There are many people that get a strange sense of satisfaction from pressing the door close button in an elevator. Ever been in an elevator and no matter how many times you press the door close button, the door takes it's sweet time closing? That's because it doesn't work! It's a fake! Shocking, I know! Here's the skinny:

Because of the Americans With Disabilities Act, after 1990 manufacturers had to disable the door close buttons to make sure that someone in a wheelchair or using a cane would have enough time to get out of the elevator before the doors closed. The director of the National Elevator Industry trade group says that elevator cars have to be replaced every 25 years, so cars pre-1990 are gone or updated by now. You may wonder why the buttons are still showing up in new elevators; they are there because they are a tradition and people like the sense of control they get from pushing them. It's a courtesy button for all you button pushers!

I hope that the alarm button isn't just for show.

Celeste

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