Bowman's fire alarm was an emergency exit

[LiberalArkie]

Link to tweet

[Lovie777]

1. Seems like corporate media did it again.....................

misinformation, doesn't wait on facts, ya know what the GQP do so well.

Then the GQP further misinformed, calling for an investigation.

[LiberalArkie]

4. Where I used to work, you had to press a big button and hold it to exit and use a badge

on a reader to enter. Why it would be hooked to a fire alarm system is strange.

[bottomofthehill]

36. He had an hour to get to the Floor to vote, it was a procedural vote.

The vote to adjourn was 417 to 0. There was no mad rush.

[JohnSJ]

2. What does Emergency Exit Only mean? I am not buying this excuse

[LiberalArkie]

3. In some office buildings it means what it says, emergency only as it does not have a

badge reader on it to log people using it.

[yardwork]

5. I don't understand why any excuse is needed.

This was a crucial vote to avert a government shutdown. The door - always open during the week, locked on Saturday - had confusing instructions suggesting it was standard operating procedure to trigger the door alarm.

I don't see a problem. A fire alarm went off by accident. Nobody was hurt.

We Democrats aren't seriously suggesting that our congress man did this as a prank, are we? He was rushing to get to a crucial vote.

[JohnSJ]

7. The sign was clear. Would you defend the same thing if was MTG, Gaetz, or one of the crazies?

I am not saying he did this as a prank, I am saying it was a stupid thing to do.

Try doing this in any public building when it isn't an emergency, and see what happens.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. I'm just curious why you think a child predator and an insurrectionist loon should be afforded...

… the same charitable interpretation and acceptance of a perfectly acceptable explanation by an upstanding member of Congress and The Democratic Party?

The door, that’s usually open, has a sign on it that basically says activate the door until the alarm sounds and it will open. Doors like that usually have a door alarm/whistle that doesn’t set off the building alarm.

Furthermore, contrary to “reporting”, the door was in the office building and not where the vote was being held (so the conspiracy theory he was trying to hold up the vote makes zero sense).

[AZSkiffyGeek]

35. I don't see what MTG and Gaetz's extracurricular activities have to do with

A Democratic Congressman who doesn’t know to not use Emergency exits or pull fire alarms. I learned those things when I was 5.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

49. Maybe you should read the post I was responding to. Should have also learned that at 5 years old

[AZSkiffyGeek]

50. I can read. I also know what "non-sequitur"means.

Didn't learn that when I was five, though. Probably around 14?
Unlike some, I did learn manners though. Have a nice day.

[JohnSJ]

61. Thank-you. Put any republican name in there, McCarthy, McConnell, etc. also Bowman apologized

and admitted he screwed up, more than some here want to do

[JohnSJ]

60. You know that wasn't what I was saying. Put McConnell in there and answer the damn

question honestly if you can

Bowman apologized and admitted he screwed up.

[yardwork]

19. What?! Charged and resign?! No.

[rzemanfl]

21. Enjoy your stay. n/t

[yardwork]

18. I don't think the sign was clear, and this was a special circumstance.

I can imagine myself making a mistake like this if I was in a rush, and I don't understand why it's a big deal.

I really don't understand why Democrats jump on one another for little things. I really don't.

(And if MTG made an honest mistake like this I'd say the same, except we wouldn't be talking about it because nobody would know about it, because the media would have ignored it and the Democrats wouldn't be making a silly fuss.)

[CatWoman]

34. it's like watching the congressional version of "The Anal Retentive Chef"

[treestar]

75. And MTG etc would not have apologized nt

[msfiddlestix]

40. I guarantee you, we would never be aware of this incident unless we were staff or family members.

I don;t mean collectively, but certainly would never have been reported on in the media, the specter of wrong doing would never have been in invoked if Nancy Pelosi was speaker of the house and republican house member had done it.

[Recycle_Guru]

59. lame take

[John1956PA]

8. Thanks. The signs and fire alarm activator are all red.

Last edited Sun Oct 1, 2023, 09:32 AM - Edit history (1)

The Congressman was preoccupied with the looming shutdown and was rushing to get to the House floor. He was not in the proper state of mind to parse the "PUSH" instruction on the sign. His mind conflated the "ALARM" reference in the sign with the fire alarm activator.

[JohnSJ]

10. I don't think it was done as a "prank", but it was a stupid thing to do, and I would bet that if any

MAGA did that, most people here would be calling that out

[Snooper9]

54. Um, "emergency exit" isn't confusing at all

Just about every building in the country has one LOL

[doc03]

11. I agree, that is what it says. If I was in a hurry I can see myself doing the same thing. Imagine

if Joe Biden would have done that, they would have him in a nursing home by now.

[JohnSJ]

12. and we would be slaming any MAGA who did something like that. I don't think it was a "prank", but

not a very smart thing to do.

[boston bean]

22. I would like to think we would we understand. But probably make fun of them. And some would find a

conspiracy.

But it in reality sometimes it is just an accident. We should go where the evidence leads.

In this case an accidental tripping of a full fire arm in a rush when confronted with a sign not seen before.

[msfiddlestix]

42. Only if it reporters made it a thing.

I do not see this incident as a major wrong doing warranting any reaction.

totally disagree with your assessment of how this should be addressed.

[Igel]

16. I've never in 60+ years seen a sign labeled "emergency exit" that wasn't alarmed.

Esp. one that's signed as being alarmed.

An emergency exit that isn't alarmed or alerts nobody is simply called an "exit". Esp. in conjunction with a sign that says to "push" for 3 seconds to trigger alarm--with a clear and obvious inference being that after 30 seconds the door would unlock.

(Then there's what must be a true fear of being a minute late for the vote. I can only imagine what the penalty is for that, if in produces such terror.)

I have higher standards for my reps than for people I think are inferior.

[yardwork]

20. Being late for the vote means he misses it, and maybe the government shuts down.

Commenters here don't seem to understand the context. This wasn't just any vote.

[bottomofthehill]

26. This was just any vote. It was a procedural vote on adjournment

He has missed votes in the past and the world did not end. He has a very good voting record, but this was no pass or die resolution. It was a vote to adjourn

[MichMan]

56. Has he ever said why he was late ?

[bottomofthehill]

64. He was not late.

Per the Clerk of the House web site, the vote closed at 1:02. He pulled the fire alarm at 12:15. The vote was unanimous. 0-417. Every democrat and every Republican voted against Adjournment.

[MichMan]

65. He said he was rushing to make a vote.

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1708299648782262656%7Ctwgr%5E34c9924e86dfc8404e8f0138cf7d08c50770edc6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F%3Fcom%3Dpostforum%3D1002pid%3D18319214|

[bottomofthehill]

67. Yes he did say that

But again, the alarm went off at 12:15, the vote was open until 1:02. It is a very short walk from Cannon to the Capitol. It was a procedural vote on adjournment that both sides were in total agreement on. He was not a deciding vote, it was 417-0.

This is a nothing burger. The us attorney will most likely no paper it. Just own it and move on. Enough with the the bullshit window dressing. Just go with “ i fucked up, I was playing Mr big shot, in the process I did something that could have caused harm. Thankfully no one was hurt due to my stupidity, it will not happen again”.

The bullshit of “I was rushing to an important vote” is insulting and continues to show he really cares less.

[bottomofthehill]

68. This is the important vote he was rushing to

https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023512

[bottomofthehill]

69. The alarm was pulled 57 minutes before the vote ended.

A Capitol Police department spokesperson wrote in a statement to Newsweek, "Today at 12:05 p.m., a fire alarm was activated on the 2nd floor of the Cannon House Office Building. The building was evacuated while USCP officers checked the building. The building was reopened after it was determined that there was not a threat. An investigation into what happened and why continues."

[boston bean]

24. He pulled the fire alarm next to it. Thinking that would open the door. When he should have pushed

Door handle for three second. An alarm would have went off. But not a full fledged fire alarm.

[rzemanfl]

27. Thank you for the clarification. n/t

[msfiddlestix]

47. I don't understand why you find this incident worthy of contempt.

seriously, reading reactions here feels as if this were a serious act or threat of harm, or on par lies, fabrications, grifting treason and more, all the standard fare with tbe current repuglican party.

very odd in my view.

[bottomofthehill]

30. And this is a close up of one of the 3 signs.

Two floor signs and one placed on the door clearly noting the door is for emergency use only.

[JohnSJ]

51. It isn't rocket science

[DinahMoeHum]

6. Just shows it's best to not jump to conclusions.

. . .don't be "first" with a news story. . .be accurate

[JohnSJ]

9. With a sign that says "Emergency Exit Only", would you really press the fire alarm when there wasn't

a fire?

[boston bean]

38. Because of the sign.

Listen, I’ve have history with emergency exits.

Usually you just push the door open and an alarm immediately goes off.

He pushed the door as he stated. He was in a rush to get to the floor. He had never seen the sign before because the door was always open. So he tries to push the door open and it won’t open. Reads the sign in a hurry, and tries to do what it says.

If you really read that sign, it is a travesty. Who in an emergency has 30 seconds to wait for a door to open, and in a frantic state of mind understand to push the door handle for a full 3 second to get an alarm to sound.

I think you need to get off this one. Sometimes people just make an error. A fully understandable one in this case.

[LuckyCharms]

43. +1

[ariadne0614]

70. +1 n/t

[comradebillyboy]

13. He's caught on camera pulling the fire alarm.

His explanation isn't credible.

[bigtree]

29. if he did pull that lever, and that pic doesn't show that

...it's not an offense.

Reason is that the law governing fire alarms requires INTENT for an offense.

What intent do you personally have proof of?

Are you one of the accusers who believes he was trying to stop a vote in an entirely separate building from the Capitol?





Are you aware that the alarm wasn't heard in the Capitol? No one was evacuated, much less alarmed.

What are you actually alleging here?

[Chainfire]

14. It sounds like an overdose of arrogance to me. "Rules are for lesser people."

An 8 year old would know better than to take that shortcut.

[bottomofthehill]

28. Thank you, you just hit the nail on the head.

[LuckyCharms]

23. This sounds to me like he simply

fucked up.

Brain fart, fucked up, not thinking, whatever.

It happens to all of us, every day. For us though, it doesn't make the national news.

There was most likely no malice involved, so I don't understand what the big deal is.

[CTyankee]

74. Maybe from now on, each member will have a little tutorial on those doors when they first take

office. He was faced with a perplexing situation and thought his vote was important. Let's not have the perfect be the enemy of the good.

[rzemanfl]

25. Who decided a person in a fire should have to wait 30 seconds?

Just asking.

ON EDIT-Post #24 clarifies the situation.

[John1956PA]

31. The sign indicates that a person must wait 30 seconds before the door unlocks.

The sign indicates that a person wanting to exit must push something (presumably the horizontal door-exit bar) and hold it in the pushed position for three seconds. At that point, an alarm will sound. When the alarm has sounded for thirty seconds, the door will finally unlock.

[boston bean]

33. Who in a real emergency has that much time to figure out the direction

And wait 30 friggin seconds?

[John1956PA]

37. You are correct. RZEMANFL pointed this out, and I agree with their observation. n/t

[intheflow]

44. Right. You have to stand there for 30 seconds.

Fire doors should release immediately. Fire licking at your heels? Are you injured? Active shooter in the building? Just stand here for 30 seconds, what could go wrong?

[NYC Liberal]

53. Can't speak for this particular door

or Congressional buildings in general since might exempt from certain building codes they’ve passed, but usually an exit with a delayed release like this will open immediately under certain conditions like heat or smoke detected, fire alarm is active, loss of power, etc. They’re very common, especially in retail stores to deter theft.

This is from the DC fire code:

1010.1.9.7.1 Delayed egress. Delayed egress locking systems shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving Group E in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system in accordance with § 907.2.3. The locking system shall be installed and operated in accordance with all of the following:

1. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon actuation of the automatic fire alarm system, allowing immediate, free egress.

2. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon loss of power controlling the lock or lock mechanism, allowing immediate free egress.

3. The delayed egress locking system shall have the capability of being deactivated at the fire command center and other approved locations, if a fire command center is provided.

4. An attempt to egress shall initiate an irreversible process that shall allow such egress in not more than 15 seconds when a physical effort to exit is applied to the egress side door hardware for not more than 3 seconds. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the delay electronics have been deactivated, rearming the delay electronics shall be by manual means only.

Exception: Where approved, a delay of not more than 30 seconds is permitted on a delayed egress door.

[intheflow]

62. Fascinating!

I did not know this. And it’s good to know it would at least release sooner in case of fire. Thanks!

[bottomofthehill]

66. It's an external door to a secure complex.

A lot can go wrong if you can just push out. Let’s say you are a domestic terrorist and you tell a dozen oathkeepers to go stand outside a closed door that you can just push out. Pretty soon you have a dozen armed oathkeepers in the building. There are officers that react when the alarm goes off. That 30 seconds is unfortunately a necessary evil because of the fucked up times we live in.

[intheflow]

71. If that were true,

the doors would never be unlocked, but they are, Monday through Friday. This alarmed system is for fire. Period.

[bottomofthehill]

72. Yes, and when the door is open, there are two members of the Capitol Police posted there.

Open doors have police officers and metal detectors to screen people on the way in.

[boston bean]

32. I had that question too. Seems way too long.

And for someone in a frantic state of mind to fully understand the sign to push the door handle for three seconds?

Any time I have seen something like that, the door always opened when pushed and alarm immediately sounds.

[rzemanfl]

39. Well someone here thought that the signage was clear and said, if I recall correctly,

the representative "...should be charged and resign." That person's post was removed, and he/she/it is back under the bridge.

[boston bean]

41. The sign is confusing as all shit. Especially if one is in a real emergency.

If you ask me, if they made an exit inaccessible for 33 seconds in a real emergency, they should be held liable for any injury or death.

[rzemanfl]

45. Plus that door was open during the week as I understand it.

It isn't clear to me if the fire alarm opened the door immediately.

[boston bean]

46. I don't know that either. But I would hope so.

[John1956PA]

48. That sign is so bad that "Seinfeld" producers would have rejected a script built around it.

Sometimes, signs can be unintentionally vague and subject to more than one interpretation. A sitcom might even put out an episode showing befuddlement which follows when such a sign is misinterpreted. However, regarding the sign in question, there is no humor which can be derived from it. Also, any Hollywood scriptwriter would seem it implausible that such a sign, with tedious instructions, would be used in connection with an off-and-on emergency exit.

[uponit7771]

73. +1

[bottomofthehill]

52. The sign says Emergency Exit Only

First line, simple….
No place on the sign does it say turn left, pull fire alarm and door will open. There was no emergency, thus no reason to open the door. Please remember, before we get too far out on the limb trying to defend the action, there is video. If we learned nothing else from 1/6, we learned there are a lot of cameras in the Capitol complex. Maybe after the alarm went off, it may have been a good idea to tell one of the police officers that he past on his way to the vote that he had inadvertently set off the alarm……

Should he be charged, no, I think this will probably be no papered, should the Ethics committee look into this, yes, that’s what the ethics committee does. Was it selfish behavior, sure seems like it to me. There are ways to deal with things when you make a mistake.

[CatWoman]

55. I've been tempted to share this, against my better judgement but here goes

i work in a government building and there are exits marked like this that people use all the time as they serve as shortcuts.

FYI

Just my opinion.

[bottomofthehill]

57. When they use the door, do they pull the fire alarm next to it?

Because that is what he did. And after pulling the alarm, he never exited through the door.

[CatWoman]

58. i was addressing your point about the sign

[Ms. Toad]

63. You're missing that he said he pulled the alarm,

Not to mention that there is a photo of him with his hand on the alarm on the wall, not in the push bar that opens the emergency door.