--- title: Whatever Happened to Fire Escapes? link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awV7FP9sAHE source: youtube-com-practicalengineeringchannel published: 2026-10-20T13:00:19Z updated: 2026-10-20T13:03:42Z first_seen: 2026-10-20T17:55:58.869157456Z authors: - Practical Engineering summary: "External fire escapes are becoming a thing of the past\n📰 Go to https://ground.news/practicalengineering to get 40% off unlimited access to the news tool I use. It helps you cut through the noise and understand how stories are being reported across the spectrum.\n\nWriting building regulations is a messy process, and there really is rarely a single “right” answer. There are just tradeoffs that affect every building differently and ripple through space, time, and the economy.\n\n📖My new book, Disasters By Design: How Engineering Failures Shaped the Modern World is coming March 2, 2027 and available for preorder now.\nUS: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786143/disasters-by-design-by-grady-hillhouse/\nUK: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476190/disasters-by-design-by-hillhouse-grady/9780241798508\nMore About the Book: https://practical.engineering/books \n\nWatch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/practical-engineering-whatever-happened-to-fire-escapes\n\nSigned copies of my book (plus other cool stuff) are available here: https://store.practical.engineering/\n\nPractical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos!\n\nCONNECT WITH ME\n____________________________________\nWebsite: http://practical.engineering\nTwitter: https://twitter.com/HillhouseGrady\nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/practicalengineering\nReddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering\nFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady​\nPatreon: http://patreon.com/PracticalEngineering\n\nSPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES\n____________________________________\nPlease email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv\n\nDISCLAIMER\n____________________________________\nThis is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes.\n\nSPECIAL THANKS\n____________________________________\nThis video is sponsored by Ground News.\nStock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, Pond5, and Videoblocks.\nVideo by Grady Hillhouse\nEdited by Wesley Crump\nProduced by Ralph Crewe\nGraphics by Nebula Studios\n\nMUSIC CREDITS\n____________________________________\nEdge of a Knife composed by Caleb Winters (https://beacons.ai/calebwinters)\nWoodland Expedition composed by Caleb Winters\nAural Imprints from Epidemic Sound\nHeart Beam from Epidemic Sound\nTonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License\nSource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U" content: extracted html: 2026-10-20-whatever-happened-to-fire-escapes.html remote_preview: url: https://i2.ytimg.com/vi/awV7FP9sAHE/hqdefault.jpg extra: thumbnail: https://i2.ytimg.com/vi/awV7FP9sAHE/hqdefault.jpg --- External fire escapes are becoming a thing of the past\ 📰 Go to https://ground.news/practicalengineering to get 40% off unlimited access to the news tool I use. It helps you cut through the noise and understand how stories are being reported across the spectrum. Writing building regulations is a messy process, and there really is rarely a single “right” answer. There are just tradeoffs that affect every building differently and ripple through space, time, and the economy. 📖My new book, Disasters By Design: How Engineering Failures Shaped the Modern World is coming March 2, 2027 and available for preorder now.\ US: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/786143/disasters-by-design-by-grady-hillhouse/\ UK: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/476190/disasters-by-design-by-hillhouse-grady/9780241798508\ More About the Book: https://practical.engineering/books Watch this video ad-free on Nebula: https://nebula.tv/videos/practical-engineering-whatever-happened-to-fire-escapes Signed copies of my book (plus other cool stuff) are available here: https://store.practical.engineering/ Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted regularly, so please subscribe for updates. If you enjoyed the video, hit that ‘like’ button, give us a comment, or watch another of our videos! CONNECT WITH ME\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Website: http://practical.engineering\ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HillhouseGrady\ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practicalengineering\ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PracticalEngineering\ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PracticalEngineerGrady\ Patreon: http://patreon.com/PracticalEngineering SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Please email my agent at practicalengineering@standard.tv DISCLAIMER\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ This is not engineering advice. Everything here is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Contact an engineer licensed to practice in your area if you need professional advice or services. All non-licensed clips used for fair use commentary, criticism, and educational purposes. SPECIAL THANKS\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ This video is sponsored by Ground News.\ Stock video and imagery provided by Getty Images, Shutterstock, Pond5, and Videoblocks.\ Video by Grady Hillhouse\ Edited by Wesley Crump\ Produced by Ralph Crewe\ Graphics by Nebula Studios MUSIC CREDITS\ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\ Edge of a Knife composed by Caleb Winters (https://beacons.ai/calebwinters)\ Woodland Expedition composed by Caleb Winters\ Aural Imprints from Epidemic Sound\ Heart Beam from Epidemic Sound\ Tonic and Energy by Elexive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License\ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fBPdu8w9U