I built and installed these bookcases that lead to the children’s playroom. This is not intended to be a safe room, however you could lock yourself in if needed, owner just thought it would be neat for his young daughters. the doorway opening is approx. 70″, so plenty room to pass through one door. Cant really get a good picture though because its in a hallway and you cant back up enough to get good shot.
Also a couple of shots of the media room, 26′ of cabinets. Limestone counter top on the two end cabinets, made all the limestone tops myself, just used some dull router bits to cut it(no sense using sharp bits) wet bar on the right.
The media room has a 42″ plasma screen mounted on the wall and overhead is a 116″ drop down screen for larger viewing, the sound is great, the media guy used “Saving Private Ryan” for testing the system, thought I was actually there.
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Looks nice. Good job. I love the idea of hidden rooms and passages. Romantic and fanciful.
I don't want to damp your enthusiasm but please be careful.
From what I hear fire inspectors are not enthusiastic about hidden rooms and doors. A fireman couldn't very well be expected to search a hidden room for victims. Smoke , and especially toxic fumes, can cause unconsciousness a long way from a fire. Often in a few seconds. Unable or unwilling to leave, children often hide when they perceive danger, a child could be overcome and smother while firemen are sure that all rooms have been searched and the house is clear.
At the very least I would consider some sort of marking or automatic opening, a wild guess on my part, easily visible from outside. A blinking neon sign: 'Secret room access here' with a large arrow outside the window comes to mind. Maybe an activator that is hooked into the smoke alarms would work. It could be set to automatically open the hidden door. I don't know what is appropriate.
I hate to think about loosing a child because they hid in a concealed room. Dead or injured because they couldn't be found.
4lorn1
I think those are very good points, the owner wanted his girls to know that they could hide there if need be, we put a lock on the door so that they can lock from the inside. There is a dead bolt inside the lower cabinet door that will unlock it, wouldn't want them to reach the teen years with a good hidden room with to much security!
I think I will pass on your ideas of the fire issue, at least give him something to think about, I know that the safety of his children is paramount to having the novelty of a hidden room.
Thanks
Doug
Got thinking about what I would do. I have sketched in a few hidden areas on the plans to my dream home so I too may be facing the issue.
After some consideration I think that the best approach might be to have the house, including the hidden rooms, sprinklered. The sprinkler would, of course, be hooked into the alarm system alerting both the occupants and the fire department.
I know that businesses with unusual threats or situations, such as especially hazardous chemicals like those that catch fire or explode when exposed to water, have some sort of registration with the fire department.
This information is usually available to the fire department automatically when the alarm is called. This gives responders a clue as to what they are looking for. In the mean time the sprinklers greatly increases the time the firemen have to work with. They contain, often extinguishing, the fire entirely giving a lot more time. Time for people to get out and firemen to get in. Time to find any who are hidden or injured.
I wouldn't worry too much about water damage as only the heads directly exposed to the fire will activate and most of the more modern units put out much less water in a minute than a fire hose. Besides water damage in a small area is less an issue than fire and smoke spread throughout a home. Certainly less important than loosing a child.
Beautiful work...very pleasing to the eye..