Sec. 791.013. MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR EXTERIOR CHUTE FIRE ESCAPES. (a) An exterior chute fire escape is a structure that is located on the exterior of a building and constructed of iron or steel and that consists of balconies and a straight or spiral gravity chute.

(b) An exterior straight chute fire escape may be in:

(1) superimposed form parallel to or at right angles to the building;

(2) straight run form parallel to or at right angles to the building; or

(3) a combination of those two forms.

(c) An exterior spiral chute fire escape must be constructed in a spiral form around a central column and must rest on and be anchored to a concrete base at least 18 inches thick.

(d) The chute and any intervening balconies must be constructed in a manner that provides a continuous gravity slide from the top floor to the grade and must be accessible from all floors of the building. An exterior straight chute must be placed at an angle that does not exceed 45 degrees.

(e) The balconies must meet the specifications imposed under Section 791.012 for the balconies of exterior stairway fire escapes.

(f) A straight chute must be composed of material equal to at least 14-gauge iron or steel. A spiral chute must be composed of material equal to at least 16-gauge iron or steel. The material used must be blue annealed or of equal type and must be capable of taking a smooth or polished surface.

(g) The interior of a straight chute must be 20 inches wide and 18 inches deep, and in cross section must have a concave bottom and straight sides. The interior of a spiral chute must be at least 30 inches wide. The interior of either form of chute must be free from obstructions or sharp edges.

(h) The top edges of a straight chute must be stiffened and protected throughout the length of the chute with iron or steel angles free from sharp edges. The angles must be of the size necessary to carry the maximum possible load. The chute must be reinforced crosswise underneath with iron or steel angles.

(i) The slideway of a spiral chute must be banked at the outer edge to prevent a passenger from being thrown against a guardrail or enclosure and must be enclosed by either a continuous wall or guardrail at least 30 inches high constructed of at least 18-gauge iron or steel. A spiral chute may not terminate more than two feet above the grade and must be constructed and arranged so that a normal landing is in a standing position.

(j) A landing composed of the same material as the chute must be provided at the lower end of a straight chute and must be of sufficient length in proportion to the length of the chute and the concavity of its surface to check the momentum attained through gravity and to provide a safe stop. The landing must be six inches wider than the chute on each side if wall construction does not interfere and must be without sharp edges or ragged projections. The landing must rest on and be anchored to a concrete base at least six inches thick.

(k) All rivets exposed inside a chute and on the top side of a landing of a straight chute must be countersunk and ground smooth.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.