Werner ESC220 – The Perfect Escape Ladder. While it is true that your chance of you becoming the victim of a house fire is small, it isn’t so small that you can ignore it. In fact, in 2015, 10.5 people died for every one million citizens in this country as a result of a house fire. Those deaths could have been prevented had they had a means of escape. Unfortunately, most American households only have smoke detectors installed and, in many cases, they are in the wrong place and not even functioning. Thus, a fire escape ladder, such as the Werner ESC220, is an absolute must-have. Click here for the Top 10 Best Fire Escape Ladders.
All families should take the time to come up with an escape plan during such an emergency. They should know the different escape routes, particularly if they are on an upper floor. During a fire, the stairs can quickly become inaccessible as the fire moves upward. This is why a fire escape ladder, and preferably one for every window in the home, is so important.
Most people sleep on their upper floor and most fatal fires start when people are in bed. They sometimes find themselves blocked in by the fire and are unable to get out. Even worse, parents may find that they are unable to get their children out of the house. The best way to get out in those cases is through the window, using a fire escape ladder.
Choosing the right one can be difficult, however, because there are many available choices. When reviewing the different fire escape ladders, you will quickly find that there are different ones available. They vary in price and come with a range of features. Hence, you do have to take the time to compare the market before deciding which one is right for you. One option is the Werner ESC200. Let’s take a look at what sets this particular model apart from the rest
About the Werner ESC220
The Werner ESC220 is a reasonably new fire escape ladder. It has been designed to have advanced safety features, as well as a significant weight capacity. Furthermore, it is easy to deploy and is long enough to reach down from a two story window. It is also a reusable ladder. This means that you could practice fire safety drills at home, including the escape, teaching you and your children how to deploy the ladder and how to climb down safely.
One of the things that really sets the Werner ESC220 apart, is the fact that it can be wall mounted. The majority of other reusable fire escape ladders have to be stored elsewhere. While most people will simply place it in a wardrobe, the reality is that it could often get lost underneath mountains of old clothes. During an emergency like a fire, when everybody is panicking, it can be very difficult to find it.
Manufacturers usually state that the ladder should be stored in a bedroom corner, rather than inside a cupboard. However, this can be an eyesore, which means people end up moving it to another place. In fact, it is not unheard of for American households to store their upstairs fire escape ladders somewhere in their basement! The ESC220, on the other hand, fits within the wall cavity, which means it is hardly visible. Simply place something such as a potted plant or blanket chest in front of it, and it is completely invisible but right there, ready to be used.
You can install the ESC220 yourself. However, you can expect this to take several hours. In fact, the instruction manual says to count on at least two hours, but most people have reported that it took them much longer. This is because you have to find where your wall studs are, measure and cut a space for the storage box in your dry wall, and more. This also requires a lot of specific tools. As a result, it may be advisable to hire a carpenter instead. While this is an added expense, it ensures that you don’t cause any damage to the structure of your home and you will be guaranteed that the ladder is properly installed.
Overall, the ESC220 is a safe ladder that is very easy to deploy. It clips out of its housing and easily rolls out of the upstairs window, allowing you and your family to get out. It is important to practice this, however, because thinking about climbing out of a second story window and actually doing it are two different things. If there is a fire, it will be likely that you will be in a state of panic and having to climb down the ladder for the first time may just be too much to handle.
What I Liked About the Werner ESC220
⦁ It is a reusable ladder, so you can also use it for drills.
⦁ It is fitted with flat runs that have anti-slip grooves on it for added safety.
⦁ It can be installed as a DIY job.
⦁ The storage compartment can be flush mounted to your wall so that it doesn’t create an eyesore and it doesn’t get lost by storing it in an inappropriate place.
⦁ It can carry as much as 1,200 pounds.
What I Didn’t Like About the Werner ESC220
⦁ It is quite expensive compared to other escape ladders.
⦁ Installation is quite complex and can be best done by a carpenter, which means added expense.
The Final Verdict
The Werner ESC220 is a very solid fire escape ladder designed to keep you and your family safe. While the chance of you experiencing a house fire is very slim, even the slimmest chance is big enough to warrant having an escape ladder in place. The ESC220 has some very significant advantages, particularly that it can be reused and that it is very safe. Additionally, it can be stored at the window itself, which is a fantastic advantage on the one hand, but also a disadvantage because the installation is quite complex. If you feel confident about doing it, or you don’t mind the expense of hiring a carpenter, however, then there really is nothing to complain about with this particular ladder. Hence, it is 100% recommended.