Saber ban on local nightclub rescinded Published April 6, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar and Senior Airman Clay Murray 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Following a risk assessment conducted by the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Chief and 52nd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Christopher Weggeman placed Zur Kajϋte, a nightclub in Binsfeld, Germany, off limits March 3. The ban, which was set to last 45 days or until the identified safety risks were corrected, was lifted April 4. The owner of the nightclub corrected the identified safety risks, and U.S. service members, civilians and their families are no longer prohibited from going to the establishment. "The corrective measures taken to eliminate the undesirable conditions previously found in your establishment have been satisfactory," Colonel Weggeman wrote in a letter to Zur Kajϋte owner Herr Detlev Faber. Factors leading to the ban included emergency exit doors not swinging outward in the direction of travel - a dangerous trap in the event people were required to exit the building immediately; exits were blocked or locked; and the occupancy appeared, to the fire inspector, to be well above the German standard of allowing only two people per square meter. "We asked the owner to help us protect our Sabers, and those things that he needed to do (to correct the safety issues) took time," Chief Master Sgt. Richard Lien, 52nd CES fire chief, said. "The fact that he put in a substantial steel staircase, an additional exit that didn't exist before, and that the county came out and did a survey and formal evaluation of his occupant load is admirable. "All things considered, I was very pleased at the speed in which he was able to accomplish these things," Chief Lien said. Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Miller, 52nd Fighter wing command chief, and Colonel Weggeman visited the nightclub April 1 to view the changes made to alleviate hazards to its patrons. The ban was subsequently lifted from the establishment as the Zur Kajϋte faculty have acknowledged and addressed problems regarding safety concerns inside and around the establishment. "(We) visited Kajϋte, and I'm pleased to say the owner has fully complied with our fire safety requirements," Colonel Weggeman said. "He has installed a state of the art fire-detection and emergency-lighting system on all three levels, as well as added a completely new fire and emergency exit on the main floor, a significant infrastructure investment for sure." "I appreciate (Herr Faber's) commitment to the safety of our Saber Airmen," he said. "Kajϋte has been a prime night-life destination for Spangdahlem Airmen for more than 44 years, and the quick and positive response to this situation demonstrates the strength and importance of our outstanding community relations."