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What is the purpose of the long metal rod extending out from my fire escape?

7:11 PM 02/08/2013

 

secondmonkey

The fire escape off the brownstone in Gowanus that I just moved into has a long metal pole extending out from the fire escape on the 2nd floor and another on the 3rd floor. They're about 5 feet long, anchored to the railing in two spots, and have hooks on the end. I can't figure out what they're for, and Googling didn't help. Does anyone on here know? Thanks! 

 

 

History
Architecture
Exterior
3 answers
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  • vote

    ben-gazi

    Brooklyn, NY

    I believe they hold the ladder in place

    9:17 PM 02/08/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    timber

    Brooklyn, NY

    yup, they have the hooks that hold the moveable ladder in place.  The moveable ladder usually connects the fire escape to the ground - i.e. it is the bottom section

    12:32 AM 02/09/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

  • vote

    secondmonkey

    Thanks, @ben-gazi and @timber for the replies. I think we may not be talking about the same thing, though. I do see the hook that holds the movable ladder in place. These hooks, in contrast, are small, and are at the end of metal rods that extent 5 or so feet out from the edge of the fire escape, parallel to the ground, away from the building. Attaching a couple of photos. Are those indeed ladder-related? Or something else maybe? 

    12:27 PM 02/11/2013 | 0 Votes

     

     

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