Patent ID: 7650723

Claim:
An egress system for an interior space covered by roof decking comprising: a first metal frame defining an opening, said frame having a substantially right-angle cross section defining a support portion and a flange portion, said support portion adapted to be flush-mounted on a top surface of said roof decking, said flange portion extending inwardly through an opening formed in said roof decking towards said interior space; a hatch comprising a second metal frame in surrounding relationship to a rigid panel, said panel having a first surface and a second surface and a peripheral edge and comprising a material similar to conventional roof decking, said second frame having a substantially right-angle cross section and having a first leg overlaying said peripheral edge, and a second leg overlaying a portion of said second surface of said panel adjacent said peripheral edge, said second surface of said panel facing towards said interior space, said flange portion being in surrounding relationship to said first leg, there being a gap between said flange portion and said first leg; and a releasable securing means holding said hatch in said frame defining said opening; said roof decking and said first surface of said hatch having roofing material applied uniformly on an upper surface of said decking and said top surface of said hatch, respectively, said roofing material overlying the gap.