When this photo arrived in my inbox, I immediately thought the panic was mounted in that position to be operated by someone’s foot. I couldn’t quite wrap my brain around the latching/unlatching situation…I really think it’s just being used as a pull bar and that there’s no strike installed. On my next road trip maybe I’ll swing through Alabama so I can check it out.
I received confirmation that waitresses are using it to open the door when they are entering the restaurant from the patio with their hands full. It’s an interesting idea that could have been accomplished by a stationary push/pull bar, or an innovated door pull that I saw on a rest area bathroom door during my 2008 summer road trip.
It’s called the Footpull, and it’s available from www.Footpull.com for $42 plus shipping (2015 update:$49.50). The website cites a bunch of scary statistics about how few people actually wash their hands after using the bathroom and how many work/school days are lost due to illness. I really like the idea of the Footpull, and if it can help keep me from getting the Swine Flu, even better.
I just wish I’d thought of it first. 😉
Panic device photo courtesy of George Cutler, Quarters Hardware.
Footpull photo courtesy of www.Footpull.com.
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now this is a first for me, I have seen push bars low to ground (because of door height) this one, either they have leprechauns using this door or yea, panic hardware being used for a use that its not intended for (on push side to be PUSHED to open door) I guess we can give them credit for creativity.
in a way a bar can be easier to use then the metal pocket type of device found on footpull.com site, with a bar device (such as one shown, users can choose if they want to pull from above (foot over bar) or below (foot under bar)
about the door that I seen with low height: it was spotted with a low bar, it was in a high school I attended, door was about 3 ft tall, it was a steel (fire rated, I don’t know)had kickplate, LCN 4040 with EDA arm(on push side)and a pushbar like the bar found in your post “welcome to paradise” with missing end cap(all was there on small door’s bar) bar was about 16 r so inches off ground (now that yea, not with the code) but because door was to the school’s basement and it was a very steep “ladder” the short stature of the door was easier to deal with then a full size 80 inch tall door)
The photo looks like there is a crossbar device on the egress side.
With what appears to be a deadbolt, I hope it’s a push bar.
Yes, that’s a panic on the push side, with a deadbolt too. Just more evidence that fire and egress door inspections are essential!
I have always had issues with public bathrooms. Why aren’t there foot pedals to control water flow as well as automatic water? Auto paper towels, great. But then comes the DOOR issue, how to open it w-out touching the handle that has no doubt been handled by many a non-hand washer. I end up holding onto my paper towel taht i dried my hands with to open it. The footpull should be a no brainer for public bathrooms!
The second foot pull appears to be much more user friendly than the first. Since it is angled it would discourage people- i.e. kids-from standing on it as mentioned earlier. I too, am bewildered that people go to the toilet and don’t wash their hands. I always use a paper towel also when exiting, and when I turn the knobs on the sink to wash my hands. (Bit paranoid, huh?) Ha!