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There is this stair-case in a building, possible for emergency. On the door out (which can be open only from inside) I read

Emergency exit only. Trades observed using this exit will be back-charged lock-up time. Use West Doors Only.

What does it mean?

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  • Where is it (at least the country)?
    – Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
    Commented Dec 14, 2013 at 21:56
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    It's not comprehensible to me.
    – user230
    Commented Dec 14, 2013 at 22:28
  • @snailboat Sorry I corrected it.
    – Bogdan Lataianu
    Commented Dec 15, 2013 at 0:46
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    This is obviously just a guess, but I believe that trades is jargon for tradesman (so possibly employees or contractors who do business here) and I would surmise that this door probably has a pushbar on it to allow exit in case of emergencies but when it is used, some manual process must be followed to securely lock it again. The sign is a warning to the tradesmen to use the West Doors only otherwise if they are caught using this door they will be charged (required to pay, maybe out of their paycheck or added to their invoice) for the time it takes the management to re-secure the door.
    – Jim
    Commented Dec 15, 2013 at 1:50
  • @jim, more likely deducted from their invoice. Tradesmen are probably billing the building operator for their services, and when they are "back-charged" the building is charging them instead.
    – The Photon
    Commented Dec 15, 2013 at 6:09

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According to @Jim

trades is jargon for tradesman (so possibly employees or contractors who do business here)

and back-charged means that

if they are caught using this door they will be charged (required to pay, maybe out of their paycheck or added to their invoice) for the time it takes the management to re-secure the door.

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  • @Theta30- +1 Nice.
    – Jim
    Commented Dec 15, 2013 at 18:21

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