A good condition assessment should answer more than “Does it look rusty?” It should identify where deterioration is occurring, whether connections and load-carrying members remain sound, and what needs to happen next.
We assist property owners who require maintenance, targeted repair, larger-scale rehabilitation, or coordination with a registered design professional for the state’s required five-year examination.
The five-year requirement is the obvious trigger, but it is not the only reason to look closely at an exterior egress structure. Consider an assessment when:
New Jersey’s Fire Code requires these structures to be examined for structural adequacy and safety by a registered design professional every five years, with the inspection report submitted to the fire code official. The same provisions require deteriorated or unsafe exterior egress components to be repaired promptly.
We look at the assembly as a system rather than judging it from the sidewalk.
We examine visible stringers, platforms, brackets, support members, ladders, and other load-carrying components for corrosion, deformation, cracking, and section loss.
We closely evaluate through-bolts and iron lead anchors embedded in old timber framing or historical brick masonry, common in Newark’s Ironbound district and Hoboken’s brownstones. Water creeping into these points causes invisible spalling inside the wall.
Treads, landings, guardrails, and handrails are checked for damage, looseness, excessive corrosion, and other conditions that could affect safe use.
Water is often the beginning of the problem. We look for locations where runoff collects, drains poorly, or repeatedly reaches vulnerable connections and joints.
Photographs, observed deficiencies, and recommended next steps create a useful record for owners, managers, engineers, and future maintenance planning.
We test counterbalanced drop ladders and pivot arms. We look for rusted guide tracks and frozen weights, common failures during municipal fire official walk-throughs.
Peeling paint is recorded, but we do not stop there. We check for 'rust jacking' (pack rust). This occurs when oxidation expands between layered steel plates, shearing rivets and bending structural steel flats.
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they serve different purposes.
So an owner may hire a contractor to investigate visible deterioration and prepare repair work. At the same time, the registered design professional handles the professional examination and documentation required by the authority having jurisdiction. That separation protects everyone involved.
Approach | When it makes sense |
Painting | The steel remains sound, but the protective coating has failed. |
Repair | Deterioration is localized and can be corrected without rebuilding the wider assembly. |
Restoration | Multiple components require coordinated structural rehabilitation while usable portions can still be retained. |
Replacement | The existing structure is too extensively deteriorated or unsuitable to justify continued rehabilitation. |
Under N.J.A.C. 5:70-3, Section 1104.16, the formal structural affidavit must be stamped by a New Jersey Registered Professional Engineer (PE) or a Registered Architect. Our specialized field technicians work directly alongside design professionals to provide the physical scaling, ultrasonic thickness testing, and structural exposure needed for them to issue a safe-for-use certification legally.
A contractor plays an important role. We can document field conditions, identify coating and corrosion problems, perform appropriate repair work, and coordinate with the professional responsible for the formal evaluation.
That distinction is especially important when structural capacity, load testing, connection design, or engineering calculations become part of the project.
Not every problem calls for the same response.
New Jersey’s code also recognizes that existing exterior egress structures may require a load test before being returned to service, depending on their structural condition.
We provide services throughout key New Jersey communities, including:
New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code requires these structures to be examined, tested, and certified every five years. Routine checks are also wise after severe weather, before a property sale, or when developing a preventive maintenance plan.
An inspection evaluates physical condition, including structural steel, connections, railings, treads, and ladders. Certification is the formal compliance step that follows a satisfactory examination and involves the required affidavit being submitted to the appropriate local official.
For the mandatory five-year process, New Jersey requires examination by a qualified design professional or examiner authorized to complete the required documentation and affidavit for the local fire official.
Pricing varies according to the number of structures, building height, accessibility, condition, and documentation required. We review the property details first and provide a property-specific quote rather than applying a one-size-fits-all price.
Unsafe or deteriorated conditions generally need to be corrected before the structure can be approved for continued service. Depending on the findings, the work may involve localized repairs, welding, refurbishment, corrosion treatment, or more extensive restoration.
Yes. A pre-purchase assessment can reveal corrosion, damaged connections, deteriorated components, or upcoming compliance work before you close. It can also help buyers budget realistically for repairs and future maintenance.
Yes. We coordinate inspection programs for landlords, property managers, condominium associations, and commercial owners managing multiple properties. Scheduling several locations together can make documentation, maintenance planning, and follow-up work much easier to manage.
