Being trapped on an upper floor of a burning high-rise is the stuff of nightmares, but a product called SkySaver offers a last-resort means of escape, should that unlikely scenario occur and a safer exit is unavailable. SkySaver is worn on the back like a backpack and allows the user to descend out of a window and reach the ground in one piece.
SkySaver requires an anchor point be installed by a certified company, in most cases drilled into the wall above a suitable window. In an emergency, the user would put the backpack on, attach the integrated cable to the anchor point using a carabiner, pop out of the window and descend to the ground.
SkySaver features a Controlled Descent Device which automatically unravels a fire-resistant galvanized steel cable at a steady rate of around 6 ft (1.8 m) per second. It's rated for a minimum of 66 lb (29 kg) and a maximum of 300 lb (136 kg), though a child's version is in the works, too.
It comes in three lengths: 80 ft (24 m), 160 ft (48 m), and 260 ft (80 m), weighing 18 lb (8.1 kg), 22 lb (10 kg), and 26 lb (11.7 kg), respectively.
![SkySaver is rated for a user weighing a minimum of 66 lb (29 kg) and a maximum of 300 lb (136 kg)](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/73e5be3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/841x474+0+0/resize/841x474!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fskysaver-4.jpg)
There are some caveats, however. SkySaver won't protect you from flying glass, fire, falling debris, or other desperate people trying to wrestle it off you. Nor can a user descend and then send it back up to help someone else. A refurbishment program is planned for reuse, but the system needs to be professionally rewound before it's used again. High winds could be a worry, too.
It's also worth mentioning that there are similar products already on the market, like the Rescue Reel, for example. That said, SkySaver does appear to be comparatively user-friendly and requires no training.
SkySaver was developed in Israel by a team that includes a former Lieutenant General of the Israel Defense Forces, plus safety experts, and the firm says it has been extensively tested and certified by a company called Gravitec Labs. It also comes with a 7-year guarantee and needs no maintenance.
SkySaver is available for purchase now. Prices start at US$899 for the 80 ft (24 m) version, with the 160 ft (48 m) and 260 ft (80 m) fetching $949 and $999.
The promo video below shows it in use.
Source: SkySaver