I received today’s Wordless Wednesday photos from a retired AHJ…what can I say?? Sports facilities tend to have problems with security vs. egress, and sometimes come up with solutions like this (check out the related posts below for more).
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AAH that brings back memories. Our large city had about a 1 block square city auditorium with a large 20-foot high floor-to-floor separation basement. There were about 15 ramps from the first floor down into the basement with industrial type garage doors separating each space from the floor above. Vehicles could be taken into the lower level down these ramps. They had an annual crafts show that filled this very large basement area. I was relatively new to the city and decided to take my family to see the displays. There was one grade level entrance about 40 feet wide which I noted was filled with baled hay. As we advanced, I noted most display separation was cloth curtains or cardboard. There were people soldering objects and propane gas melting glass. Aisles were somewhat variable in width but in some cases, I noted strollers had to take another path. But what sent me for the exit was a stage at the far end of the area with bales of hay around it and so help me, a performer, tossing a flaming baton! As I was fleeing, I ran into one of the fire inspectors, grabbed him by the lapel and said “Kenny!” and ratted off my concerns. It was worse on analysis. All of the garage doors were padlocked down, all egress stairs that could have been used were obscured by the curtains. It did not take him long to clear the area of maybe a 1,000 people and while they could not make it really safe, they did what they could. That padlock reminded me of that. The Chief gave me a call the next Monday and that never has happened again in 50 years.
I love hearing about your experiences, Jerry – thank you so much for sharing them! But YIKES!!!
– Lori