Archive for July, 2009
I guess it’s only fair. If my family welcomes the new Falcon exit device along on our summer road trip, it should have a name that’s a little easier for the kids to remember than 25-R-L. The first thing we had to determine was the gender of our device. Although boats and cars are generally female, [...]
I really enjoy blogging because I can talk to my fellow door and hardware professionals in a more personal way, without all the corporate-speak that makes my eyes glaze over (no offense, corporate speakers). Well, this conversation is about to get a lot more personal. I’m leaving on a family road trip tomorrow and I’m taking you with me. Why would anyone spend [...]
I have a lot of pet peeves – just ask my family. One of my pet peeves is when I see a door closer on the “wrong” side of a door. It could be the corridor side of an electric room, the outside of a bathroom, or, like the photo to the left, the weather [...]
Name: Charles J (Chuck) Strauss Company, Location, and Years of Service: Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, Mathews NC, 10 years with IR Current Position: VP Sales - East Summary of Previous Industry Experience: 13 years with Yale Security Products & Norton Door Controls (training, sales/marketing management), General Manager for Action Hardware Total Years in the Industry: 25 [...]
I recently received this photo from an architect who wanted to use the Von Duprin Inpact devices pictured here on another museum I’m working on. I’ve used these several times when an architect wanted the panic device powder coated a similar color to the door. As with LCN closers, Von Duprin panic hardware can be powder coated in [...]
When a delayed egress lock is used on an egress door, the codes require signage instructing the building occupant to “PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS, DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 SECONDS.” When the code official approves a 30-second delay, the signage must reflect that increase. At least the signage on this egress door (yes, there [...]
Name: Zeke Wolfskehl, DAHC EHC Company, Location, and Years of Service: Consultant, Retired from Ingersoll Rand, New York City, 7 years Current Position: Retired and consulting Summary of Previous Industry Experience: Always on the manufacturing side, first with Corbin; then with The MacKenzie Group, reps for Von Duprin and Rixson; then with Glezen Fisher Group, [...]
Here’s a great list of accessibility code requirements and contacts by state. It lists the accessibility code or standard for each state, as well as the contact information for the state agency that oversees the accessibility requirements. The list was compiled by the United States Access Board, an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people [...]
I love seeing the inventive ways people install door hardware, and it seems like the product with the most creative installations is the door closer. LCN thought their stick-on installation templates would take the creativity out of door closer installation, but there are still plenty of inventive installations out there. Here are a couple from [...]
Terry Maguire of National Millwork in Mansfield, Massachusetts! Terry correctly identified the delayed egress signage as the missing item on the post called “What’s Wrong With This Picture?” Here’s a link to my earlier post about delayed egress, including the requirement for signage. Others who correctly identified the problem: Bob Caron, Kelley Brothers Brendan Daley, [...]
Back in the early 90′s when the ADA was the newest focus of the door and hardware industry, delayed action closers were specified and installed on many doors due to the assumption that they were required by the accessibility standards. Delayed action is a feature available on many door closers, which delays the closing cycle [...]
Name: Robert Burke, AHC, CSI Company, Location, and Years of Service: Lindquist Builders Supply Company, Stratford CT – 18 years Current Position: President Summary of Previous Industry Experience: 3 years as Corbin sales rep, 16 years in distribution management Total Years in the Industry: 37 years How did you get your start in the door [...]
Back in the 80′s, there was a lot of confusion about how to measure the clear opening width of doors. The codes and standards weren’t clear, so on doors with panic devices the fire marshals were looking for 32″ between the panic device and the stop on the strike jamb. As each code and standard [...]
I’m a big fan of creative hardware applications like these PVC rod guards on an exterior pair in a high school, but I think they should have considered adding some bottom latch guards. The latches don’t even have their covers! FYI…Von Duprin does manufacture rod and latch guards – the RG-27, also available as a rod [...]
There’s an article in the May/June 2009 issue of the NFPA Journal about the inspection of egress doors and fire doors. You can access the article here. It’s an excellent overview of the inspection requirements found in the 2009 Edition of NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code. According to NFPA 101 – 2009, the [...]
Name: Steve Monroe AHC, CDT Company: Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, Needham MA – 9 years Current Position: Distributor Representative Prior Industry Experience: Partner in Sterling Hardware Group, an independent rep. firm in New England Total Years in Industry: 20 How did you get your start in the door and hardware industry? My father and [...]
The open back strike hadn’t been installed when I took this photo, but what else is missing? It’s a tricky one, but you can click on the picture to enlarge it if you need to. If you think you know, add a comment by clicking this link and then scrolling down. I will hold all of the [...]
If you’re a frequent visitor to this site you probably know the story…I posted a photo of a concealed closer that is installed so that it’s visible through the frame face, and the hardware supplier/installer saw the photo on my site and emailed me to tell me the situation. Apparently it was not a mistake [...]
An astragal is a piece of molding used on a pair of doors or between the top and bottom leaves of a Dutch door, to provide security, protect against weather conditions, prevent light or sound transmission, or to retard the passage of smoke, flame, or gases during a fire. On a Dutch door the astragal is [...]
I have visited 10 countries in Africa, so in honor of the first African country to host a visitor to this website (the 38th country to visit the site!), I decided to post an African door photo from my collection. I searched through the albums of my trips and found hundreds of photos of elephants, [...]
I’ve added a new page to help you find what you’re looking for – the Index tab above. There are already 76 posts (!) and I’ll be adding two new features shortly. One will be a series called Industry Profiles – to help you get to know some of the great people who work in the [...]
I think this photo speaks for itself. I just love the creativity and the lengths people will go to with these modifications. It’s kind of sad that I get my kicks from looking at doors gone wrong, but admit it…you do too! I’ve had this picture for a really long time and I can’t remember [...]
Here’s a little reminder to make sure you size the top rod correctly when using manual flush bolts on doors that are over 7′ tall. Most manufacturers offer a top rod that is 12″ (standard), 24″, 36″, or 48″ long. In this application, I would have probably specified panic hardware on both leaves depending on the [...]
