# Why don't all stairwells have roof access? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671 "2016-08-13T14:49:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/21 "2016-08-16T15:52:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Joey P** : > > But I bet there’s a sign there that says “In case of fire do not use elevator, use stairs” and a picture of a person heading down the stairs. > > Soooo. Why does it matter that only one of the elevators goes to the roof? But **Smapti** isn’t talking about going to the roof because the building’s on fire. He’s talking about going to the roof because the view up there is nice and there are lounge chairs to sit in and get a tan. If that’s your goal, and you push the elevator button to get up there, it’s going to be really annoying if the elevator you randomly get won’t take you there. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/22 "2016-08-16T15:53:35Z")
When I wrote the OP, I was thinking more about [this](http://www.hielongbranch.com/d/hielongbranch/media/Hotel_Photos/__thumbs_964_439_crop/WLB_Exterior_with_new_logo_for_print.jpg?1353516834) kind of hotel than the true high rise hotels that you would see in the “big city”. And sure, it would be best if you could get to the ground and out of the door in case of a fire. Presumably, you can’t always take the stairs. In that case, I guess you fall back to the tried and true “Wet towels under the door. Phone for help. Pray to the deity of your choice.” method. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/23 "2016-08-16T23:12:03Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > When I wrote the OP, I was thinking more about [this](http://www.hielongbranch.com/d/hielongbranch/media/Hotel_Photos/__thumbs_964_439_crop/WLB_Exterior_with_new_logo_for_print.jpg?1353516834) kind of hotel than the true high rise hotels that you would see in the “big city”. And sure, it would be best if you could get to the ground and out of the door in case of a fire. Presumably, you can’t always take the stairs. In that case, I guess you fall back to the tried and true “Wet towels under the door. Phone for help. Pray to the deity of your choice.” method. The only way you are going to get off that roof is by a hook and ladder truck. And that is a lot slower than the stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/24 "2016-08-16T23:58:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But **Smapti** isn’t talking about going to the roof because the building’s on fire. He’s talking about going to the roof because the view up there is nice and there are lounge chairs to sit in and get a tan. If that’s your goal, and you push the elevator button to get up there, it’s going to be really annoying if the elevator you randomly get won’t take you there. Yeah…that’s why I try really hard not to post at the internet before I get to work and I’m fully awake. I was still thinking about it WRT a fire. But this thread seems to have gone in a lot of different directions. People heading for the roof because of a fire. People heading to the roof because it’s a lounge area. People heading to the roof for unknown reasons since the OP didn’t specify other than ‘it’s good’. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/25 "2016-08-17T00:05:51Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > As an aside, there’s a hotel I stay at in Seattle when overnighting there that has a rooftop deck that’s open to the public, and is even advertised as one of the hotel’s amenities. > > Only _one_ of the two elevators goes up to the roof, though, and you can’t control which car you’ll get when you call for the elevator. That’s why I like elevator banks where you tell it which floor you want and the system tells you which elevator to board. There are no buttons inside the elevator to give it another floor to go to. ---
**Author:** ![Nightaudit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightaudit/32/17181_2.png) [@Nightaudit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightaudit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/26 "2016-08-17T01:41:30Z")
As someone that worked in low “high rise” hotel and got stuck being MOD on few occasions. The last thing I or the owners would want is for the guests or non maintenance employees to get up on the roof. As an aside… I’ve been up on the roof of the Richardson Renaissance ( off 75 north, just south of Plano TX.) there is a lot mechanical ( A/C units, Sewer vent stacks, and other tripping hazards…) up there, and you won’t see much of the Dallas skyline because the roof is set 6 feet lower than the top of the building. ( I don’t know the correct term to describe the wall around the roof i think it’s called a parapet…) any how the parapet wall thingy blocks the view. However… if you climb up on the glass atrium roof and walk out about 1/3 way across and up about 1/3 way the glass roof, you can see all of Dallas, and some of the runway lights at DFW. (at Night) The atrium is set few feet taller than the roof deck. the trick is NOT to walk on the glass panes but the truss grid. There is also a small hatch in the parapet on the north side; that opens up to a little deck area behind the “Ren” in Renaissance. you can see some of Dallas from there too. Think it is to be able to get to neon in the sign. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/27 "2016-08-17T03:54:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If that’s your goal, and you push the elevator button to get up there, it’s going to be really annoying if the elevator you randomly get won’t take you there. I guess it would be a little annoying, but it just means changing elevators at the top floor if you get the wrong one (or taking a single flight of stairs). If you’re on the top floor and push the up button, only the roof elevator will come. It’s not like you have to keep calling for elevators and hoping you get the good one. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/28 "2016-08-18T03:34:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But **Smapti** If that’s your goal, and you push the elevator button to get up there, it’s going to be really annoying if the elevator you randomly get won’t take you there. In one of the last buildings I worked in 2 elevators went from lower level to 13. The other 4 went from lower level to 14. If the wrong elevator came you just got on it and went to the 13th floor. Got off and hit the up hall call button. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/29 "2016-08-18T06:13:45Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > In one of the last buildings I worked in 2 elevators went from lower level to 13. The other 4 went from lower level to 14. If the wrong elevator came you just got on it and went to the 13th floor. Got off and hit the up hall call button. What’s the point of a configuration like this? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/30 "2016-08-18T07:11:30Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What’s the point of a configuration like this? Anyone? It’s cheaper and/or takes up less space. Maybe there wasn’t room for six sets of elevator machinery on the roof. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/31 "2016-08-18T07:14:19Z")
Am I the only one with this song playing in their head now: “Up On the Roof”. Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, both of whom grew up in NYC where many of the older buildings have at least one staircase up to the roof. There’s even a Caldecott Award winning book about kids and families enjoying time on the roof: [http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/book01.htm](http://www.faithringgold.com/ringgold/book01.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/32 "2016-08-19T18:21:17Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What’s the point of a configuration like this? Anyone? Building was designed with 4 elevators. At some point between 1 drawings and construction start it was decided that 6 elevators were going to be put in. There was no room for the machine room on the roof. that left 1 of 2 choices. 1 not putting an overheat traction elevator in or going to 13 floors. The second choice would have been cheaper. It did add other problems to the building. The hot deck duct was planed to come down the shaft that elevators 5 & 6 were put in. So the hot and cold deck ducts had to share the shaft meant for only the cold deck. Smaller ducts, air shortage on lower floors. And a few other problems. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671/33 "2016-08-19T19:26:16Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What’s the point of a configuration like this? Anyone? Building was designed with 4 elevators. At some point between 1 drawings and construction start it was decided that 6 elevators were going to be put in. There was no room for the machine room on the roof. that left 1 of 2 choices. 1 not putting an overheat traction elevator in or going to 13 floors. The second choice would have been cheaper. It did add other problems to the building. The hot deck duct was planed to come down the shaft that elevators 5 & 6 were put in. So the hot and cold deck ducts had to share the shaft meant for only the cold deck. Smaller ducts, air shortage on lower floors. And a few other problems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-all-stairwells-have-roof-access/762671.md?page=1)