(a) The chief fire officer of the fire department in any city, town or borough where there may be such officers or, if there be no such officer therein, then the mayor or chief officer thereof, and in all other places the clerk of the school district wherein any such building is located, shall examine fire escapes as to their suitableness and sufficiency, whether as to quality, location or number.
(b) If upon the examination the fire escapes are found to be sufficient and suitable, the person examining shall give the owner of such building or some one of them, if more than 1, a certificate stating such examination and the person's approval, which certificate shall be good for 2 years, at the expiration of which time another examination shall be had and a like certification given. In New Castle County an inspection may be made by the County Building Inspector.
(c) The certificate of approval shall be evidence of sufficient compliance with the requirements of this chapter and shall protect such owner from any penalty therein prescribed during the time for which it may have been given.
(d) The fee for the examination shall be $1.00.