2. Is an external step required for the roof escape route?

Hello, we have purchased an existing building (built in 2005). The attic (ground floor, upper floor, attic) with sloping ceilings is referred to as "Speicher" in the (narrow) documents we have, but it is accounted for as such in the living space calculation and is also correspondingly developed. The roof window is large enough in size to serve as a second escape route. During the inspection with a building expert, he said that exterior steps are required here for fire brigade access. We would retrofit these - if necessary - but we are surprised that they are not already present. How/where (contact person? building authority? fire brigade? roofer?) can we clarify whether we need to retrofit here and what exactly that would have to look like? Thank you and Merry Christmas!

To my knowledge:
Such basic things are in the regional building code, but no inspector or expert comes there. As a professional, you know that when the house is built, so that is the expertise of the architect.
Certainly also that of the roofer.
The building authority is, in my opinion, wrong.

We just recently had a discussion about a residential unit. A second escape route per residential unit was sufficient there.
Do you only have that one skylight upstairs or already several?

Hello, thank you for the quick response. Yes, there are two skylights, but one opens onto a footpath where I can hardly imagine a turntable ladder, the other one described leads to the street. So I basically understand you correctly that I shouldn’t really worry about it anymore because it was possibly checked as part of the building application and is therefore permitted (and also practically possible in case of emergency)?

Hello, thank you for the quick response. Yes, there are two skylights, but one opens onto a footpath, on which I can hardly imagine a turntable ladder, the other described one onto the street. So I basically understand you correctly that I really shouldn’t worry about it anymore because it might have been checked as part of the building application and is therefore permitted (and also possible in practice if necessary)?

No, only an attic was approved that is not a habitable room. Your attic needs a second escape route in addition to the stairs. That is the first one. If there is a fire downstairs, then you have to be able to jump out somewhere upstairs. Don’t you have a gable window?

The room has these two windows. As I mentioned, I am aware that there must be two escape routes and that the roof windows are sufficient in terms of dimensions. Therefore, my question is whether this is enough or if an additional external step (which does not currently exist) is actually required, or rather: who is the right contact person for this question at all?

The correct contact would probably have been the building authority. Either during construction or during the change of use. Now no one there checks proactively anymore. You can inquire there, but you might be waking sleeping dogs (change of use with possibly further requirements or consequences due to the increased living space).

We are talking about an emergency escape route and not an escape route. So I would ask the one who might have to go up there in case of doubt, namely the fire department. Usually, roof windows are accessed by ladder, which is far too dangerous in case of fire with smoke, due to the small steps and the lack of safety.