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I need a security grate for a third floor window where I’m building a fire escape. All I can find locally are those cheap, flimsy, telescoping adjustable things. I need something substantial, secure, about 3′ wide and 4 or 5′ high.
And, of course it must be openable from the inside only with no special tools to meet egress requirements.
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Ryan, there are companies that specialize in making burglar bars (wrought iron) as simple or as ornate as you want.
Also, check out ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTs BY OUTWATER L.L.C. 1-800-835-4400. They're in your neck of the woods, too: 22 Passaic St. P.O. Box 347, Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075. They have a super selection of components to build your own stuff out of iron, some REAL fancy. If you can weld or have a reasonable welder you could do it your self. Might be something you could add to your business. They have a web site for design and concepts - http://www.archpro.com/iron
*Ryan-Have you considered drawing something up, and giving it to a local welding shop? They can usually do something like this in no time for very little money.I welded up a few for my buddy's girlfriend when she moved into a new place. The ability to make them exactly to the size I wanted was a nice plus.
*I'd weld them myself except I'm not sure how to make them. The part I can't figure out is how to make them open easliy from the inside in a fire and still be secure enough to not open from the outside.I'd like a latch inside but with bars, you could reach right through and turn the latch.
*The ones I used were not fire escape, but strictly window security.What about a plate, or some of that steel wesh like used in wrought iron tables. I'll keep thinkin' Watch for the smoke
*Problem with security bars that have to be egress compliant is that egress code states something like it needs to be able to be opened without any special knowledge or tools which seems to make security bars not so secure. then again some building departments are fairly liberal on how they construe "no special knowledge or tools". OH HEY, how about a bar that unlocks the grate by pulling inward but the window sash is in it's way so the window has to be open to pull the bar in. Thisa-way when the window is closed the bar can't be used but then again if you're sleeping with the window open you gotta problem again. So what we need here is a not-so-secure security grate. Hmmmmm, my head is starting to hurt.Pete
*Ryan,Messi has the good idea: heavy diamond mesh expanded metal, or something else robust with holes too small to admit a hand. On security doors one often sees a plate only near the lock/handle, leading into a pattern of bars whose openings grow wider the further they are from the lock. This denies not only access, but also vision, so you could have some simple, obvious lock like a barrel bolt that would not be so obvious to the intruder. Even simpler, and therefore safer in a fire is to place a 2" round knob inside a 4" i.d. steel cylinder facing the window and protruding 2" past the knob would be really awkward to turn from outside, but pretty simple from the inside, and a welding shop can do it easily. Rig up a sample out of wood and an old knobset to get the proportions right. It is simply a matter of thinking ergonomically for the insider and anti-ergonomically for the outsider. Good luck!Bill