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Looking for a fire ladder or escape ladder for your balcony, window, facade, roof, or apartment?

Looking for the best fire and escape ladders? We offer various types of fire and escape ladders that comply with the legislation in Belgium. Having an emergency ladder is mandatory for buildings with more than one floor. Whether it's a fixed ladder, extendable ladder, cage ladder, we have the solution for your specific situation. Our ladders are designed with safety in mind and are available at a competitive price. We have foldable escape and fire ladders. We understand that prices are important when buying a fire and escape ladder. That's why we offer affordable solutions for your fire safety needs. For apartments, we also have a range of options for fire evacuation, such as a cage fire ladder, the well-known Jomy ladder, or an extendable fire ladder. We are also happy to think along with you for a tailor-made solution that meets your specific needs and the legislation.
Be sure to check out our emergency and escape stairs for a safer and more accepted escape route.


FAQ

When can a fire escape ladder be used?

Evacuation ladders are a great alternative to fire escape stairs:

  • If there is not enough available space for a stair: an emergency staircase is a bulky solution and there is not always enough space available around the building.
  • If specific aesthetics and planning / board requirements exist: for historic or aesthetically valuable buildings, planning regulations do not always allow for the placement of an exterior staircase. A well-suited aesthetic solution in this case is the JOMY Retractable Ladder because it is discreet secured and modern.
  • If the layout of the building requires such a solution: sometimes it is better to provide multiple escape routes - for example and depending on the situation, it may drastically increase overall safety to have one fire escape stairway and two additional ladders strategically placed around the building.
  • For costs reasons: an escape ladder is much cheaper than exterior stairs. So, it is reasonable to say that there are many situations in which it can be economically justified to buy a ladder, even if it’s not the preferred evacuation solution.

How do you choose between a fire escape ladder and a staircase?

Because ladders are a substitute solution for emergency evacuation, the following criteria are often used when choosing them over a staircase. Please note that some depend on applicable rules and regulations for the specific location and situation of the building:

  • Number of people: the number of persons to be evacuated via a ladder is sometimes limited to 10.
  • Number of stories: in some cases a ladder can only be used for the height of 3 to 5 floors. There are also many occurences where a ladder is allowed above certain heights only if it is used to reach the flat roof from the upper floors.
  • Nature of the people to be evacuated: depending on the physical and mental abilities of the people to be evacuated, ladders are sometimes not an ideal choice. For example, they are not recommended for the evacuation of very small children, some elderly people, people with mental disabilities, or those with limited mobility.
  • Familiarity of the users: practice makes perfect. It’s always an advantage when the user has tried, practiced and learned how a particular ladder works. If this is possible for a family or small office, it’s not for a public place like a museum or theater where visitors are always different.

How popular are fire escape ladders?

Although they are best used as an alternative solution to fire escape stairs, ladders make up about 75% of all escape routes in existing buildings. This is due to many factors: accessible price, compactness and aesthetics (especially true for JOMY Retractable Ladders).

What is the best fire escape ladder?

It all depends on the context but the options available on the market can be categorized as such:

  • Permanent fire escape ladders: because they are solid and fixed to the facade or other supporting structure, we believe that this kind of ladder is the best solution - especially when made of long-lasting aluminium. If well engineered, built and installed correctly, they indeed are the most sturdy, reassuring and secure type of fire escape ladders.
  • Portable / roll-out fire escape ladders: these ladders are made of different materials like ropes, chains, plastic or fabrics. They usually are ''thrown-out the window'' or unrolled and hooked to window sills or balconies. If you have tried one yourself you'll come to the same conclusion as us: these ladders are very flimsy, unstable and impossible to use by more than 1 person at a time. Needless to say we don't recommend these ladders unless impossible otherwise.

Are cage ladders good fire escape ladders?

For:

  • Standards for access and service ladders require that a ladder with a height of 3 m or more be equipped with a cage (except if they are fitted with a vertical lifeline and arrest system).
  • The back protection on caged ladders offers users a sort of psychological reassurance as it creates a physical barrier between them and the open space behind. This can contribute to lower stress levels and thus create a safer evacuation process for the users.

Against:

  • The cage itself may become an obstacle in certain situations, for example when someone is trying to evacuate with goods instead of focusing on getting out safely.
  • A person in panic may block the ladder in a more problematic way due to the fact that the cage restricts the pathway.
  • A cage ladder may be difficult to use by firefighters with equipment on their back.

Thankfully, many other types of evacuation ladders are available.

How can you improve the safety of fire escape ladders?

  • Make sure that you choose a sturdy, durable and easy-to-use permanent fire escape ladder.
  • Installation must be done as per the manufacturer’s requirements. If needed, JOMY has its own installation teams with professionals active from Belgium.
  • Verify periodically that the ladder remains correctly fixed to the supporting structure.
  • Provide a safe access path to the ladder. This can involve access balconies, fall protection systems like lested roof guardrails, or walkway platforms.
  • If the ladder is very high, options like restplatforms and landings can be added in order to make the descent easier.
  • Make an evacuation plan and practice getting on and down your ladder.

