Balancing time, budget, and design of an egress system.

—Forward Thinking

The ability to forward think from design to installation is a huge factor of cost savings. That’s because Ironworkers are some of the most expensive subcontractors on a job site. The least amount of time spent on a job site, while maximizing safety, makes the Midwest Stairs & Iron process of pre-engineering, pre-fabricating, and pre-assembling a more lengthy process on the front end, but beneficial to the overall plan. This method also makes it possible to get in and out of the way of other trades. It’s important to convey that receiving a contract as early as possible can make this all happen in the most efficient way.

—Building a Steel Egress System Requires Being a Detective

A stair designer can be much like a detective. A steel egress stair designer has to think of items like:

• egress building codes,
• vertical, width, depth,
• visualizing sterile air pocket restrictions where smoke can sit,
• knowing how the steel stair fits within an architect’s design,
• install requirements, etc.

Additionally, building codes change on a constant basis, so the stair designer is in a constant state of seeking and knowing information. They serve as connectors between architect, general contractor, fabricator, and the field, and help with preliminary oversight. Interestingly, egress systems are the most heavily regulated element, and often thought about least during the overall design and build process. Midwest Stairs & Iron will make your egress system their primary thought.