Escape room

[Sifu]

Anyone ever come across an escape room? I have seen them on tv, but now am going to get a closer look. They are rooms designed to keep you from getting out unless you decipher a series of clues. The rooms are usually set up to look and feel like a common room, such as a living room or office and usually a group of 6-8 people, may be familiar with each other, maybe not. I am thinking about egress. I am assuming a B occupancy, one exit, so no signs or lights required. A normal small B would have an obvious and identifiable MOE, but his one is purposely hidden, the door is either disguised or operable only by a sequence of gizmos. I am told it does have a latch, albeit disguised, or in some cases, not even a door, but maybe a hidden access such as a tunnel or hatch. Not sure how accessibility would work with this either.
So a bunch of potential strangers, locked in a room, given a short period of time to figure their way out of a purposefully obscured exit. Sounds fun but...............A normal B occ. of this size wouldn't require exit signs, emergency lights, sprinklers, alarms etc., this isn't normal.
Haven't seen any plans yet. Just curious if anyone has dealt with one.

 

[cda]

B B B B B

 

[cda]

The two I have done

You can exit the way you come in.

Regular door hardware

If you do it during the game,,,,, You lose

 

[ADAguy]

They have set up many of these in downtown LA in "old" buildings. Many are unpermitted as they are using existing rooms and decorating accordingly.
They carry with them all sorts of potential liability. They are often popups, for weekend use and advertised on the internet.
Similar to Haunted Houses at Halloween.
Definitly need access to accessible restrooms given the fright factor.
Not for the faint of heart.

 

[Francis Vineyard]

These type of occupancies may be defined as Special Amusement Building (Ref. 202) in accordance with section 411; though less the 50 is classified as a B; this section still requires an NFPA 13, alarms and voice communication system.

It was in my opinion for a particular case, unlike haunted houses, mazes and house of mirrors where participants can be become disoriented, the escape rooms allows the participants to readily return the way they entered or if necessary continue to proceed with assistance from the staff that monitors the rooms with remote cameras to unlock the doors remotely.

Here’s a link that also added insight for my judgment: http://idighardware.com/2016/03/wwyd-escape-room/

My recommendation is to personally visit the site since the drawings may not reflect elevations that required bending under low openings to tunnels, or climbing through window openings.

 

[ADAguy]

This is clearly one of those types of use where operational controls are critical to the safety of users and the liability of operators.
Cameras and microphones are very important. I can see some pscycho/cybernet guy setting up one of these to be remotely operated with no contact with users.
Bit coins would be the method of payment.

 

[Sifu]

You nailed it ADAguy. This was un-permitted, caught by the local fire inspector. I know very little otherwise. I am assuming they will now show up with some sort of plan and it got me thinking. My thought was that they must provide a fully compliant MOE, it it doesn't fit with the decor or atmosphere, tough.

 

[Sifu]

These type of occupancies may be defined as Special Amusement Building (Ref. 202) in accordance with section 411; though less the 50 is classified as a B; this section still requires an NFPA 13, alarms and voice communication system.

It was in my opinion for a particular case, unlike haunted houses, mazes and house of mirrors where participants can be become disoriented, the escape rooms allows the participants to readily return the way they entered or if necessary continue to proceed with assistance from the staff that monitors the rooms with remote cameras to unlock the doors remotely.

Here’s a link that also added insight for my judgment: http://idighardware.com/2016/03/wwyd-escape-room/

My recommendation is to personally visit the site since the drawings may not reflect elevations that required bending under low openings to tunnels, or climbing through window openings.

As usual, idighardware provides a wealth of information.

 

[steveray]

I'm with FV for the most part...