TRENTON – Aiming to ensure that fire escapes are inspected and approved by relevant experts, the Senate advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton that would require inspections of fire escapes or exterior stairways to be conducted by a structural engineer, an architect, or an employee of a certified fire escape inspection company.

“Fire escapes are critical to ensuring that people have a viable means of evacuation in the event of a fire, especially in tall multifamily residences where evacuation using an interior stairway may not be feasible due to smoke or the source of the fire,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington), Chair of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. “Given their importance for fire safety, this bill will ensure that those who are responsible for inspecting fire escapes for structural integrity and ease of access are qualified to do so.”

The bill, S-2948, would require that only structural engineers, architects, or employees of certified fire escape inspection companies perform compliance inspections for fire escapes and exterior stairways. Though current law requires inspections, there is a lack of clarity as to who is permitted to perform those inspections and ensure compliance. By creating more concrete standards for who can evaluate the safety and integrity of fire escapes, the state can better ensure that fire escapes are kept in a state of good repair and are safe for use when evacuation is needed.

The Senate advanced the legislation in a 31-8 vote.