Metal Escape Stairs

[newbuilder]

Where I live all the fire escape stairs are concrete. I have noticed that in the US most escape stairs are made from steel.

How do you justify the cost of steel stair and applied fire protection? Or do you have another technique to avoid fire protecting the metal?

Newbuilder

 

[JAE]

Normally stairs in the US are placed in enclosed, fire rated areas (shafts), separated from the rest of the building and protected with fire doors at each level.

Exterior exit stairs do not have to be fire protected.

 

[pba]

Here in the UK the situation is much as described by JAE. Pre-cast concrete stairs have for a long time been the 'cheapest' alternative. I'm now seeing an increasing number of steel stairs. These are generally lighter but I guess the main reason for their use is Architectural 'fashion'.