History Flashcards
1
Q
What were most common type of device up until recently?
A
Crossbar devices.
2
Q
What are the main weaknesses of the crossbar device?
A
They can be chained together on a double door, and something can get wedged underneath them, preventing actuation.
They also collect dirt on the top of the device.
3
Q
What man made disaster led to the implementation of the exit device?
A
The Iroquois Theatre Fire of 1903. There was a fire inside the theatre. The doors opened inward. People pressed against each other and then against the door, effectively locking it. More than 602 people died.
The actual invention of the exit device was in England in 1883, as a result of the Victoria Hall Disaster.
