When a fire breaks out in a high-rise building, conventional wisdom is that stairwells are the only way out. Lifts are verboten in such scenarios, while sheer height typically prevents any other viable route of egress from tall modern buildings. If the stairs are impassable, or you can’t reach them, you’re in dire peril.
In South Korea, though, there’s another option for escape. The answer involves strapping on a harness and descending down ropes hanging off the side of the building, just like in an action movie. It might sound terrifying, but these descending lifeline devices have become a common part of fire safety infrastructure across the country.
Going Down
The concept is elegantly simple—tall buildings like apartments and hotels feature compact rope escape devices that can be quickly deployed from windows or balconies. These allow people to control their descent down the exterior of a building in the event that there is no other route of escape. While fleeing a building down a rope is typically the preserve of fictional spies or trained climbers, these carefully engineered systems are designed for use by ordinary people in emergency situations.
The typical Korean descending lifeline comes as a kit with some simple components. It consists of a rope or cable, a friction-based descent control mechanism, and a harness system that can be donned quickly by sliding under the arms and tightening a strap. Deploying the device is relatively simple. The rope reel is attached to a large deployable hook that is firmly mounted to the building’s wall, using a screw-threaded coupling. The rope is then thrown out the window. At this point, the user merely needs to attach the harness and tighten it prior to leaving the building.
When exiting the window, the user is instructed to face the wall on the way down, using their hands and/or feet to control the descent. Ultimately, though, the mechanical speed regulator ensures a safe pace of descent. The devices only allow the descent of one person at at time. However, each end of the rope has a harness. Thus, when one user has descended to ground level, the next person can grab the harness at the other end which has ascended to the window, and begin their descent. This can continue for as many people as needed.
Key to these devices is their focus on simplicity. The descent control mechanism uses a geared braking system that automatically limit the speed of descent to 1.5 meters/sec or less, preventing the user from descending too quickly even if they panic and release their grip. The lifelines are also sold in a range of different lengths to suit the heights of individual floors in a building. This is important to ensure that as the user hits the ground, the other end of the rope has carried the other harness back up to the floor for the next user. The longest variants typically sold are 45 meters in length, intended for buildings up to 15 stories tall. Limits of practicality mean that while these lifelines are useful for many buildings, they’re perhaps not applicable to taller skyscrapers where such escape would be more difficult.
The engineering challenge here isn’t just mechanical. Automatic rope descent systems are a well understood technology, as are hooks and brackets rated to carry human weight for climbing or otherwise. The real challenge comes down to human factors—in that these systems need to be something people can figure out how to use under conditions of extreme stress. The devices need to be intuitive enough that someone who has never used one before can figure it out while a fire rages behind them. It’s one thing to learn how to use a rope descent system by watching a video and trying the equipment at a calm training session. It’s another thing entirely to do so while a fire rages in the hotel hallway behind you.
While these lifeline systems are relatively simple, they’re still a lot more complicated to use than something like an airliner life jacket. Requiring an inexperienced end user to thread a fitting on a rope coupler without dropping it out the window in a panic situation is a tall ask. Still, the lifelines provide a useful additional escape option. It may not be the easiest way out of the building, or anybody’s first choice, but when there’s no other option, it’s good to have.
South Korea’s adoption of these systems reflects both the country’s high-rise-heavy urban landscape and a pragmatic approach to disaster preparedness. Many apartment buildings and hotels are now required to have these devices installed. The devices are typically mounted in weatherproof boxes near windows or on balconies, ready for deployment when traditional escape routes are compromised. In some cases, the rugged boxes the lifelines come in can even be used as a step-up to ease egress out of higher windows.
Perhaps most importantly, these systems represent a shift in traditional thinking about fire safety. In most jurisdictions, the idea of asking average people to belay down a building is considered untenable—too dangerous and too complicated. In South Korea, the lifelines are on hand, and put control back in the hands of building occupants. When every second counts and traditional escape routes have failed, having a lifeline system could mean the difference between life and death. It’s a sobering reminder that sometimes the best high-tech solution is one that lets people save themselves.
Did they ever do a study to figure out the percentage of people who actually have the cojones to use this thing before they are already covered in third-degree burns? Probably pretty low
Seems more like an ass-covering device. “Yes, there is a fire-escape plan in place. It involves everyone in the building being a member of SEAL team 6.”
Hand held escape reels are used as the ‘last resort’ escape means from the cockpit of the 747 and other widebodies. No harnesses involved… fear helps you hold on tight. Used successfully on FedEx 910. Better view in this KLM video: https://youtu.be/2y5lNVbBeiU?t=152
Giving the choice between the two of them, I’d gladly jump out a window to avoid being burned.
You might have seen some certain photographs from New York in 2001 which grimly demonstrate this.
Yeah a few people in the towers jumped, not a high percentage, and usually only after the fire had already gotten to them. That’s my point. It’s not a good enough mechanism for a general fire escape plan
True, plus it rarely gets to the point that you are actively being burned. It’s the smoke inhalation that gets you.
Or if a typical American can do it? Some of them are rather large and heavy and would require extra durable line, harness, and anchor to work.
What about the feebles? Older people and people with physical disability may need help but if they were living alone (or with other physically impaired people) in a high rise building, can something work for them?
I think you’ll find in Korea and most of south east Asia that old folks are more likely to live with their families rather than bundling them off to rot on their own. But yes, would be an issue in the west.
I’m surprised they don’t utilize “womb tube” evacuation chutes like they have on cruise ships for liferaft egress. A unidirectionally-elastic tube that expands on deployment that maintains the user at a safe speed while descending and can be used by more than one person at a time.
Imagine dying in such a looney tunes fashion
“that’s all folks!”
Well, that works if your building has windows that open, and open enough to allow a person through.
