PureGym's entry and exit pods flagged by New York City's fire department for safety concerns
Updated on: January 14, 2026 / 5:59 PM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- The New York City Fire Department has issued dozens of violations to seven PureGym locations for exit doors in their new 'scanning pods' that require an electronic device to operate.
- Gymgoers must use the PureGym app and scan a QR code to pass through the cylindrical plexiglass doors.
- The FDNY stated that exit doors must be operable without electronic devices and that the new scanning pods were not included in the original floor plans.
- PureGym asserts that its gyms are designed by a licensed architect, exits comply with fire codes, and separate ADA-compliant doors are available for evacuation.
- Customers have expressed concerns about safety, citing the inconvenience and potential hazards in an emergency, with one customer getting stuck in a pod due to a malfunction.
- PureGym plans to continue installing these pods across its locations, aiming for all gyms to have 24/7 access by Q1 2026.