Monthly Archives: July 2011

Classroom Security Locks

As of July 1st, 2011, a revised California law (AB 211, Article 8.5) requires classrooms and rooms with an occupant load of more than 5 people to be equipped with classroom security locks.*  This pertains to all new construction projects submitted to the Division of the State Architect, which oversees K-12 schools and community colleges in the state of California.

By |2018-09-16T15:01:08-04:00July 28th, 2011|Locks & Keys|6 Comments

INNadequate Closer (& More!)

I spent last weekend in Stowe, Vermont with one of my BFFs and we stayed at an "inn," which seems to mean bigger than a bed and breakfast but not as modern as a hotel.  As my friend said, "I got the keys...they're real keys - how quaint!"  I won't get into how the lock on our room had to be unlocked with the thumbturn before you could turn the knob for egress, but I will share the completely inadequate mini-closer on the exterior door adjacent to our room.  The door never closed and latched, and the kitchen staff hung out on the landing smoking butts (not the hinge kind).  Good thing we had the high-security privacy chain on our room door.

By |2012-01-27T21:57:29-05:00July 26th, 2011|Beautiful Doors, Door Closers, Doors & Frames|5 Comments

Knockoffs

Picture this. You wait by the mailbox for your brand spanking new iPad 2 to arrive. You carefully open the box and breathe in the intoxicating scent of Apple, then plug in the cable, sync your iPad with your iTunes account, and settle back to watch a movie. A few minutes into Despicable Me, the screen goes black. AAHH!!! You pack up your iPad, take it to the Apple store, and find out that it's not an Apple iPad after all - it's a KNOCKOFF!!!

By |2016-09-11T22:42:01-04:00July 22nd, 2011|Door Closers|7 Comments

Social Media Roundup

Over the last year, I've really started to understand the valuable communication tool that social media has become.  Every time I write a blog post, a notification of the post is immediately seen by at least 1500 people.  If any of those connections comments, tweets, or "likes" the post, it is then shared with their network of connections.  One of my recent tweets was retweeted to over 4,000 people - not a big deal in comparison to celebrity twitterers, but we're talking about doors here!

By |2016-10-23T20:17:19-04:00July 21st, 2011|General Info|4 Comments

Closing Speed & Delayed Action

Back in the early 90's when the ADA was the newest focus of the door and hardware industry, delayed action closers were often specified and installed 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 for up to a minute (or more depending on the manufacturer) from the maximum degree of opening to approximately 70 degrees.  The delay is controlled by an additional valve which slows the flow of fluid for that initial period in the closing cycle.  This feature can be helpful in some applications, but it is not required by code.  The other segments of the closing cycle, the main speed and the latch speed, are also controlled by valves (see diagram below).

By |2014-11-03T15:07:01-05:00July 19th, 2011|Accessibility, Door Closers|0 Comments

Seaside Hotel, Tel Aviv

This is a very unusual door - stone clad and an exterior opening only about 100 feet from the ocean.  The door and panic hardware were installed by Entry Systems Ltd., the stone, mag-lock, and wood surround were added by someone else.  The photos were sent to me by Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd., in Israel (Thanks Eyal!).  If you have any questions about this opening, just leave them in the comments section and I'm sure Eyal will be happy to fill us in.

By |2012-01-27T21:57:29-05:00July 15th, 2011|Electrified Hardware, Panic Hardware|3 Comments

Calling All Locksmiths!

I have a special place in my heart for locksmiths.  Maybe it's because I've been "saved" a few times...like the time I locked myself out of my apartment in my PJs at 6 a.m.  Or maybe it's because I like the mechanics of what they do.  I always loved helping our in-house locksmith with masterkeying, and I've been told by an experienced locksmith that I'm a natural at shimming cylinders.  How many people can say that?!

By |2014-10-08T09:08:22-04:00July 14th, 2011|Electrified Hardware, Locks & Keys|4 Comments

The Ultimate Test

I got a Tweet today from @GinnyPowell, who was attending a Von Duprin training.  She was surprised that the fire truck video is still around, and once she mentioned it I just had to go back and watch it again.  It's a classic!  I love the fire test engineer..."I am now checking the device..."  I wonder who came up with this idea.

By |2021-11-23T16:32:45-05:00July 12th, 2011|Panic Hardware, Videos|5 Comments

Lexington, Virginia

We only spent a brief segment of our road trip in Lexington, but it was long enough to spot a couple of doors of interest.  Our hotel was originally a single family residence and it's on the Register of Historic Places.  We checked in pretty late at night but I immediately noticed the mess they had made of the lock on their front door.  Creative, yes...purty, no.

By |2012-01-27T21:57:30-05:00July 8th, 2011|Hinges & Pivots, Locks & Keys, Road Trips|5 Comments

WWYD? – Church Pair Meeting Stiles

I saw this church from the highway on our way into Roanoke, Virginia last week - it's St. Andrews Catholic Church, and I just knew it would have some nice doors.  As soon as I approached the building from the parking lot, I spotted the meeting stile gasketing.  Most people would probably see the building as a whole, or maybe the beautiful pulls, but I couldn't get past the gasketing.

By |2013-02-14T14:51:04-05:00July 5th, 2011|Beautiful Doors, Gasketing & Thresholds, WWYD?|10 Comments
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