Sec. 791.036.  REQUIRED TYPES OF FIRE ESCAPES;  SPECIFICATIONS.  (a)  A fire escape for a school building constructed before March 17, 1950, may be either an interior fire escape or an exterior fire escape.
(b)  A school building constructed on or after March 17, 1950, that consists of at least three stories of fireproof construction or at least two stories of ordinary construction shall have interior fire escapes.
(c)  An exterior fire escape for a school building constructed before March 17, 1950, may be:
(1)  an iron, steel, or concrete stairway; 
(2)  an iron or steel straight chute; 
(3)  an iron or steel spiral chute;  or
(4)  a fire escape that is a combination of those types.
(d)  Exterior fire escapes used in school buildings must meet the construction requirements of this section or similar construction requirements approved by the successor organization to the National Board of Fire Underwriters.  Except as otherwise provided by this section, exterior fire escapes must be:
(1)  constructed throughout of noncombustible materials; 
(2)  designed for a live load of 100 pounds per square foot;  and
(3)  supported by vertical steel columns.
(e)  If it is impossible to use vertical steel columns in the construction of an exterior fire escape, the use of steel brackets with bolts extending through the entire thickness of the wall may be approved.
(f)  The landings and treads of exterior fire escapes must be of solid hatched steel plate or of steel gratings with interstices that do not exceed three-fourths inch and must be designed so that any accumulation of ice and snow is reduced to a minimum.
(g)  The guardrails of exterior fire escapes must be at least three feet six inches high and must be substantially constructed.  The guardrails must be faced either with heavy wire mesh or by steel balusters or rails not more than 9-1/2 inches o.c.
(h)  The fire escape must have handrails on each side of the stairs that must be securely attached to the guardrails or to the building walls.  Handrails must be two feet four inches to two feet six inches above the nosings.
(i)  The calculated live load of an exterior fire escape must be clearly stated on the plans submitted for approval.
(j)  Exterior fire escapes must be:
(1)  free from obstruction; 
(2)  constructed in a manner that provides a safe exit for children; 
(3)  conveniently accessible from each floor above the first floor;  and
(4)  of sufficient width and strength so that each step and landing may accommodate two adults at the same time.
(k)  If the Texas Education Agency approves that construction as providing a convenient and safe passage, doorways may be used as exits from each floor.  The base of a doorway must be at the same level as the corresponding floor of the building and the landing of the fire escape to which the doorway leads.  A doorway must be at least three feet wide and six feet six inches high and must be fitted with panic hardware approved by the successor organization to the National Board of Fire Underwriters.  If there are two or more rooms or hallways adjacent and convenient to the landing of a fire escape, each room or hallway must have a doorway leading to that landing.
(l)  The design of an interior fire escape used in a school building must meet the specifications required under Section 791.014, and must have:
(1)  stairs and landings at least three feet six inches long and at least three feet wide; 
(2)  treads at least nine inches wide with a one inch nosing;  and
(3)  risers of not more than 7-1/4 inches.
(m)  A rise in a single run may not exceed nine feet six inches.  A longer run must be interrupted by landings at least as deep as the width of the stairs.
(n)  Stairs must extend continuously to the ground.  Counterbalanced or swinging sections may not be approved.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 6.51, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.