How can you secure a fire escape ladder against burglars, thiefs and intrusions?

JOMY Retractable Ladders are by nature already secure as they do not provide a climbing path when in the closed position. They can also be configured to have no opening handle whatsoever on the bottom. If one opening mechanism is needed near a less secure entry or exit point, it can be protected by a locking hub and padlock.

On cage ladders and fixed ladders without cage, many options are available:

  • The drop-down lower section.
  • The security door equipped with a paddlock.
  • The security door equipped with a padlock and an additional gate to block the cage entrance.

Fire escape ladder for window evacuation

Windows are everywhere and many are well-positionned to accommodate a safe escape route. In this regard, many fire escape ladders on the market are designed in order to be "lightweight" and "portable". They are essentially used by first "throwing them out" of the window: rope ladders with wooden or plastic rungs, flimsy chain ladders, ladders with carabiners, etc. Needless to say that we don't recommend using such solutions as they are very unstable, impossible to use by multiple people simultaneously and provide no sense of safety whatsoever in conditions that are potentially very stressful already!

JOMY’s window fire escape ladders are permanent, durable, sturdy and reassuring. We believe in dependable solutions in order to increase safety during the evacuation process as well as for the use by emergency services.



Window fire escape drop-down ladder on a bank office building equipped with an access balcony.

Window fire escape drop-down ladder on a bank office building


Two retractable fire escape ladders painted in white and used to escape from the windows on the 1st and 2nd levels of a family house.

Retractable fire escape ladders in white for the windows on a family house


Fire escape cage ladder and access balconies for window egress on a historical brick building.

Fire escape cage ladder and balconies for window egress on a historical building


Window fire escape ladder without cage for a house

Window fire escape ladder without cage for a house


Window fire escape cage ladder with multiple access balconies on the facade of a 7 story office building.

Building fire escape ladder and custom-made evacuation access balconies for window egress


Retractable fire escape ladder for the window of an office building

Black retractable ladder to escape from an office building window


Fire escape solution for multiple windows and comprising of balconies, cage ladders and a drop-down ladder for the evacuation of an apartment building.

Fire escape solution for multiple windows and comprising of balconies, cage ladders and a drop-down ladder


2 retractable fire escape ladders to escape from a window onto the roof and then ground level

2 retractable ladders to escape from a window onto the roof and then ground level


Fire escape ladder for balcony evacuation

Balconies provide a great access point for fire escape ladders. Depending on the type of building they are either integrated to the structure already or custom-made and added later. These balconies can be equipped with a removable guardrail or gate in order to make it easier to reach the ladder itself.

JOMY's access balconies are designed to support a load of 500kg /m².



Discreet retractable ladder in the closed position and used to escape from the balconies of an apartment building.

Discreet retractable ladder in the closed position and used to escape from the balconies of an apartment building


Custom-made balcony used with a drop-down ladder on an old facade wall in order to evacuate from the window of a house.

Custom-made balcony used with a drop-down ladder on an old facade wall in order to evacuate from a window


Fire escape retractable ladder integrated to the building and painted for a stealthy evacuation route from the balconies.

Retractable ladder integrated to the building and painted for a stealthy evacuation route


Drop-down ladder with cage for fire escape from the balconies of a modern apartment building.

Drop-down ladder with cage for fire escape from the balconies of a modern apartment building


Window fire escape cage ladders and pass-through concrete access balconies.

Fire escape cage ladders for pass-through concrete balconies on a residential building


Fixed ladder without cage attached to the front of the balconies of an apartment building.

Fixed ladder without cage attached to the front of the balconies of an apartment building


Retractable fire escape ladders for the balconies of adjacent homes.

Retractable fire escape ladders for the balconies of adjacent homes


Fire escape drop-down ladder to evacuate from balconies to the street sidewalk.

Fire escape drop-down ladder to evacuate from balconies to the street sidewalk


Fire escape ladder for roof evacuation

Roofs can serve as an excellent platform from which to evacuate in case of an emergency. When flat they are sometimes used as a gathering point, but whatever the structure, they often require catwalks or collective fall protection systems in order to increase the safety on the escape route. Even though fire escape stairs are the preferred solution when a great number of people are to evacuate, ladders can sometimes be used for smaller buildings or when the situation requires them.
Hereunder are some of JOMY’s solutions comprising of evacuation ladders.



Roof fire escape route made of a cage ladder, balconies and a securable retractable ladder at the bottom for an office building.

Roof fire escape route made of a cage ladder, balconies and a securable retractable ladder at the bottom


2 retractable ladders for the fire evacuation from roofs on different levels of a house, and secured street-side.

2 retractable ladders for the fire evacuation from roofs on different levels, and secured street-side


Fire escape ladder without cage for a skylight window, painted and used to get down to the adjencent flat roof.

Fire escape ladder without cage for a skylight window, painted and used to get down to the adjencent flat roof


Retractable fire escape ladder for the windows of a roof apartment.

