WW: 15 Minutes to Freedom
If you don't know why this sign leaves me wordless, read this post.
Q&A: Electric Latch Retraction on Fire Doors
Question: I was told that I couldn't use dogging on panic hardware installed on fire doors. Is it acceptable to use electric dogging?
@LockedInAHouse
Just before I flew to Seattle for the Every Building Conference & Expo this morning, I read about a very unusual challenge being run by Schlage, coincidentally also in Seattle. With his consent, they locked a guy named Joshua in a tiny house (174 square feet), and it's up to the locals to follow clues, find the key, and set Joshua free. The first person to find the key and let Joshua out wins $5,000! There are prizes for the 10 runners up as well. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go see this crazy guy Joshua, so it was my first stop upon arrival.
Reader Photos
Danny Estryk of Entry Systems Ltd. sent me these photos of some very early offset pivots. The wood doors and the other portion of the pivots that were attached to them are long gone, but the stone portion remains. This opening is at the Belvoir Fortress in the Jordan Valley of Israel, built by the crusaders beginning in 1168.
WW: Raceway
I received this photo from Nancy Bailey of Girtman & Associates, a division of Bass Security Services. I'm guessing that the slack in the wire is so that it can be run around the outside of the glass kit. If this was a fire-rated door, would this method be acceptable?
Retail Store Entrance – Fire Doors?
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that our annual Fathers Day tradition is to go to Ogunquit, Maine, walk along the Marginal Way, do some shopping, have lunch, and then play on the beach (here are some photos from last year).
Let’s look at the world a little differently…
I love this video. And if you were getting ready to say it's "off topic," the first word in the first frame is Security, and I saw several doors while watching it. :D AND...I'm pretty sure I spotted some footage from Morocco, which coincidentally is where I'm headed on this year's summer road trip with my family. Yes, Morocco, and no, I haven't finally lost the rest of my mind. I've mentioned before that my husband is originally from Morocco, and that my mother-in-law passed away last year. We'll be spending some time there this summer to get her estate squared away, and of course, look for some interesting doors. Maybe I'll even see if I can hunt down a Moroccan locksmith or hardware supplier. That would be pretty cool, right?
Cafeteria Door – Follow Up
Remember this door from my trip to the science museum last week? I asked what was wrong with it and several of you had good ideas.
Decoded: Mounting Heights for Door Hardware
This post was printed in the July 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
WW: Unhinged
I'd like to tell you where I got these photos but then I'd have to kill you and that would be bad for business. :D
Science Museum
My youngest daughter graduated from kindergarten today, so we played hookey and took her to the Museum of Science. I didn't forget about y'all though. Here are a few photos from the trip.
WW: Visible Exit?
What do you think of this exit from a large Assembly occupancy in England? Are the operable doors visible enough for egress purposes?
Keyes Life Safety Compliance
I met Brad Keyes a couple of years ago when he emailed me to ask about the requirements for the annual inspection of fire doors. Since then, Brad has become my trusted resource on health care life safety requirements. He has started a blog for his health care consulting firm (KeyesLifeSafety.com), and covers various topics related to health care, including some posts about doors. If you have a question for Brad and don't find the answer on his blog, he is very generous with his time and will likely answer your question if you submit it using the link on his site. He is an expert on NFPA 101 - The Life Safety Code, and is my go-to guy for all things health care.
Everywhere I Go Again
More doors from my (local) travels...
Von Duprin Concealed Vertical Cable Device
Fifteen+ years ago when I was answering technical support and customer service calls for the local Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies office, some of the most common complaints/questions were about concealed vertical rod exit devices. Installers HATED them because they were difficult to install and adjust. End users had a lot of problems maintaining them and keeping them properly adjusted, especially if they were installed by an inexperienced installer. So my early experience with the company, and prior to that with a hardware distributor, taught me that concealed vertical rods = problems. I developed a strong preference for removable mullions with rim panic hardware.
Decoded: Electric Strikes on Fire Doors
This post was printed in the June 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware