QQ Follow-Up: Door/Hardware Contrast
Today's Quick Question: Do the model codes require a certain amount of contrast between the releasing hardware and the door, so the hardware is distinguishable for egress purposes?
Today's Quick Question: Do the model codes require a certain amount of contrast between the releasing hardware and the door, so the hardware is distinguishable for egress purposes?
While this may seem like "just another chained exit" (boooring...), I am reminded of the MANY times that locked or blocked exits have resulted in fatalities during an emergency.
I just love when I receive a photo that gives me the opportunity to explain something from a different angle, and today's WW photo from Marc Zolner of Allegion is a great example.
This month’s Decoded question is a common one related to classroom doors in educational facilities: Are classroom barricade devices allowed by the model codes and accessibility standards?
Barricade devices that attach to the inside lever handle of the lockset rely on the connection between the lever and the lock. And I'm sure that's not even the weakest link in today's photos.
Paul Timm of Allegion sent me this photo, and it illustrates a really great question about doors in a means of egress. Is there something specific in the codes that would prevent this?
What can I say about today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken by an AHJ? I'm sure it's the result of a renovation, but I wonder how long it will stay this way.
I recently received a link from a New York City architect and public transportation commuter to a news article about a plan to use delayed egress locks on subway gates. Thoughts?
Today I have a follow-up question to yesterday's post about stairwell reentry. Neither of these questions is addressed in the codes, so I am looking for any insight from the field.
Last weekend I took my daughters and their friends to the movies, and that's where I saw today's Wordless Wednesday application on the theater exit.
When a stairwell door unlocks (or is always unlocked) to allow building occupants to leave the stairwell if it becomes compromised during a fire, what happens next? WWYD?
When a controlled egress lock is installed in a health care unit where patients require containment for their safety or security, which release methods for egress are required by the model codes?
I found the doors in today's photos on a recent trip to Indianapolis with my youngest daughter. Many of iDigHardware's long-time readers will remember her from the Olden Days.
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were taken in a packed high school gym during a competition. The non-code-compliant security devices that were in place at the time illustrate one of the reasons why egress doors should comply with the codes at all times.
As I mentioned a while back, Mark Kuhn of Allegion will be helping me out with some code development work and other duties, including an occasional blog post. In today's post, Mark shares some thoughts on a term found in the model codes.
This month’s question is a common one related to egress doors in memory care units. If you have a code question you’d like to see answered in my column, you can submit it by clicking the link in today's post.
Michael Conn of Allegion sent me today's thought-provoking Fixed-it Friday photo, of a restaurant's main entrance door that has been equipped with a key-operated lock (double cylinder deadbolt). "Thought-provoking?" Read on...
The doors on this hotel bridge could be lockable if they met the requirements of the new section of the I-Codes addressing egress doors serving exterior spaces. Does anyone want to take a guess on what would be mandated by that section?
I don't think the use of the door hardware in today's Wordless Wednesday photo is part of the cycle testing for durability - not to mention the stored materials blocking the exit!
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed electromagnetic locks released by a switch in the door-mounted hardware. Do you know the difference between the requirements for this application vs. sensor-release locks?
Jon Payne sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of the secondary exit in a busy truck stop. This is why I firmly believe that AHJs should not allow non-code-compliant security measures "after hours"...those devices often end up installed 24/7.
I recently saw a photo in a door and hardware installer's group on social media, with a question about the purpose of the cylinder on the head of the panic hardware. Was it supposed to lock the latch? Or control the locked/unlocked indicator?
This grocery store's manager stated that the justification for this closed exit was that people were walking out of these doors without paying for their merchandise. I have my own thoughts about this situation, but I'm wondering...WWYD?
I don't know what's on the other side of this door (is this a required exit from the area under construction?), but the idea of someone using this type of temporary hasp - possibly without evaluating the egress path, makes me nervous. How about you?
Mark Kuhn's latest post is a great reminder about holiday decorating and the considerations for fire doors and other doors in a means of egress. Happy Holidays!
