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Memo To: Mayor, Council and City Manager From: John Malenick, Fire Chief Date: September 9, 2005 Re: Egress Windows I have been asked by the Assistant City Manager to respond to the issue of egress windows as a life saving device. When properly placed and maintained, egress windows are, without a doubt, a valuable tool in the protection of human life. They are currently required in all new construction of all below grade dwellings and are required in any major renovation projects of below grade dwellings. Without egress windows, a single stairway is often the only means of entering and exiting. the basement of many St. Anthony homes (one way in, one way out). This is a very potentially dangerous situation not only for the occupants put also for any emergency personnel required to mitigate a below grade problem. Should the sole means of egress become impassible due to fire or structural failure, there would be no other escape and time would become critical to life. Because of this, placement of an egress window is of great concerri. To place the egress window in close proximity to the stairway would be impractical in the event a single small fire could block both means of escape. Ideally, the egress window would facilitate the most heavily used room in the basement and be remote from the stairway. They are also required in any below grade bedroom. It is my recommendation that the placement of an egress window be reviewed during the building permitting process by not only our building code official but also our Fire Marshall. Respectfully submitted, T' John Malenick Fire Chief • Page 1 St Anthony Fire Department Memo To: Mayor, Council and City Manager From: John Malenick, Fire Chief Date: September 9, 2005 Re: Egress Windows I have been asked by the Assistant City Manager to respond to the issue of egress windows as a life saving device. When properly placed and maintained, egress windows are, without a doubt, a valuable tool in the protection of human life. They are currently required in all new construction of all below grade dwellings and are required in any major renovation projects of below grade dwellings. Without egress windows, a single stairway is often the only means of entering and exiting. the basement of many St. Anthony homes (one way in, one way out). This is a very potentially dangerous situation not only for the occupants put also for any emergency personnel required to mitigate a below grade problem. Should the sole means of egress become impassible due to fire or structural failure, there would be no other escape and time would become critical to life. Because of this, placement of an egress window is of great concerri. To place the egress window in close proximity to the stairway would be impractical in the event a single small fire could block both means of escape. Ideally, the egress window would facilitate the most heavily used room in the basement and be remote from the stairway. They are also required in any below grade bedroom. It is my recommendation that the placement of an egress window be reviewed during the building permitting process by not only our building code official but also our Fire Marshall. Respectfully submitted, T' John Malenick Fire Chief • Page 1