Just a thought incase I'm reading this wrong but where is the ladder going to be normally? If there is a fire can whoever is upstairs deploy the ladder or is the idea to have it fixed permanently in place and accessed by breaking the glass?
Just for clarity are we talking rigid ladders , folding ladders or something else?
What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
These are the kind of ladders that are in a box under the bed or wherever. One in the prep room is the best. That window is low, with a low drop, and it opens completely. The ladder hooks onto the bottom of the window. The sill has been sawn flush, so is no use, and the hook probably wouldn't reach it anyway. So after the front door, this is the best option. The ladder has fabric on the vertical sides, so folds up compact. You hang it from the window, pull a tab, and it drops down.
The other two rooms have metal chains. They are bulky and awkward to unroll. They are designed to go on the window sill, which means breaking the glass. I will try to find out what kind of glass it is.
If it's not toughened, I might get new ladders and fix them to anchors. Some come with anchors that look identical to rock climbing bolts (I've never climbed a bolted route actually). So they probably are actual climbing bolts, which are sold in boxes of 50 or 100. You just drill a hole, hammer it in, and give it a few turns with a socket wrench, to a tight as you can.
Both windows have radiators underneath, but I could put the bolts half way up, both on one side, and hang the ladder out of the window.
One of the windows, maybe both, is above regulation height, but the regs only say that if you are replacing a window, you mustn't make it harder to escape. These are easier in that they stay open, so are easy to climb out of. You just open them, hold the middle, and step onto the sill. Front lodger's is lower so should be easy. Mine would be easier with a step or chair. In fact some interpretations of the regs say you can use a step.
I don't know if my battery drill is powerful enough to drill 8mm holes into brick. I do have an old SDS hammer drill in the cellar that hopefully still works.
The other two rooms have metal chains. They are bulky and awkward to unroll. They are designed to go on the window sill, which means breaking the glass. I will try to find out what kind of glass it is.
If it's not toughened, I might get new ladders and fix them to anchors. Some come with anchors that look identical to rock climbing bolts (I've never climbed a bolted route actually). So they probably are actual climbing bolts, which are sold in boxes of 50 or 100. You just drill a hole, hammer it in, and give it a few turns with a socket wrench, to a tight as you can.
Both windows have radiators underneath, but I could put the bolts half way up, both on one side, and hang the ladder out of the window.
One of the windows, maybe both, is above regulation height, but the regs only say that if you are replacing a window, you mustn't make it harder to escape. These are easier in that they stay open, so are easy to climb out of. You just open them, hold the middle, and step onto the sill. Front lodger's is lower so should be easy. Mine would be easier with a step or chair. In fact some interpretations of the regs say you can use a step.
I don't know if my battery drill is powerful enough to drill 8mm holes into brick. I do have an old SDS hammer drill in the cellar that hopefully still works.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Ah thanks , that makes it a little clearer. I was thinking along the lines of an aluminium builders ladder and probably confusing myself.. I can't say I'm up with regulations nowadays.Would your battery drill put an 8mm hole in the brick ?.That could depend on the type of bricks armongst other things , I tend to use the sds if I'm not sure or have more than a couple of holes to drill.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
I might use the SDS anyway, to save wear and tear on the cordless. Will have to see what bits I have. I only have to drill 2 holes, not sure how deep, probably about 3 inches. Will also have to see if I have the right type of spanner. I'm gonna drill it about level with the window middle, on one side, so as to not put much weight on the plastic middle bit if it collapses. I'm not going up a step ladder with my SDS, that's for sure. If it did collapse, there could be broken glass, but I'll have to chance it. I might stand on a chair and go a bit higher.grenfell wrote: ↑Mon Mar 17, 2025 1:41 pm Ah thanks , that makes it a little clearer. I was thinking along the lines of an aluminium builders ladder and probably confusing myself.. I can't say I'm up with regulations nowadays.Would your battery drill put an 8mm hole in the brick ?.That could depend on the type of bricks armongst other things , I tend to use the sds if I'm not sure or have more than a couple of holes to drill.
On another topic, I got a mention from AI on X yesterday, who said I had 'nailed it' to a science denier who had tagged Grok in a debate. That's a first.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Just got some rechargeable hand warmers for the Reynauds. Charged one pretty quick. It has 3 heat settings. Even the lowest one is hot. The hottest one is very hot. Time will tell how long it stays this way. It cools down a bit if you hold it a lot. If you leave it a few minutes it gets hot again. Was £20 for a pair. They are magnetic so you can put them back to back, and that way you can warm the palm of your hand and fingers at the same time.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DHVHZXQV
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DHVHZXQV
Last edited by Frnc on Tue Mar 18, 2025 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Personally I'd prefer the step ladder to a chair any day , never thought standing on a chair was particularly safe.Frnc wrote: ↑Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:24 pm I'm not going up a step ladder with my SDS, that's for sure. If it did collapse, there could be broken glass, but I'll have to chance it. I might stand on a chair and go a bit higher.
