What gear for high-rise building emergency escape?

J.D.,
(decades rusty)-that one got me to laugh some of my coffee up into my nose...I hear that.

If a pry bar doesn't work for office policy, maybe one of them new 5 lb plastic coated, friendly colored hand weights might be ok in your small go-bag you might keep in your desk. You can pop windows and doors with it.
A good pair of padded palmed work gloves will be useful. The riggers belt that accepts a carabiner will work for 120', though it will pinch fat and squeeze your lower back, but who cares, it's better than jumping.
Scope out some good anchor points. Maybe have a bag of cheap work gloves from the flea market, for all the panicky people that will try and follow your Batman ass down the rope :)
Play with the descender in your yard a bit if you have a nice tree.
Definitely no paracord for this IMO.
The good surplus Army ropes are 120' IIRC.

Good luck and be safe

Mark
 
I would get an emergency descent device of some sort. I used them in the past and they work great; you just anchor it, put the harness on, and jump out the window and you fall at a constant rate. I do not know if you can get one for 12 stories, but it would be my first purchase. You should at least be able to get down to extension ladder (fire truck) height. Just do an internet search for emergency descent and you should find some...
 
Since your situation can be unpredictible, in addition to a prybar I would highly reccomend a CS trail hawk with the hammer poll flattened and grovved (like a framer's hammer). Obviously, if you can't get one in the building, you can't. (could probably mail it to yourself even then).

I'm not going to get into self defense issues a whole lot, but anything can happen. Prybars are great, but make crappy hammers and a well profiled axe edge could save your life as easily as a big pry. So have both if you can!

A large fire resistant blanket, several wind up flashlights, and a hard hat would be in my gear in addition to much of the other stuff mentioned. Hard hat is the first to go if there is a space issue.


I'm not going to get into climbing gear, but realize that - while I think it's a great thing to have!- people are going to SEE you doing this. You may need to consider some extra gear or a way to belay multiple people from the ground once you get out.
 
I have one of those Stanley Fubars...it is a great demo tool.

Some sort of dust mask repirator mask...inexpensive for what they can provide in terms of filtering out all the bad stuff. Most construction safety supply houses have them as well as reccomendations and fit testing if it may come to that.

Hard Hat...Safety glasses if there is a bunch of crap flying around while you're trying to get out.

Steel workers have Fall-limiters and Retractable lifelines with either steel cable or heavy duty Dyneema kevlar line, those would help you access other lower floors if necessary. (big and bulky though.)

A Fisk Descender with the correct line may be an option, to access lower floors.

Hearing protection? If a building environemnt is coming apart around you saving your hearing may be a consideration.
 
Good ideas thus far...!

Random thoughts:

Preplanning is everything! Get to know your building, get a copy of any emergency/evacuation plans for the building.
Also have a good understanding of the areas around the building, have multiple routes to get-out-of-Dodge in a hurry.

Not sure about any 'dress codes,' but some clothing materials are much better than others around heat/fire.
For several reasons, AVOID polyester if at all possible :eek:.

+1 on gloves.

For urban scenarios a helmet like the Bullard Advent A2 would be good.
A more subdued color like blue or green attracts less attention, add CERT training and green would be a good call...
A headlamp would be a bonus. Flashlights always around, and consider a handful of lightsticks too.

As stated, learn to tie a 'swiss seat' type harness, or get a quick donning harness (example) and PRACTICE.

There are many heat resistant ropes designed specificall for Escape Lines. Keeping it in a rope bag, pre-rigged with some sort of decent device, and don't throw the bag down, rather have it attached to your harness to deploy as you go, so it can't be grabbed from below.
Pre-identify anchors for the escape rope. Take measures to protect the rope from sharp edges, etc.

Perhaps an Escape Hood of some sort as mentioned.

Huge topic; clearly many levels of costs and skills to consider...
Think "All Hazards." Pre-plan, train and practice!!!
 
I have one of those Stanley Fubars...it is a great demo tool
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This has come up a couple times (including my post) but on further reflection, you'll have access to the building's emergency equipment - like fire axes. Most people aren't going to stick around and deal with the situation, so it shouldn't be too hard to find tools and materials provided you've done some recce beforehand.

River-8, I didn't know they made a heat resistant spectra line - cool, thanks.
 
Sounds like great advice, guys--keep it coming!

One thing I'm noticing is that a lot of the descent kits (e.g., those linked-to by River-8) seem to contemplate a 60-foot descent, and I may want to be prepared with more cord. At this point, I'm kind of juggling the "how likely is it that I'll ever actually need this?" and "how much will it cost?" questions.

Obviously, there's got to be some compromise here (or else I'd not be working in the building at all, but living in a bunker for the rest of my life)--but what can people tell me about getting a 200-foot (is that, realistically, what I'll need for 12 stories? I'll try to figure out building height somehow, for more accuracy) length of usable line for this kind of thing, as inexpensively as possible? Heat resistant is good, obviously--but if it's coming to a choice of great, professional equipment that I realistically can't afford and won't get, versus 90% chance it will work, 10% chance it'll melt and I'll die, but I'll actually HAVE it, the latter may end up winning the day due to budget constraints.

One thing I've realized, rather quickly, is that there may be a few different levels of quality of materials at issue here. Top level is the stuff that gets bought by (or by the departments of) the people who KNOW they really WILL be using this equipment on a fairly-predictable basis. For a high-rise rescuer or SWAT officer who KNOWS he probably WILL be using his line at some time during the next 2 years, a 1% failure rate is too high, and nothing's too expensive. On the other hand, for equipment that's probably going to get tested over a couple of weekends and then left hidden in a filing cabinet against the very remote chance that it'll be needed in an escape--well, slightly-used might do. Especially if the cost difference makes the difference between having it and not. (But you guys all relate, I'm sure!)

