City Planning Commission Approves Plan For Evacuation Elevators In High-Rise Buildings
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Evacuation plans may be changing for some of New York City's tallest buildings.
New Yorkers may soon be able to use some elevators instead of heading for the stairs during an emergency.
As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, it goes against everything we've been taught, but times have changed, according to Glenn Corbett, professor of fire safety at John Jay College.
"Since 9/11, we're now looking at much stronger elevator cabs as well as much stronger elevator shafts that basically resist fire, smoke, heat, water, and blasts basically," Corbett said.
A unanimous vote on Wednesday by the City Planning Commission has paved the way for high-rise office buildings to add evacuation elevators.
City Planning Commission Approves Plan For Evacuation Elevators In High-Rise Buildings
"It's a perfectly rational and smart thing for the city to be doing," said the commission's chairman, Carl Weisbrod.
The amendment now goes to the City Council for a vote.
