It’s official – I have a new job (woohoo!). For the last 3 years while I’ve been getting to know all of you and putting as much code/application information on this site as possible, I have also been managing our specification team for New England. At times it has been a struggle to do both, hence the late-night blog posts.
But this part of my job is what I love to do, and I strongly believe that it’s valuable to the door and hardware industry and beyond. So I proposed a new role, a lot of people within our company supported it, and the position was created. I am so excited to have this opportunity, and it’s terrific that the company recognizes the value of what I do.
I’ve spent the week in San Antonio at our annual sales meeting, and it has been a very informative and energizing week. My new position was announced here, and of course everyone wanted to know what I was going to be doing. The title is Manager, Codes and Resources, and I will be working to develop needed resources (many of them code-related but not all), for use internally by our employees, and externally by hardware suppliers, architects, end users, security integrators, code officials…anyone who needs the information. I have a lot of ideas and I will be prioritizing them over the next couple of weeks while helping to transition my spec team through the changes.
I will continue my blog as an official part of my new role, and I’m planning to expand it and improve it now that I have a little more time to devote to it. I think it’s a great way to share information and have two-way conversations. We had a guest speaker today, Lee Corso, who stressed the importance of relationships, and then mentioned that social networking makes relationships more difficult to create. I respectfully disagree. I have gotten to know so many of you in the last three years, even if we have not yet met face-to-face. I hope you feel the same way.
I recently found out that my blog was nominated for an Ingersoll Rand Chairman’s Award, after receiving a President’s Award last year. Convincing the voters of the value of social media, blogging, and codes vs. the other great nominees may be a long shot, but I’m thrilled with the exposure iDigHardware has received in the process. By serendipity, celestial alignment, or some other guiding force, I ended up on the escalator with our chairman, Mike Lamach, the other night. We had a few minutes to talk, and I was surprised to find out that he was well aware of the site, and knew about the engagement of the readers. You’re famous! 
I look forward to my new job, and to continuing to work with all of you on whatever you need to help understand and communicate the codes or any other facet of our industry. Feel free to leave a comment at any time…I read every one and would love to hear your ideas about what would be useful to you. And if you have an opinion about using social media to develop “real” relationships, I’m all ears.
January 26th, 2012 4:17 pm
I am glad to hear that. I think your blog is quite valuable.
January 26th, 2012 4:27 pm
Thanks Mark!
January 26th, 2012 4:19 pm
Well let me be one of te first to say Congrats Lori!! You do a wonderful job on this blog. Any word of whom might be taking over your position in your office?
January 26th, 2012 4:26 pm
Not yet, but we’re working on it!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:20 pm
When I saw the teaser on my email a little while ago I feared the worst – namely that you would be taking the other job and the website would suffer. What a happy suprise! Yeah!!
You are a trail blazer and I’m excited for you. Congratulations on getting what you really want. It’s not too often that you can carve out a new niche job for yourself with your employer. You did it!!
January 26th, 2012 4:27 pm
Thanks Don! I’m really happy to be able to act on my ideas rather than being limited by how many (few?) hours I need to sleep.
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:20 pm
Woo hoo !! Congratulations !! And I hope you win that Chairman’s award…. you have so helped me in the past few years of reading your blog it is amazing! Some of it perplexes me, some of the pictures make me smile and I know you are always there as a resource. I think Social Media is big and getting bigger. We have liked you on our company facebook page and have linked to some of your interesting articles that might fascinate our readers. You inspired me to use facebook for my company, although I am not ready to do a blog. Thank you for all you do to promote our industry. Congratulations again!!
January 26th, 2012 4:32 pm
I feel like I’ve won already, and my new job is the prize!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:21 pm
Congrats on new job and on blog nomination for IR Chairman’s Award! Happy to know blog will continue! You are my blog mentor!
January 26th, 2012 4:30 pm
I hope you continue with yours too, Kathi! Doors and hardware need to become mainstream so we can attract more people to the industry. Maybe someday someone will say, “I want to be a hardware consultant when I grow up.”
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:21 pm
Congratulations! I have shared your site with many with in our organization and i personally feel its a very valuable resource for our Industry as a whole. Thanks for all the hard work you do.
January 26th, 2012 4:29 pm
Thanks Travis! Keep sharing!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:22 pm
Bravo! Congratulations on your new “official” position and it’s especially good to know that you have the backing of Ingersoll Rand in this all-important endeavor! What would we mere mortals do without your divine knowledge and guidance?
