# Do "close door" buttons on elevators ever actually work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 9, 2011, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709 "2011-09-09T09:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jamesd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jamesd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamesd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/1 "2011-09-09T09:57:11Z")
The elevators in our building (built by Mitsubishi) have doors that will not close UNTIL you hit the ‘close door’ button. _ETA: [Do “close door” buttons on elevators ever actually work? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/595/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work) Link to Column_ ---
**Author:** ![ecseas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2011, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/2 "2011-09-09T11:34:17Z")
When I went to tafe, the doors of the lift would stay open for 10 minutes unless you press close. There were many times, a heap of people would be standing in a lift, waiting, waiting, waiting, until someone remembered to press the button. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_in\_WPB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Jay\_in\_WPB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_in_WPB)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/3 "2011-09-10T22:08:52Z")
The “Close Door” button works just fine when the elevator is in Fire Service with the Fire Key inserted. Just ask any Fireman. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/4 "2011-09-11T01:27:00Z")
And as I said in the other thread on the same topic that we had not very long ago, the “Door Close” button certainly works on some elevators during normal operation (i.e. not on Service or Fire). Just because it doesn’t do anything on \*\*some \*\*elevators doesn’t mean that it doesn’t do anything on \*\*all \*\*elevators! ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/5 "2011-09-11T20:32:08Z")
Like that little “title” or tagline or whatever, **Canadj**! Yes, absolutely, some of them work, at least in some apartments I’ve been in. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/6 "2011-09-12T03:29:24Z")
IME they work, just (usually) frustratingly slowly. But if you’re in a Hollywood movie, pursued by an alien, relentless cyborg or serial killer, fuhgeddaboudit. ---
**Author:** ![Rickymouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Rickymouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rickymouse)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/7 "2011-09-12T19:54:44Z")
Sure they work, they are intended to make you feel like you have some control over the elevator. They probably aren’t even hooked to anything. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/8 "2011-09-12T20:35:41Z")
Clever, but also BS – many of them do indeed work, and not just to assuage the OCD of some Type-A grade-A prick. How do you know? Because I said so! I guarantee the doors close quicker on certain elevators when the button is pressed – I used to carry a stopwatch for running/hiking when I lived in some apartments, and because I’m pretty OCD or just a control freak, I thought it’d be fun to time them. Proof is in the chronometer, baby. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-close-door-buttons-on-elevators-ever-actually-work/595709/9 "2011-09-15T05:12:45Z")
In every elevator I’ve used in Singapore, there’s been a close door button. These buttons are used by everyone, and work instantaneously. Asia gets it right again!