeassociation.org
This video describes the 4 main stages of the Plastic Injection Moulding Process. The process works by heating and injecting plastic material under pressure into a closed metal mould tool.
The mould tool, which can be made from aluminium alloy or hardened steel for example, provides the shape of the plastic part to be produced.
Stage 1 of the Plastic Injection Moulding Process is where with 2 parts of the mould tool firmly clamped together under pressure plastic granules are fed from hopper into the barrel and rotating screw of the injection moulding machine. These plastic granules are then made into a molten plastic liquid using heat, friction and force.
As the screw is rotated the molten plastic is forced forward through a check valve towards the mould tool. By pushing the material to the front, the screw is forced backwards
In stage 2 of the Plastic Injection Process A hydraulic ram is used to force the screw forward so that the molten plastic material is injected into the closed mould tool.
Pressure is applied after the molten plastic material has been injected into the mould to make sure that all of cavities and spaces have been filled.
In stage 3 of the Plastic Injection Moulding Process The Plastic Injection Moulding tool is held closed under pressure to allow the plastic material to cool and set hard in the mould tool cavity.
In stage 4 of the Plastic Injection Moulding Process as the screw begins moving back for the next moulding the tool is opened. The opening of the tool and the use of e.g. air blast, a plate or rods, mean that the finished plastic moulding is ejected. The mould is then closed and the whole cycle begins again for the next moulding.
This Video also lists the benefits of using Toolcraft’s Plastic Injection Moulding services as:
You will receive quality service and products thanks to Toolcraft’s expertise in plastic injection moulding a wide range of materials and colours.
You can be sure that your mould tools is up to the job and affordable by asking Toolcraft to make the Toolcraft for you here in the UK. Toolcraft are also experienced toolmakers.
You can enjoy cost savings by having the tool made by Toolcraft’s trusted toolmaking partner in China.
You can save more money and minimise downtime by asking Toolcraft to make your annual plastic quantity and hold it in stock for you up to six months, delivering it in batches to your schedule on demand.
You can be sure that your mouldings are being produced in a very cost effective way thanks to Toolcraft’s use of repositionable machines.
You can save production time by asking Toolcraft to pad or hot foil print on your plastic mouldings for you in-house.
You can enjoy the simplicity and efficiency of allowing Toolcraft to take care of the whole process for you.
For more information call toolcraft on 01793 641 040 or visit https://www.toolcraft.co.uk/