Hiya!

This whole survival thing is becoming some serious hobby of mine now! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Since I live on the fourth floor of a four story building, I was thinking... making an escape rope or escape ladder could be a fun thing to do!

Does anyone have an idea how to make one? At first I thought that a ladder would be best, but my guess is that loops every 3-4 feet along the length of the rope would be just fine. It sure sounds like a fun project.

Any thoughts on the kind of rope to use, and how to make the loops, and so on?

Weepee! *makes a lasso with the rope and spins it above his head* <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Oh my...the thought of hanging on a homemade rope out a fourth floor windows sure makes my palms sweaty. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'm still debating which escape ladder to buy, but the one thing that bugs me about the whole thing is that the windows below my bedroom (I live on the third floor) all have awnings. If I ever had to escape, I can see those awnings being an impediment because the ladder would drape over them and couldn't stabilize itself against the side of the building and would twist. I'm thinking, spec ops helicopter extractions with a rope ladder kind of scenario here. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Would probably try to kick the awnings or jump up and down them on the way down to get them out of the way.

Another idea would be to make a rope in such a way that it could allow me (you?) to make it to the balcony one floor below. Then, you could remove the rope (how? I don't know) and tie it again to this balcony and make it to the next balcony, and so on. Balcony hoping basically. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Climbing on the roof might be an option too, but I don't think I can rely on tossing a hook up there and trying to make sure it's secure enough to climb. Sounds like a sure way to die.

Maybe I watched Spiderman 2 too many times. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

A 4 story rope ladder would be... interesting to clamber down. Shorter rope ladders (usually steel wire these days) are pretty hard to go up unless you practice on them and they are flat miserable to go down unless you're a normal, active 8 year old...

If you have two sets of stairs accessible from your hallway, I don't think I'd bother.

If you still want to be able to egress from the window, put together a rappel system and learn to use it. Either a conventional system like cavers might use or go up one notch and get specialty rope that is designed to (briefly!) withstand exposure to higher temperatures. Think thru your anchorage options - it's not difficult in a building, but it might cause you to add a tool or two to the kit (a halligan would be nice...)

I like the building stairs, myself.

My 2 cents.

Tom

I think I would have to agree with the rapelling idea. That seems to be alot safer and you are more in control. But four stories...that's got to be alot of rope to store, plus the harness and lessons. Of course I guess you could just tie off and jump...but I think you'd want some practice. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Removing wouldn´t be too hard to do. Just use a double strand through a loop. You may have to sacrifice the loops but you can pull the the rope through the loop.

LoL. <jump> Actually 4 stories is about the same height as most standard training towers for rappeling and easily within reach of any standard length (pre-cut) of single or double rope. We custom-cut our ropes SHORTER than standard (from 600 ft spools) for the training towers because a standard length is too long.

HTH

I don't understand why your building doesn't have a fire escape, but anyway, something like this is probably much easier to deal with than rappelling down a rope:

http://outersports.com/lm_steel_caving_ladder_.html

I'd much rather rappel (or abseil as we British call it) than use a wire rope ladder, supposing I had the proper harness etc. I have some experience as a rock climber, and I feel more secure with the rope. With the ladder you'd be relying on your own unaided brute strength to cling on. I have a mild fear of heights so I'd find it very hard to let go of the top rung in order to grip the second from top. I reckon abseiling would be quicker even allowing for time to put on the harness.

Whatever is preventing you from using the stairs is probably not going to be spread throughout the whole building. If you can make it one or two floors down, re-enter the building & then use the stairs, just might do the trick!!!

I remember taking a course in "Rough Terrain Rescue." It was held on a tower of 4 thick "telephone" poles with 3 floors, a fixed ladder up through access holes to each floor and walls on 2 sides only. Bloody cold when I took the class! It was given by some of the local full-time firefighters. We did repelling, belaying, swapping ropes half way up, Stokes basket work, etc. Tough and fun!!
I got there a bit early so I stood with the pro's on top of the tower until the rest of the students show up. As one student pulls in one of the guys teaching the class turns to the next and asks "How can you tell the difference between a pro firefighter and a volunteer??" <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

"When you've got a $1200 light bar on a $300 car!"
<img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If you decide to go the rappel route that others have suggested (that would be my suggesstion too!), you really don't need to buy yourself a nice harness. You're trying to escape from a burning building, not go on a climbing expedition. Some flat webbing made into a "diaper sling" would work just fine. Get yourself a locking carabiner (or two regulars - oppose the gates), a figure 8, and some climbing rope and you're all set. By "climbing rope" I don't necessary mean top dollar kernmantle stuff. We used to use what was called "Goldline" for rappelling. Not very good for climbing (too stretchy and stiff) except maybe for top-roping, but OK for rappelling. Find yourself an old piece of retired firehose (ask at a fire station) and cut off a 5 foot piece of it. Use it as a protective sleeve over your rope where you hand it out the window over potentially rope-cutting clutter.

Or, just take the stairs if you can!

I know the parent post was half-joking, in case I sound too serious, but most people assume that the only reason to escape out the window is fire.

Anyone familiar with the Northridge or other big quake correct me, but I've read that in many apartment buildings, stairways are one of the structurally weakest parts of the building. I'm talking about the flimsy stairs that are "open" to the outside world, not something like a concrete fire stairwell in the interior of a building. If the stairs go, then a window might be your only way out--and back INTO your apartment. And to get back in, I would prefer an escape ladder to a rope (well, actually, I'd prefer an elevator back up to Bee's fourth floor apartment, but that's just me... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )