Strange notices

[Allen Crisp]

I really have no idea of the best AB category for this question. As you travel by train towards London Bridge station you pass a modern building near the Millwall football ground. Judging by a sign on it, it seems to be a plant for producing energy from waste materials. Running along the side of the building is a metal walkway leading to a set of stairs - it looks similar to a fire escape. There are five doors in the side of the building, evenly spaced along the walkway, and three of them carry a sign saying 'No Exit'. These signs are on the outside of the doors, so anyone reading them is outside and has already exited, so what's the point of telling them they can't go out of a door that they're already on the outside of? Or might there be some reason why you need to know that no-one will be coming out of these particular doors? Anyone know why these signs are there?

[thekraut]

maybe it's to say. Ok, its save to stand here because you won't get kicked off the walkway by somebody opening the door from the inside. I know it sounds strange, but industry safety precautions sometimes look a little bit ridiculous.

[Pinotage]

They are warning people who are escaping that those doors do not lead to an exit. When you take a fire exit it should be made clear, by fire exit signs, where you are supposed to go, and which ways you should not go.

You see the same thing in buildings; go down the emergency stairs and each floor you pass should have a sign on the back saying its not a fire exit until you reach the ground floor when you'll see a door with an exit sign.

It might seem obvious, but when there is an emergency, amybe thick smoke obscuring views and people are frightened, its easy for them to be disorientated.