Safe Exit from High-Rises

June 12, 2007

“The concept is based on human nature,” CEO Rafael Salhov told ISRAEL21c. “A person running to get out of the building will naturally head first for the door, right where the system is located. The individual doesn’t need to search for it, install, hang, or connect anything.” SAFEXIT attaches to a door frame, normally hidden behind a decorative false door. In an emergency, an alarm causes the spring-loaded pulley and harness system, which includes emergency lighting, to punch the door aside and automatically deploy.

Featuring two harnesses, the system lowers the evacuee at about three feet [one meter] per second. “The system is designed to correct ‘user-errors,’ even of those who are literally ‘running for their lives,’” says Barzilai. Offering a hypothetical example of a fleeing mother descending with her two children in the harness, he explains, “As she starts to go down, two others who are also trying to get out suddenly jump out and grab hold of the cable. Even in this situation—and we’re talking about 660 to 880 pounds [300 to 400 kilos] of weight—they will reach the ground safely,” he said. The harness system resembles sturdy slip-on overalls and has an additional papoose-like pouch on the back for infants or small children, keeping the child from accidentally hitting the building’s outer wall during the descent.

SAFEXIT is the international name of the company, but DoublExit is the name of the Israeli branch. For more information: www.doublexit.com, info@doublexit.com, Kobi Biton, 972-52-61-4449.

By Dave Bender, Israel21c.com

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