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Previous: Fire extinguisher placement | Main | Next: Software support process at HP
June 5, 2006 12:03 AM
Broken: Emergency exit
Morgan Harris-Warrick points out:
In the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy center, I came across this door which has both the signs "Emergency Exit Only" and "Not an Emergency Exit."
So, in case of an emergency, am I supposed to go out this door or not?
"wow, its like a perfect combination of the fire extinguisher submission and the door instructions submission."
Quoted for hilarity.
At least it doesn't say "alarm will sound" and "no alarm will sound". If it did, I would be SO tempted to open that door.
what your supposed to in an emergency is ran around like chickens with their heads cut off and not running around looking for an emergency that does exist
Not to mention that if there's an actual fire with smoke floating around, people are only going to see the "Emergency exit only" sign, and get in trouble...
Not broken. It's used only as an emergency exit, but it's not being used as one. What the signs are saying is that you should not go out this door. Geez. Any idiot could've figured that out.
/sarcasm
Broken. Yet another fire hazard.
So... if it's NOT an emergency exit, does that mean it's a normal exit that we can use any time? I mean, there's obviously a door there, so either it's an emergency exit or it's a normal exit. If you're not supposed to use the door at all, then why didn't they say that?
It looks like there are two pieces of velcro fastener on the original sign. Maybe there was something covering the incorrect sign at some point.
I can see people taking it off enough times that someone stuck a new sign above the door out of frustration.
The paperwork is probably still going through to get the blue sign down.
oh, wait a minute - that paper sign above the door looks like it is covering a plastic sign which probably says "emergency exit". So I'm pretty sure there was something covering the sign next to the door.
I guess that depends on what your definition of 'emergency' is. I got to get to my hair appointment like, NOW!, that's an emergency. Should I use this door or not? If there is a fire, you better look for the extinguisher first (it is behind the wall, next to the kids jeans). Too much to think about now, my brain is hurting.
To logically explain this, like willF said, it's there cause its usually used as an emergency exit but not now for some reason, and they probably had something covering the blue sign too.
And by the way, howcome gmangw is always the first one?
It's not actually a door...just painted to look like one. The sign-hanging guy was bored that day.
I have to give props to the submitter for enlarging the signs for us so we can all be confused together. I love unity!
UHH ohh.. looks like a Bug has been found in the commenting part and exploited by a Spammer.. I thought that would surely be over Character limit for a coment.. and note to above.. Posting a URL to a Viagra site or anything you are trying to sell 10 billion times doesn't usually get many sales
If there were a real emergency, I wouldn't care if it was or wasn't technically supposed to be used. I am not burning to death because a perfectly good door wasn't technically supposed to be used.
It seems simple to me, after thinking about it for a while. Which would be too long if I was in a burning building. The door is an emergency exit, but the door is locked on both sides, or something is blocking it on the other side.
I don't get why people can't just take down one sign or the other? I mean is it really that hard just to take down a sign, as opposed to leaving the original and posting a correction? Also, they could've just written: "Correction: NOT an emergency exit."
In conclusion: People are stupid, and do not think things through that require a level of thinking less than what is considered 'common sence'.
Hmm... just thought of something. What happens to the poor blind man who's caught in this building when there IS an emergency. The emergency exit sign is the only sign with Braille on it. What happens when he tries to open the door? This is a major safety hazard. =S
seems pretty simple to me: this is a government facility. form number hqx1432za3-4, which allows you to post a temporary paper sign, was approved before form number zf432//2.910.a, which allows removal of a permanent sign, was approved.
Another 'train' of thought says that this door isn't an EMERGENCY exit but rather a general purpose exit to somewhere. Emergency exits are normall standard exits just labeled as such. In stores they use alarms to prevent you from stealing something and leaving through an emergency exit. In restaurants, it's either a normal exit or there's a table blocking it. In other buildings, the sign is only 'Do Not Block' but doesn't say anything about someone not being able to use it at a time other than an emergency.
Maybe it was an emergency exit and they added a wing on to the building and now it just leads to another hallway.
I'm not sure, but do I see Braille to the left of, or under, the blue sign? If so, how's a blind person going to find the taped over sign over the door? Reach around randomly and find it, if he/she is tall enough?
Not an Emergency Exit for sighted people, only for short blind people... Darwinian selection at work.
In an emergency, ALL exits qualify as emergency exits.
Which only means that what is broken is the fool who up the "Not an emergency exit" sign thinking it had any relevance to anybody at all in an emergency.
Wrong. Not ALL exits qualify as an emergency exit. Some "exits" can put you in a worse position if there is a heavy smoke condition, fire, etc.
It's possible at one time this exit was to be used for in case of emergency only. Since that time, there may have been a buiding renovation that now changes to layout of building drastically. To go through this door in a dire attempt to leave the building may now put one in greater danger. (see JAC's post)
Which leads me back to Max's posts. Just remove the incorrect sign. Now.
It could be worse. My brother used to be a security gaurd at the local mall, and there was a marked emergency exit on the second floor. The only problem is this door leads only to a 30 foot drop, no stairs, no ladder, just 30 feet until you meet the parking lot.
Guys, think about it for a minute. Nine-tenths of the Fire Exit Only doors out there are fakes. Like once, my mom and I were in the Wachovia Bank, and I reeally had to go. So, the lady who was talking to my mom promptly gets up, brings me straght through the Fire Exit, and lo and behold, the whole employee lounge is back there! There were couches, TVs, lamps, beds, and bathrooms. No exit door, either. I came back, feeling relieved and somewhat enlightened. "So they DO want us to burn like hot dogs in case of a fire!" Maybe they set up fires when someone gets too much money from insurance and comes to claim it. A lot of people will forget that there IS a front door in case of fire.
Also, several airports I've gone to have Fire Exit Only doors. I see employees constantly milling in and out. I should know; I got stuck sleeping in airport due to general incompetence once, and we had to sleep RIGHT next to one of those doors. Apparently, work continues overnight for them.
Sorry for sorta telling you 2 of my life stories, but I feel like the world should know.
That Wachovia Bank story is hilarious. I can just see it: there's a fire, and everyone charges through what they think is an emergency exit ... only to discover that they've crowded into a tastefully decorated sitting room.
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Previous: Fire extinguisher placement | Main | Next: Software support process at HP
wow, its like a perfect combination of the fire extinguisher submission and the door instructions submission.
Posted by: gmangw at June 5, 2006 12:19 AM