But a rig like that gives me all kinds of ideas for shenanigans that teenagers might try.
Also great for hauling your propane tank up. People look at you funny if you take one on the elevator.
Yeah… High rises in Korea having openable windows might ironically lead to more deaths over time than fire… Kinda sad
didn’t know people have uncontrollable urges to jump out of the window without much of apparent reason. hey you learn something new every day.
IN THEORY, if something like this would have been in place during 9/11, dozens if not hundreds more lives might have been saved – WITH A PROPER PLAN IN PLACE.
Based on the 45M length limit of the device discussed in this article, those trapped above the impact zone might have been able to get 10 – 15 stories below the zone and into a window on a floor that had an escape route.
As far as occupants having the courage to use such a device during 9/11, I think that if they were willing to jump with a known outcome, they’d have been happy to “take their chances” on a potential route to survival.
Do you really honestly think that a significant number of people in the WTC would be able to rappel down past the smashed floors using a rope that isn’t long enough to reach the ground and then Tarzan their way into an open window and re-enter the building
Tarzan? You’re thinking of John McClane.
I’m sure it would help people stuck in WTC during 9/11. If only they weren’t so busy playing Pokemon Red on their gameboys and genuine IBM PCs.
The first challenge at the WTC would have been breaking the window in a way that wouldn’t leave a sharp edge that would cut the rope.
Another would be to avoid asbestos dust generated from breaking 1970s glass. The entire building was a de facto superfund site that nobody wanted to touch with a 10 ft. pole.
It’s a great idea and requires little infrastructure. I do remember the first time I rappelled off a building, though, and it was not easy (mentally) stepping out over the wall. I would be interested to see how average people have dealt with this in actual dire situations.
Sounds like a great idea, although problems may arise when dude in the penthouse decides that harnesses are for peons and installs a sports ute on davits so he can be lowered to the ground in style and drive directly to the nearest wine bar.
Get to the window
And attach the rope line!
Sung to the tune of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OkpRK2_gVs
I can confirm it exists at least decades in South Korea. (and I found one patent dated 1972 https://doi.org/10.8080/2019720002519)
I’m really surprised this does not exist on other countries. I thought at least one or two country have similar thing in their country, but the only similar thing I can find on search is 3M Rollgliss R550.
We had similar things at my school in the UK back in the 80s. They were a leftover from decades before and we were never allowed to use them, and never told how to use them. I think they were left in place as a last resort. We never tried playing with them because, even as children, we didn’t trust them.
Seems like a decent solution for mid-rise buildings with interior shared fire escapes. A lot of apartment and condo buildings in the US have limited fireproof stairwells that can only be accessed via shared space
When I was living there, I only purchased the aluminum foil body cover to go down the stairs. Some of those things are not even bolted and you have to tie it to something else to go down and actually look scary in real life because of how slim it looked like.
Seems a bit silly and an unfinished solution, I can see a whole range of issues and cases where this won’t do.
To name some:
What if there is more than one person in the building? What if there is smoke with the fire? What if there is panic? What if you have a fear of heights? What if you have anything but a perfect health and mobility and bodyshape? What if you have small children? The list goes on.
But hey, it can save one or two, which is better than nothing you can argue.
I’m pretty sure I saw almost exactly this device on a UK TV programme called Tomorrow’s World.
It stopped broadcasting back in 2003.
I think it’s not an uncommon device
You couldn’t PAY me to live in a big city with highrise buildings
I hear it’s quite the opposite and they rob people for living in big cities.
evacuate 300 people?
Won’t take long as each apartment has their own.
I went back and forth on this one.
As a means of last resort, why not? It is ?kinda? better than nothing?
That said, fire and nylon (or equivalent) ropes don’t play well together. Or sharp edges. Or technical tasks performed under duress. Would take a lot of drills and training, which I personally would 100% do monthly with the whole family but I’m that kind of guy.
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Does there exist a single reported use of these devices that worked?
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Just one guy’s experience but I spent about a decade doing all manner of technical rock climbing and stepping into the abyss for the rap down still gives me sweaty palms thinking about it as I type this.
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I dunno, man. It feels like those little emergency hammers for your car where you can break the glass and swim to safety, forgetting you just sailed off a bridge or whatever after a high speed crash and landed upside down in a river. I doubt many would have the presence of mind to cut the seatbelt, smash the window, take a deep breath and go swimming.
“Would take a lot of drills and training”
This exactly. In the moment of truth you don’t grow to the situation but go down to your level of training.
Looking at the picture of the “typical lifeline descent kit”, I was surprised to have read in the article text, that the “rope reel is attached to a (…) hook”. I imagine that this would result in a quite fast descent.
In fact, it appears to be the descent controller that is to be attached before starting the journey!
my building have 20 floor
Many christmases ago (statute of limitations surely passed), I saw some SWE co-workers carrying a rock climbing rope down the holiday-emptied hallway. Suspicious, I asked what they were up to. When I couldn’t talk them out of rappelling off the roof of our 4 story building, I decided to make sure they didn’t die (I’d been roped-climbing since before any of them were born). Everyone survived, I was the only one who had to talk to HR & management because “you should have known better”.
hopefully anonymous enough photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/cbsN9a9iMB7cZHbK6
That’s all well and good, but with heat reaching hundreds or even thousands of degrees, anything metal is going to be weakened, less resistant to human weight, especially if there are going to be several people one after the other, and rope, even if it’s aramid, is no guarantee that it will hold up to the heat of the flames either.
So the same idea as Clip’n’climb https://clipnclimb.com/ but as a fire escape? Sounds fine to me.
Quicker and safer than using the stairs or sheltering in place.
A lot of pros and cons, but…
Any numbers on use in real life?