Specialist structural inspection from a 50-year metalwork firm
Waltham Forest Engineering has fabricated, restored and repaired external staircases
and fire escapes for over 50 years. We inspect what we know how to build, so our
reports are practical and our recommendations are buildable.
50+Years fabricating and inspecting metalwork
BS 8210Inspected against current standards
LondonOn-site surveys across the capital
Staircase inspections
Metal staircase inspections
Internal and external metal staircases carry real loads every day, and they degrade in ways that are easy to miss until something fails. A metal staircase inspection checks the things that matter: the condition of all parts of the staircase, and the welds and fixings that hold it together.
We inspect in accordance with BS 8210:2020, the British Standard Guide to Building Maintenance, and report in plain language, so you know what is sound, what needs watching, and what needs work. Whether you manage one staircase or a whole portfolio, you get a documented record you can rely on and can use to obtain quotations.
Fire escape inspections
Fire escape inspections
An external fire escape is only useful if it is safe to use in an emergency. Exposed to weather all year, steel fire escapes can corrode at the fixings and feet, lose their coating, and work loose where they meet the wall. A fire escape inspection confirms the structure will hold, the route is clear, and the guarding is sound.
Under the Fire Safety Order 2005 the responsible person must keep means of escape in efficient working order. Our inspection and written report will give you the evidence that you have checked, and a clear list of anything that needs attention.
Our reports provide clear evidence that a fire escape has been checked in compliance with BS 8210:2020 to ensure it is structurally sound. Any concerns, and how to rectify them, are clearly identified, so it's easy to obtain quotes. They also provide recommendations for maintaining fire escapes so they won't deteriorate, and for making improvements for users. Our Construction Surveyor is also happy to give on-site advice, in fact, you won't be able to stop him.
What we check
A full structural inspection, not a glance
Structure and fixings
All parts of the staircase that can be safely visually examined are checked to ensure they are structurally sound and safe to use.
Fixings and anchorage
Wall ties, base plates and anchor bolts checked for corrosion, movement and pull-out risk.
Handrails and balustrades
Guarding height, infill spacing and rigidity checked against current compliance guidance.
Corrosion and coatings
We identify damage to the protective coatings - paint, powder-coating or galvanising - in our reports and tell you the best course of action to take.
Treads and landings
Slip resistance, fixings and wear on treads and landings.
Documented findings
A clear report with findings, photographs and prioritised remedial recommendations.
When to act
Signs your staircase or fire escape needs inspecting
Visible rust, flaking paint or scaling on the steelwork
Movement, wobble or flex when the staircase is used
Loose, missing or corroded bolts and wall fixings
Cracked welds, or bent stringers and supports
Worn, loose or slippery treads and landings
Handrails that move, or guarding with wide gaps
Water pooling, blocked drainage or trapped debris
No inspection on record in the last twelve months
Who needs one
Built for the people responsible for safe egress
Schools, colleges and universities
Duty-of-care inspections for education estates.
Care homes and hospitals
Safe egress for vulnerable residents and patients.
Commercial property
Landlords and managing agents meeting their obligations.
Housing associations
External staircases and shared fire escapes across estates.
How it works
From first visit to a report you can act on
01
Site visit
We attend site and inspect the structure in detail.
02
Structural assessment
Condition assessed against current standards and good practice.
03
Written report
A documented report with photographs and findings.
04
Remedial recommendations
Prioritised actions, and we can carry out any repairs.
Recent work
Real staircase and structural inspections
Fire escape inspectionSouthampton, HampshireStaircase inspectionPetham Primary School, KentStaircase inspectionVictoria, London SW1Staircase inspectionDagenham, EssexStaircase surveyWentworth Primary School, Dartford, Kent
Standards
Inspected against the standards that matter
Our inspections reference the recognised standards for stairs and safe egress, so your
report supports your duty of care and any compliance evidence you need to hold.
BS 8210:2020, Guide to building maintenance management
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Questions
Staircase and fire escape inspection FAQs
There is no single fixed interval set in law, but a yearly structural inspection is widely expected by insurers and fits the duty to keep means of escape in efficient working order. Heavily used, coastal or older structures often warrant more frequent checks.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on the responsible person to keep escape routes, including external fire escapes, safe and in efficient working order. Anyone with a degree of control over the premises, such as the owner, agent, employer or occupier, can be designated the responsible person, and must keep fire precautions, facilities, equipment and devices in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. A documented inspection is how most duty holders evidence that they have met that duty.
We attend site and assess the structure, fixings, welds, handrails, treads, landings, coatings and corrosion. You then receive a written report with photographs and prioritised recommendations.
It depends on the size of the structure, the access, and how many staircases or fire escapes are involved. Tell us what you have and we will give you a clear quote, usually after a short call.
We assess against BS 8210:2020, the British Standard Guide to Building Maintenance, alongside the duties in the Fire Safety Order 2005. BS 8210:2020 recommends general visual inspections of the main elements of a building annually, with full inspections at intervals of no more than five years for staircases and one year for fixed ladders. Reports highlight the urgency of any repairs needed, so that postponing non-urgent work does not become a major defect over time.
Your report sets out what we found and what needs doing, in priority order. As fabricators and restorers ourselves, we can carry out any repairs, from a single fixing to a full replacement.
Yes. We carry out on-site inspections across London and the surrounding areas.
Usually the building owner, employer or managing agent, the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order. If you own or manage a property with an external staircase or fire escape, the duty to keep it safe typically sits with you.
What clients say
Four decades of trusted metalwork
Waltham Forest Engineering are one of the most professional, efficient and honest firms in the engineering sector. Having completed a complicated design and build project with them, I have no hesitation in recommending their services to all. The depth of knowledge and experience was obvious after our first conversation; compared to the other firms who were also tendering for the project. A huge thank you to all at WFE from the design team right through to the amazing installations team!
Opi Dhillon
Quality workmanship, Quality service. I recommend Waltham Forest Engineering to anyone wanting heritage iron work done.
Jacques GainGreen Space Development Officer, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
A pleasure to work with. Good fitters. Good products.