January 26th, 2012 4:28 pm
Thanks Jerry! The company’s support is real validation of what I have been doing, and that feels great!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:27 pm
Lori,
Congratulations on your new position! Well deserved. It can get mind-boggling at times keeping codes and hardware straight, especially pertaining to access-controlled egress and electromagnetic locked doors. Happy to hear you will continue to be around as a resource. Keep up the good work.
January 26th, 2012 4:41 pm
Thanks Jose! I wrote an article on that topic for Doors & Hardware AND the Locksmith Ledger which will be published in upcoming issues.
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:29 pm
Congratulations Lori! I’m really glad that IR recognizes how important a blog like yours is to all of us hardware geeks (and others). You are a font of information and you have a lot of fun in the process. It’s nice to have a place to go to learn and enjoy hardware…since we all know our spouses don’t have the same appreciation for it! Good luck on the Chairman’s Award. You deserve it!!
January 26th, 2012 4:36 pm
Thanks Mary! I’m glad the blog is helpful!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:38 pm
Congratulations Lori! Your site is awesome. I use your library and code links, plus all of the blog posts. I really do Dig Hardware:)
January 26th, 2012 4:44 pm
Thanks Maddie! All the cool kids dig hardware.
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 4:52 pm
Hi Lori
Congratulations on your promotion and Chairmans Award nomination. You know that I think you should win. As far as social media is concerned, I think both opinions are valid. The catagory of ‘Social Media’ covers a vase variety of styles and types. In my opinion, Facebook style SM’s are not for me as they do not help me in everyday life, although I understand it keeps people connected, it’s not for me. I do belong to Linked In because it is more business oriented. Even so, I didn’t always read all the conversations because I have other obligations. Now, when it comes to your blog, I read it everytime, comment a lot and subscribe at work and home. For me, your blog is a reliable source of continuing education. In closing, I would summarize social media as being a individual choice and to say it is either all good or all bad would be like “thinking inside the box”. Even though I believe face to face is the best relationship builder, we have to work with the hand socity continues to deal us and socail media is not going away, so we might as well deal with it and utilize it to our advantage.
Jim
January 27th, 2012 11:05 pm
Thanks Jim! Even if my blog doesn’t win, my new job is prize enough! I agree with you…face-to-face interaction is extremely valuable, but social media allows me to connect with so many more people than I’d be able to see in person, and also to maintain those connections. I still have a lot to learn about the best ways to utilize it, but we can’t ignore it because it’s here to stay.
January 26th, 2012 4:56 pm
From the first time I met you, many moons ago, I knew you were bright, articulate and destined for greatness.
Good for you. Doing what you love and making an impact.
We all need to see this as fuel for our own fires.
With great respect and sistahood I say congrats.
Luv ya!~
January 28th, 2012 12:35 am
Awww…thanks Ellen! I feel very lucky to be doing what I love. Especially if I don’t have to do it at 1 a.m. Oh wait, it’s almost 1 a.m.!
- Lori
January 26th, 2012 5:46 pm
Congrats!
January 26th, 2012 5:52 pm
Congratulations, Lori. You deserve the title and all of us who read your blog regularly know the value of opening your emails. There is always something to be learned, shared or discussed that has real meaning to us humble door folk.
January 27th, 2012 8:27 pm
Thanks Ron! I have a lot of plans now that I will have more time, and I’m looking forward to improving the site as a resource for the industry.
January 26th, 2012 7:48 pm
I will get in line also, glad your company supports you
January 27th, 2012 8:24 pm
Thanks! Me too!!
January 26th, 2012 8:12 pm
Congratulations Lori. I hope you love your new position. I can’t believe someone in 2012 thinks that social networking makes relationships MORE DIFFICULT to create! I truly believe that the relationships that I have built through social media are every bit as strong and loyal as the relationships that I have built face to face, if not more! Take care.
January 27th, 2012 8:17 pm
It would be nice to see everyone face-to-face every day (well, at least some
) but that’s obviously impossible. Social media allows me to “talk to” thousands of people each month, and they talk back! I really value the connections I’ve made and they are “real” relationships. I think I could go to any state (and a bunch of countries!) and find a pal to have lunch with.
January 26th, 2012 9:04 pm
Congratulations Lori. Good luck with your new position.
Thanks for the great posts.
John
January 27th, 2012 8:18 pm
Thanks John!
