More Big Doors
I just love when I ask a question and some of you actually answer me. Following up on yesterday's post about "The World's Heaviest Door", here are a few more big doors:
Is this still the World’s Heaviest Door?
Brenda Dove of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies spotted this door on the Energy.gov website, where they feature a new energy-related photo each week. In 1979, this was the world's heaviest door, weighing in at 97,000 pounds. I wonder if it still holds the record. Seen any big doors lately?
WW: Centsational Installation
Step 4: Invert the cylinder cam as shown.
Fire and Egress Doors in the News
Free Webinar: NFPA 80, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Swinging Fire Doors
WW: Measure Twice Drill 8 Times
I recently saw this closer prep on a brand-new fire door. Now what?
Where’s Waldo?
I'm going to be traveling a fair amount over the next couple of months, and if you'll be where I am I'd love to see you! This afternoon I am headed to our office in Carmel, Indiana, to continue training our newest batch of specwriter apprentices. The door and hardware industry seems to always have trouble attracting new people, and specwriters are usually created over a long career filling other roles in the industry. Well, Bill Lawliss and I have risen to the challenge and are working with some recent college graduates to teach them everything we know about doors and hardware. They've already learned a lot and this week we will continue with some more training on hardware applications. If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating in this training program in the future, let me know!
Filling Holes in Fire Doors
Whenever I teach a class on fire door inspection, questions always come up about holes in fire doors and how to fill them. I promised a class of 120 last fall at the Yankee Security Conference that I would write a blog post about it, but there was really no good solution, particularly for wood doors - until now.
Q&A: Testing Delayed Egress Locks
Question: Is there a code requirement for how often the delayed egress hardware in my facility must be tested?
UL Fire Doors <32" Wide
UPDATE: As of October 4, 2012, UL has reversed this directive. The bulletin can be downloaded here.
Worcester State Hospital
In addition to beautiful doors and interesting locks, I love old architecture and the amazing photography that captures the decay of these crumbling structures. I look forward to new photo essays posted on the Kingston Lounge site, and the most recent was especially exciting because it's very close to my town and an important part of Worcester, Massachusetts history.
No Special Knowledge or Effort
Here's a little something to enjoy with your morning coffee. Most of us are aware of the requirement for egress doors to be able to be unlocked/unlatched without a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort, but sometimes this requirement is overlooked, especially when hardware is retrofitted on an existing door.
Aurora Apartment Fire Follow-Up
Earlier in the week I published a post about a fire in Aurora, Colorado. Today I ran across this news report which shows an apartment where the door was open, vs. an apartment where the door was closed. The reporter states that the doors were 2-hour rated, which is not typical, but some good publicity for fire doors regardless.
WW: This Door is Not Ajar
Anybody see the problem here?
Aurora Apartment Fire
This morning I read about a fire in Aurora, Colorado, at a 4-story apartment building. The fire occurred Monday night, and it's possible that it is the result of arson. Sadly, there were two fatalities - a couple who had lived in the building since the 1970's.
WWYD? Double-Egress Pair
This is an actual problem on a current project, and I'm hoping some of you will have ideas to help out. The doors and a portion of the hardware have already been installed, and the remaining hardware is on-site. It's a double-egress pair in a health-care facility, and it is equipped with a system to prevent patients with Alzheimer's Disease or other conditions from "eloping". There is a sensor in the vicinity of the doors which detects an approaching occupant wearing a transmitter bracelet, and when an occupant is detected the system automatically arms the delayed egress locks, which prevent the patient from leaving the unit before staff members can arrive.
Coming Soon! Image Search
I am frequently asked if I have a photo of a particular application. There are almost 2,500 images on this site, so it's likely that I do have the photo someone is looking for, but finding it is not easy. As the number of images grows, it will get worse.
Locks Make Great Gifts
No, really! They do!
Moroccan Lock Shopping
Here are some of the lock shops I visited while shopping for the locks in this post.