New York City Is Discouraging Shimshoni's System

Yoni'' Shimshoni and his team came up with a potentially lifesaving solution, how to evacuate in case of an emergency from a tall structure, its a $1 million escape device with expandable cabins that could be lowered like lifeboats outside a high-rise in distress. A prototype was tested and won praise from politicians, public safety experts and the landlord of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper who offered his property for a pilot program.

But New York City's Office of Emergency Management has said that the project is unworthy of the necessary building permits.

The letter from OEM commissioner Joseph Bruno said the city is open to "exploring creative solutions'' for high-rise evacuations. But, he added, an analysis by fire, police and building officials raised too many concerns about Shimshoni's system. Among the city's concerns: that there would be confusion over who would operate the system during an emergency; that using windows as escape routes can help a fire spread; that passengers of the cabins risk passing floors immersed in flames; and that the system was prone to the Titanic effect - chaos over who would be first in line for a limited number of spots in each cabin.

The decision was a blow to Shimshoni's company, Escape Rescue Systems, but Shimshoni believes public opinion and political pull could change the city's position.