Own or manage a building with a fire escape? Portland requires fire escapes to be inspected, tested, and certified every five years (Portland Fire & Rescue rule FIR-2.08, under the city’s Title 31 fire regulations). K&H Construction provides the testing, documentation, and repairs — so your building stays safe, compliant, and off the city’s problem list.
Fire Escape Services We Provide
Load Testing & Recertification
Performed to City of Portland requirements, with the documentation your building file needs.
Structural Repairs & Welding
Treads, railings, ladders, platforms, and anchors — repaired by the same licensed crew that tests them. Where anchors meet rotted wood, our dry rot repair team rebuilds the structure behind them.
Rust Remediation & Repainting
Surface prep, rust treatment, and repainting that stop corrosion before it becomes a structural problem.
Engineer Coordination
When an evaluation requires an engineer’s plan, we coordinate it and carry the work through.
Hazard Assessment
Know what condition your fire escape is actually in — before the city tells you.
Received a City Notice?
Send it to us. We’ll translate what’s required, quote the work, and get your building compliant.
Calibrated equipment, not a clipboard guess
That’s a live load test — a calibrated gauge reading the actual weight applied to the fire escape. Portland’s five-year certification isn’t a visual once-over: platforms, stairs, and anchors are tested under real load, and you receive the documentation your building file (and the Fire Marshal’s Office) needs.
- ✓ Measured load testing with calibrated equipment
- ✓ Written results for your records and the city’s
- ✓ Engineer coordination when an evaluation requires it
From historic walk-ups to downtown mid-rises
Portland’s fire escapes live on its oldest, most character-rich buildings — and every one ages differently. We test and repair them all: wrought-iron balconies on 1910s apartments, steel stair stacks on commercial blocks, and drop ladders that haven’t moved in decades.
- ✓ Welding & structural repair on aging ironwork
- ✓ Rust remediation & code-compliant repainting
- ✓ Drop-ladder and counterweight service
What Portland Requires for Fire Escapes
Under Portland Fire & Rescue’s fire escape rule (Administrative Rule FIR-2.08, part of the city’s Title 31 fire regulations), building owners must keep fire escapes structurally sound and have them inspected, tested, and certified every five years — with documented maintenance and prompt repair of any deficiencies. If your fire escape hasn’t been certified in the last five years, or you’ve received a notice from the Fire Marshal’s Office, it’s time.
Why Building Owners Call K&H
- ✓ Licensed, bonded & insured general contractor — Oregon CCB #233813 (verify)
- ✓ Testing and repair under one roof — if testing finds a problem, the same crew fixes it
- ✓ Clear documentation — certificates and reports for your records and the city’s
- ✓ Responsive scheduling — we answer, we show up, we respond within one business day
Get your building compliant.
Send your building’s address, number of fire escapes, and any notices — next steps within one business day.
Portland Buildings We Look After
Fire Escape FAQ
How often does a fire escape need to be tested in Portland?
Every five years. Portland Fire & Rescue’s fire escape rule (FIR-2.08) requires inspection, testing, and certification on a five-year cycle. We’ll confirm where your building stands and get you on schedule.
What happens during a load test?
The fire escape’s stairs, platforms, and anchors are tested under controlled load with calibrated equipment to verify they can safely carry occupants in an emergency. You receive documentation of the result.
What if the test finds problems?
We provide an itemized repair estimate and can typically perform the work ourselves — welding, tread and railing replacement, anchor repair, and repainting.
Do you paint fire escapes?
Yes — surface preparation, rust treatment, and repainting are part of keeping a fire escape code-compliant and extending its life.
Call (971) 220-6397 or send us your building’s details — address, number of fire escapes, and any notices you’ve received — and we’ll come back with next steps within one business day.
Leasing out or opening a space in your building? We also handle commercial build-outs and tenant improvements.