January 26th, 2012 11:18 pm
Lori,
How great for you to be able to get paid for doing something you like.(love)
Having a good company that supports you and gives you the autonomy to do your job shows that you have a good manager and you are a competent person.
Thank you for being you and helping the industry.
Fred Collier
January 27th, 2012 4:03 pm
I agree, Fred! I’m very grateful!
January 27th, 2012 9:08 am
Congrats! Pleased to hear this good news.
January 27th, 2012 8:19 pm
Thanks Beth!
January 27th, 2012 10:37 am
Congratulations! I gave you some KLOUT for Social Media.
January 28th, 2012 4:15 pm
Hello Again Lori:
I don’t know if you take requests but:
Could you please direct me to code resources which relate to:
“push/pull function”;
“push/pull latches”;
and
hardware requirements for patient room doors?
I am trying to better understand a portion of this section of Steel Door Institute’s Publication #118-2005
9.2 Latching devices
Some state and city building code authorities allow
the use of a “push” and “pull” function on certain
fire rated openings. This push/pull function does not
include a self-latching device and does not allow
a fire door to perform its vital function. Without a
latching device the door will not remain closed during
a fire. A manufacturer cannot fire label a door
prepared only for a push/pull function.
Best Regards
Tim O’Leary, The Locksmith Ledger
January 28th, 2012 8:26 pm
Hi Tim -
Yes, I take requests.
“Push/pull function” commonly refers to a door with a push plate and pull, and “push/pull latch” is usually associated with a hospital latch (http://glynn-johnson.com/pdf/2002_gj_push_pull.pdf), but when it comes to patient room doors, the issue is the use of existing roller latches (shown on page D-8: http://professional.iveshardware.com/pdfs/IVES.09.D.surface_bolts.pdf). At one time it was common to see roller latches on patient room doors, but they are now prohibited by code. I believe as of March 2006, all health care facilities were required to replace them with positive latching hardware.
This blog post might help you with the current requirements for patient room doors: http://idighardware.com/2011/10/patient-room-doors/
And regarding roller latches, I found this on a Department of Health Services website:
Emergency Light and Replacement of Roller Latches (Life Safety Code)
We wish to remind all providers subject to the Life Safety Code that the requirements concerning emergency light and the replacement of roller latches were originally published January 10, 2003, in the Federal Register (Vol. 68, No. 7, page 1374) as a final rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Health Care Facilities.” This regulation adopted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 – 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code (LSC), and related changes to the fire safety regulations.
Providers affected include hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation (ICFs/MR), inpatient hospices, and ambulatory surgical centers.
The above-mentioned regulation, which was effective March 11, 2003, gave facilities until March 13, 2006, to comply with two changes to the requirements. Those requirements included 1) replacing batteries used in emergency lighting, where required, to provide illumination for a minimum of 90 minutes; and 2) replacing roller latches commonly found in corridor doors with a positive latching device.
Additional details are available via the Departments memo DSL-BQA-03-006, on the Internet at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/03-006.htm.
I hope this helps!
- Lori
January 28th, 2012 6:45 pm
I fall into the “I Hate Hardware” camp but I found your blog a short time ago and have really enjoyed it! Congrats, Lori, on the new position and I look forward to see the changes to come!
January 28th, 2012 7:46 pm
Thanks Marvin! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the site. Maybe you’ll be converted to a hardware-lover someday!
January 30th, 2012 10:22 am
Glad to hear that occasionally the planets align and things work out! You are a great representative for the hardware industry and look forward to you getting involved in the code process.
January 31st, 2012 5:14 am
Thanks Tom! I have been participating in the process, although one or two steps removed, because I would receive proposed changes from someone closer to the process and send comments back through him. I’m hoping to get more actively involved though, so if you have any advice I’m all ears.
January 30th, 2012 4:55 pm
Congrats Lori!
The blog is great…If you want me to move back and take over the department, I might be willing
January 31st, 2012 5:05 am
We’re taking applications so send your resumé!
January 31st, 2012 9:53 am
Congratulations, Lori!! I’m so glad that IR realizes how important this blog is to us. Also congrats on the Chairman’s Award nomination. I hope you win. Very few of us are lucky enough to be paid to do what we love but it makes life a lot easier. Can’t wait to see where this goes.
May 7th, 2012 6:18 pm
Lori: Congratulations! You are a valuable resource in our industry.
May 7th, 2012 6:19 pm
Thanks Greg! Hey – I saw you on the webcast of the ICC hearings!