Retractable fire escape ladder for the windows of a roof apartment


Roof escape ladder with fall protection and intermediate balcony

Roof skylight fire escape ladder with fall protection and intermediate evacuation balcony


Shipladder used to access the roof through a dome rooflight for emergency evacuations.

Shipladder used to access the roof through a dome rooflight for emergency evacuations


Fire escape cage ladder and access balconies for roof skylights of an attic apartment.

Fire escape cage ladder and access balconies for roof skylights


Rooftop fire escape gliding ladder that can be hidden on the roof and lowered to get down to safety from the roof of a city home.

Rooftop gliding ladder that can be hidden on the roof and lowered to get down to safety


1 story fire escape ladder

The height of one story doesn't seem to be much but we insist on providing ladders that are sturdy and safe to use. Indeed and after trying some of them, we believe that many so-called "portable fire escape ladders" that are available on the market do not provide a safe escape route. This is mainly due to their lack of sturdiness and the fact that a ladder that is first "thrown out of the window" is never properly secured to the building structure.

Hereunder are some example of our permanently fixed ladders to use for your home, building, apartment or office.



1 story retractable fire escape ladder used for an office building equipped with an access balcony.

1 story retractable fire escape ladder used for an office building


1 story fire escape drop-down ladder with cage for the evacuation of a family house.

1 story fire escape drop-down ladder for a family house


1 story black retractable fire escape ladder for an apartment window.

1 story black retractable fire escape ladder for an apartment window


1 story fire escape cage ladder for an apartment bedroom on the 1st level.

1 story fire escape cage ladder for an apartment bedroom on the 1st level


2 story fire escape ladder

When stepping outside at a height of 2 stories, it is mandatory to have a ladder that you can trust. It has to make your emergency evacuation as stress-free as possible. Have you tried stepping onto a flimsy rope ladder or equivalent 6 m above the ground? We have, and it’s not a reassuring experience. On the other side, JOMY’s permanent evacuation ladders are ideal as they are firmly attached to the fixing surface and provide a sturdy construction for you to use.



Very discreet 2 story retractable fire escape ladder for the bedroom of a family house.

Very discreet 2 story retractable fire escape ladder for the bedroom of a family house


2 story counterbalanced fire escape cage ladder with access balconies on a building.

2 story counterbalanced fire escape cage ladder with access balconies


2 story fire escape retractable ladder for a brick house.

2 story fire escape retractable ladder for a brick house


2 story fire escape ladder and balconies for city apartments on two levels.

2 story fire escape ladder and evacuation balconies for city apartments


3 story fire escape ladder

Considering an average of 3 m per story, evacuating on a ladder of about 9 m is not easy for everyone. In order to reduce the stress involved at those heights we can only recommend installing an exterior fire escape staircase whenever possible. Fortunately, our permanent ladders are engineered and built to be stable and safe when used from any heights. If needed intermediate balconies can be installed in order to provide rest platforms and reduced the height of any single flight. So, should your low-rise building and situation require a fire escape ladder spanning on 3 levels, we have the right solution for you.



3 story retractable fire escape ladder for apartments.

3 story retractable fire escape ladder for apartments


3 story fire escape cage ladder with access balconies on every level of a factory building.

3 story fire escape cage ladder with access balconies on every level of a factory building


3 story alternating retractable ladders for the evacuation of an office building.

3 story alternating retractable ladders for the evacuation of an office building


3 story fire escape ladder without cage with an access balcony for  the roof apartment.

3 story fire escape ladder without cage with an access balcony for the roof apartment


4+ story fire escape ladder

Although mid-rise buildings are already high for a ladder, they can still benefit from an alternative escape route that is less cumbersome than exterior fire escape stairs. Indeed, many apartment and office buildings are either already equipped with ladders that need to be replaced or need to have new ones installed, because of new regulations or a report issued after an inspection from the fire department. Whatever the reason, JOMY has the reputation of being able to provide fire escape solutions for all types of structures. Depending on the situation, ladders so high can be segmented into smaller alternating flights, linked between them by resting platforms than can also act as access balconies for different levels of the building. This ensures a smoother descent that is less challenging both physically and mentally.



4 story fire escape retractable ladder in the open position for a residential building.

4 story fire escape retractable ladder in the open position for a residential building


7 story fire escape cage ladder with access balconies for an office building.

7 story fire escape cage ladder with access balconies for an office building


5 story fire escape cage ladder with decorative aluminium structure for balcony egress of an apartment building.

5 story fire escape cage ladder with decorative aluminium structure for balcony egress


8 story fire escape ladder without cage and access balconies.

8 story fire escape ladder without cage and access balconies


What does the fire law say?

Fire safety is an important aspect of any building. In Belgium, it is mandatory to comply with certain fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of residents and employees. For example, buildings with multiple floors must have an emergency exit, and there must be sufficient fire extinguishers and signaling. At Jomy, we understand how important it is to comply with fire legislation. We offer a wide range of escape and fire ladders that meet legal standards and make your building safer. Do you want to learn more about the regulations and rules regarding escape routes and fire evacuation? Then you can read about it here.



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