Hacker News Reader

Yeah, really. How could anyone possibly design, sell, buy or install a door lock that can't mechanically override the lock from the inside.

Hopefully the local fire chief has shut the hotel down.

View on HN

Not quite the same situation, but in my travels abroad, I've encountered a pretty significant number of places that require a key to leave the room/apartment/house. Lose that key, and you are effectively locked inside. I think it is mainly done to prevent break-ins (e.g. you can't just break the window next to it and reach in to unlock the door), but it's always concerned me from a fire safety standpoint.

Anyway, at least in some countries, this is pretty common. Not that's it good. But, common? Yes.

No need, the hackers beat him to it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com