I've seen a lot of creative holiday decorations that impact the exits, but what do you think about today's Wordless Wednesday photos, sent by a retired fire marshal?
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the requirements for electromagnetic locks released by a sensor. Are you aware of the change to the 2024 I-Codes affecting this application?
A retired fire marshal sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos of yet another retail exit...once an AHJ, always an AHJ. When you hit the stores this holiday season, check the exits (and send me photos)!
The next article in my Decoded series addresses clarifications to the 2024 model codes related to stairwell reentry. These requirements ensure that building occupants can leave a stairwell if it becomes compromised during a fire.
...and (zip) TIES and (bungee) CORDS! I know it's Fixed-it Friday, but this photo sent by Jim Overbey of Allegion has me wordless! If life safety was not a concern for the person making this modification, liability should be!
In the past, some of my colleagues have compared me to Navin Johnson, Steve Martin's character in The Jerk. I will admit, Navin's excitement over the arrival of the new phone book does share some similarities to my reaction to the publication of the new codes.
Really. What can I say about this Wordless Wednesday "emergency exit", sent to me by Tim Weller of Allegion. Feel free to comment with suggested captions.
This Quick Question has come up quite often over the years - I was shocked to find that I had not yet answered it here: Is XYZ product certified as compliant with NFPA 101 (or any other model code)?
When you're out doing your holiday shopping, be on the lookout for non-code-compliant retail exits (and send me some photos!)...you probably won't have to look too far!
I recently received this Quick Question from a locksmith at a university medical center: On patient room doors in a hospital, is it code-compliant to install traditional classroom function locksets which allow free egress from the room?
I recently taught an interactive code update class for an enthusiastic and competitive group of conference attendees, and I'm sharing some of the information from that session in this article, so everyone can benefit from what was covered in the presentation.
BHMA recently posted another edition of Codes in Context - this time focusing on changes to NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code. The summary report and the supporting focus documents can be downloaded from the site’s Codes in Context page.
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos illustrate another barricade device used to secure a classroom door. I don't recommend this method or any other device that impacts egress, is non-compliant with the ADA, and is untested for security.
No...just no. This is not an effective way to lock a classroom door. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 locksets that have been tested and certified for strength and durability will provide the necessary level of security as well as code compliance.
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the requirements for locks that delay egress for 15 seconds, which have become common in retail facilities. Do you know what is required for code-compliant delayed egress hardware?
It's hard to believe that it has been 6 YEARS since I last updated this post on zombie-resistant door openings, and 9 YEARS sine I wrote the original version. With the new model codes coming out soon it's time for another update, and what better day to post it than on Halloween??
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I answered a question about a common application for aluminum storefront doors: Are paddle latches (AKA push paddles) a code-compliant option for the main entrance of a business occupancy?
As most of you know, the codes require egress doors to be operable without special knowledge or effort. This door is on a something like a bus that moves people around the airport (except with "normal" doors), but what are these exit instructions trying to say?
While traveling to and from Tanzania and Zanzibar, we visited 8 airports in 5 countries, and saw a few interesting airport applications. Check them out and let me know what you think!
Next week I will be back in my old stomping ground to do some training on recent and upcoming changes to the I-Codes, NFPA Codes, and referenced standards related to swinging door openings. It's not too late to register!
This padlock and hasp have been added to the only exit serving a seating area for an indoor soccer facility. Thank you to Marc Bates of the University of Missouri - Kansas City for the photos, even though they made me cry a little.
I have shared my concerns about classroom barricade devices dozens of times, but today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Mark Berger of Securitech have inspired me to review the issues once again.
Yesterday I shared an updated Decoded article on clear opening width and height, and this Quick Question was raised: Does the projection of a surface-mounted strike for rim panic hardware affect the clear width of a door opening?
This Decoded article on clear opening requirements was first published almost 10 years ago, and remains a frequently visited post on iDigHardware. It has now been updated with current code references.
Automatic sliding doors have become very common in health care facilities and other types of buildings. In this post, I have answered some of the frequently asked code questions about these doors, with links to additional resources.