Still definitely in the "thinking this through" stage. Keep it up!
 
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Definitely an emergency respirator. Something like 90% of fire victims are killed by smoke inhalation not burns. My father is a firefighter: I've heard him say that a couple of hundred times.
 
Lawlor69 said:
Definitely an emergency respirator. Something like 90% of fire victims are killed by smoke inhalation not burns. My father is a firefighter: I've heard him say that a couple of hundred times.
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Sounds wise. I can get one of these things as inexpensively as possible where?
 
Just a thought re: recce

Many highrise buildings have permanent window washing rigs installed. Maybe book a day off when they're cleaning them and see if you can come in to watch how they rig it ?

Again, the important thing is to avoid the mob because of that whole 'drowning man' situation...
 
Do a recon of all the routes out. Check the stairwells, elevator shafts and window washer "tracks". The window tracks or rails can be use to descend on if you have the right tool or device. That is how some of those spiderman characters climb buildings. They scope out the building and the tracks and make a device like an ascender to climb up the building. You could do the opposite with a friction type descender and short lengths of rope.
 
the fat max wrecking bar can be used as a bludgeon, hammer, sledge, prybar, window smashers/glass raker (even mesh security glass), wall opener, door opener, ROPE ANCHOR (wedge between two SOLID objects). etc etc etc
 
Zman is dead on with this, but take it one step further. explore and wander at least one lunch a week, somewhere new, memorize and look. what alleys dead end and where? what locks can be broken, whose office is nearest the stairs?
 
Attend and pay close attention at all fire drills.
Familiarize yourself with the location of all fire stairs, not just the closest to your work station.

Basics first :D
 
I would recomend a machete to get down the stairs...all those people in the way.
 
Contact www.rescueresponse.com as they have a bag designed specifically for what you need...or can build you what you need. Tell them you want the rope they sell the the Smoke Jumpers because it is designed for high temp inserts - I believe it is the Sterling Fire Tech 32 PER...in the event fire is involved. In your situation that is a consideration. This rope is used by NYFD and is rated for over 900 degrees.

This bag , I can't remember the name of it, is small, lightweight yet very effective. You pre-size the harness to your body and if SHTF you jump into it...connect one carabiner to a pre determined anchor point and throw the bag out the window and wah lah away you go. I have a red Glo Toob attached to the end of mine so I can see in the dark where the end of the rope is. It takes less than a minute to get saddled up and then deploy. The harness is already connected to the PMI Personal Escape Descender which is pre adjusted to your body weight. The deal with the PED is even if you are overwhelmed by smoke and pass out it will automatically decend you to the ground at a controlled rate. My set up is good for 9 stories and I take it with me when I teach on the road and have to live out of a hotel/motel.

Take a class or two on repelling and practice with your kit. CAVEAT: don't buy gear and then store it away somewhere get out and train with it with certifed professionals!!!
 
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Let me preface this, I have had to get out of many building from fire and bombs.
Forget the rope, recon the building find out where the stairs go and what doors you can gain that open and understand that many are one way openers.
Do Not Mill around, at the first alarm get your butt out! You are in a high rise chimney. Have the tools to help you get out
Pry bar 1
Screwdrivers 2 can be used to keep door open by wedging it ay the top of the back of the door between it and the frame
Hacksaw blade can be used to shim door locks
Roll of Electrical Tape to wrap around door knob and lock in case you have to retrace your steps.
Duct tape
Bandanna at a minimum with goggles’, Escape Smoke Mask Better.
Power full flashlight to cut through smoke.
Water for eye wash
Leather gloves
Hatchet - not priority but nice if you have batter/chop through sheet rock[ space between wall studs 16”to 24” from edge of door frame or corner of walls]
 
Quirt said:
Contact www.rescueresponse.com as they have a bag designed specifically for what you need...or can build you what you need. Tell them you want the rope they sell the the Smoke Jumpers because it is designed for high temp inserts - I believe it is the Sterling Fire Tech 32 PER...in the event fire is involved. In your situation that is a consideration. This rope is used by NYFD and is rated for over 900 degrees.

This bag , I can't remember the name of it, is small, lightweight yet very effective. You pre-size the harness to your body and if SHTF you jump into it...connect one carabiner to a pre determined anchor point and throw the bag out the window and wah lah away you go. I have a red Glo Toob attached to the end of mine so I can see in the dark where the end of the rope is. It takes less than a minute to get saddled up and then deploy. The harness is already connected to the PMI Personal Escape Descender which is pre adjusted to your body weight. The deal with the PED is even if you are overwhelmed by smoke and pass out it will automatically decend you to the ground at a controlled rate. My set up is good for 9 stories and I take it with me when I teach on the road and have to live out of a hotel/motel.

Take a class or two on repelling and practice with your kit. CAVEAT: don't buy gear and then train with it with certifed professionals!!!
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+1

:thumbup:
 
Return of the J.D. said:
Sounds wise. I can get one of these things as inexpensively as possible where?
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I frankly don't own one (although I have sometimes seriously considered getting one; I also now only live in a two-story house).

I've seen them sold at major online military/survival retailers, like US Cav and Brigade Quartermasters. They seemed pretty good. Other posters here, however, appear more knowledgeable than me. Listen to them.
 
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