Tested by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute: The Best Portable Fire Escape Ladder.

New York, NY, December 1, 2009? Hammacher Schlemmer announces the selection of The Best Fire Escape Ladder, chosen by the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute over other models for its superior safety, ease of use, comfort, and features.

The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute conducts systematic testing of leading products, often working in concert with experts, independent laboratories, or consumer panels to analyze results and determine which products are ?The Best.?

The Hammacher Schlemmer Institute commissioned a firefighter to test portable fire escape ladders and The Best Fire Escape Ladder earned the highest score in every category. The Best Fire Escape Ladder hooks securely to a sill and deploys with a simple pull of a strap, a method that proved to be much more efficient than lesser models that had to be extended by hand.

The firefighter lauded The Best Fire Escape Ladder for its non-slip, rectangular steps that were more stable than the rounded rungs on other ladders. Each step is connected by fire-resistant, nylon strapping that the firefighter described as easier to grasp than the chains or ropes used with competing models.

?The Best Fire Escape Ladder does not require any assembly and it folds to fit in a convenient storage box that keeps it ready for emergency deployment,? explained Tara-Ann Dugan, Product Research Manager for the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute.

The Best Fire Escape Ladder supports up to 375 lbs.?exceeding ASTM safety standards?yet it received top marks for its light weight, ensuring it would be easy for children or the elderly to use. The Best Fire Escape Ladder is 14 feet long and is intended for use on two-story residences.

The Best Fire Escape Ladder is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $59.95. For more information, please visit www.hammacher.com or call 1-800-543-3366.

About Hammacher Schlemmer
Hammacher Schlemmer is America's longest running catalog, offering the Best, the Only, and the Unexpected since 1848. The company provides unique products that solve problems or represent the only one of their kind, and backs its products by a rather famous Lifetime Guarantee of Complete Satisfaction. Hammacher Schlemmer's innovative offerings are available through its catalog, online at www.hammacher.com, and at its landmark store on East 57th Street in New York City.