On another topic, I got a mention from AI on X yesterday, who said I had 'nailed it' to a science denier who had tagged Grok in a debate. That's a first.
As to your last sentence , not the foggest...
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
I suppose I could try going on a step ladder, just a bit. The drill is heavy, two hands needed, so I can't hold on to the ladder. I'll see what seems best.
The AI thing is like this. I was debating with someone on X. Apparently if you type @Grok, it will sometime read the comment, and reply. My adversary didn't agree with me, and asked Grok to back him up. But Grok replied Frnc nailed it. Which I saw in my notifications, and that was the first I knew about it.
We sometimes use Grok or Chat GPT. They are pretty good at summarising the science. I take screenshots of Chat GPT's answers. You can have a conversation with it, eg ask followup questions. It remembers what you asked, and what it replies, even if you go back a while later, as long as you keep the tab open. It's free.
The AI thing is like this. I was debating with someone on X. Apparently if you type @Grok, it will sometime read the comment, and reply. My adversary didn't agree with me, and asked Grok to back him up. But Grok replied Frnc nailed it. Which I saw in my notifications, and that was the first I knew about it.
We sometimes use Grok or Chat GPT. They are pretty good at summarising the science. I take screenshots of Chat GPT's answers. You can have a conversation with it, eg ask followup questions. It remembers what you asked, and what it replies, even if you go back a while later, as long as you keep the tab open. It's free.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Got my escape ladder. Looks ok. Had a rethink on the bolts, as they could crack the brick. Chances are the 150 year old mortar's soft, plus they'd be near the rebate ie edge. Phoned the installers, and they reckon the middle bit (transom) would be strong enough.
So I ordered two hooks to go over the middle. I might look into resin mounted bolts as a backup. You can buy two part that goes into a normal sealant gun for about £10. You can also buy climbing rope at £2 a metre. Obviously the hole needs to be meticulously cleaned with a brush.
Got 2 spring loaded Resqme breakers for bathroom and front bedroom. They are tiny.
So I ordered two hooks to go over the middle. I might look into resin mounted bolts as a backup. You can buy two part that goes into a normal sealant gun for about £10. You can also buy climbing rope at £2 a metre. Obviously the hole needs to be meticulously cleaned with a brush.
Got 2 spring loaded Resqme breakers for bathroom and front bedroom. They are tiny.
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Yorkshire Andy
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Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Bike pump or a can of air duster..Frnc wrote: ↑Wed Mar 19, 2025 1:57 pm Got my escape ladder. Looks ok. Had a rethink on the bolts, as they could crack the brick. Chances are the 150 year old mortar's soft, plus they'd be near the rebate ie edge. Phoned the installers, and they reckon the middle bit (transom) would be strong enough.
So I ordered two hooks to go over the middle. I might look into resin mounted bolts as a backup. You can buy two part that goes into a normal sealant gun for about £10. You can also buy climbing rope at £2 a metre. Obviously the hole needs to be meticulously cleaned with a brush.
Got 2 spring loaded Resqme breakers for bathroom and front bedroom. They are tiny.
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Got a spare wheel for the car they dont seem to come with them any more..just the foam which I'm sure I read at some point over the time on here is good but for the peace of mind its there in the car ...id be sat reading the instructions on the can and by the time id figured it tyre would be flat anyhow 
Having the last visit from pest control tomorrow along with men in hazmat suits removing the insulation that the squirrels have used as bedding, nesting, toilet and thrown the lot around new insulation going down Monday
All poison eaten a trap set up there last week the soffit repaired where the buggers got in and I've placed rat wire round every hole ,grate and pipe I can
A load of screaming from up there last week too and banging so unless the demons from hell arrived I believe there's also a dead something in the trap now
I didn't go up the ladders in dressing gown and boots this time ..the man with the poison can collect it tomorrow
Car boot season back on now so been on the hunt for bits and bats of tools I need as when I downsized I literally got rid of everything tho aldi and lidl have had some good stuff in lately tool wise I do love a good boot ..
Having the last visit from pest control tomorrow along with men in hazmat suits removing the insulation that the squirrels have used as bedding, nesting, toilet and thrown the lot around new insulation going down Monday
All poison eaten a trap set up there last week the soffit repaired where the buggers got in and I've placed rat wire round every hole ,grate and pipe I can
A load of screaming from up there last week too and banging so unless the demons from hell arrived I believe there's also a dead something in the trap now
I didn't go up the ladders in dressing gown and boots this time ..the man with the poison can collect it tomorrow
Car boot season back on now so been on the hunt for bits and bats of tools I need as when I downsized I literally got rid of everything tho aldi and lidl have had some good stuff in lately tool wise I do love a good boot ..