FF: Not an Exit
I saw this retail store's secondary exit while I was stocking up on my favorite snacks, and I wondered...are these "NOT AN EXIT" signs a nice-to-have or a need-to-have? What do you think?
FF: Stile Width Modification
I saw the door in today's Fixed-it Friday photo on a university campus recently. The "fix" would probably make the architect cry, but this is VERY common when the stile width is too narrow.
FF: Rescue Hardware Closer
Paul Goldense of Goldense Building Products (one of the most creative door opening engineers I know) sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo of a rescue hardware closer alternative.
FF: Rescue Hardware ST
This is a true test of who the most loyal readers of iDigHardware are...what is my FAVORITE special template from LCN?? Hint: It's an ST for the 4020T closer.
FF: Flush Bolts
Today's Fixed-it Friday post covers a "fix" that was made in the 2024 IBC - to remove the Bolt Locks section and address flush bolts (all 3 types) in a table under Locks and Latches.
FF: Creating Images
With the advancements that have been made in digital media and AI, many of the images we see online and in print are created by artists, and can be good opportunities to teach about codes!
FF/WWYD? Locked Classroom Doors
As a child of the 70's and 80's, and now a mom of three young adults, I once resisted the idea of keeping classroom doors locked during class, but times have changed. WWYD?
FF: Bisagras Modificadas (Modified Hinges)
On a recent stop in Mexico City I saw this Fixed-it Friday application...I don't know what the building is used for, but it looks like preventing after-hours access to the cylinders is a priority.
FF: Door Blocked
Years ago I saw a door marked "this is not a door" on the outside and a firefighter explained the reason, but the door in the photo is marked "door blocked" on the INSIDE. Any theories?
FF: Stacked Shoe Shim
Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and I'm curious about the reason but also surprised that someone would cut four closer shoes to make a shim. Yikes!
FF: Alternative Closing Mounting
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photos from Herman Hauer of M&D Door...I wonder how long the closer will survive mounted this way. Any bets?
FF: Screwed
Lee Frazier of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, illustrating exactly why fire door assemblies need to be inspected after installation, after maintenance work, and annually!
FF: Three Strikes
These Fixed-it Friday photos were taken in a school...the extra strikes are intended to address the extra clearance and allow the latch to engage. Does anyone see the problem?
FF: Mullion Mag-Holder
The focus of yesterday's "What's that?" post was the electric power transfer (EPT), but several of you noted the magnetic holder, hence today's Fixed-it Friday post.
FF: More Doors of Querétaro
Yesterday I posted some photos of the wicket doors I saw during a recent visit to Querétaro, Mexico, and here are a few Fixed-it Friday photos from the same trip. Enjoy the long weekend!
FF: Temporary Locking Device
I see a few "fixes" here. Of course, the spoon/temporary locking device, the bottom strike adapter, and I can't help but wonder whether there's an exit sign behind that painting.
FF: Sabarmati Ashram Museum
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos were sent by Manjupriya T M of Allegion-India. They were taken at the Sabarmati Ashram Museum in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Pretty cool, right??
FF: Push/Pull to Release
One of my favorite retired AHJs sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a new grocery store. Can you spot the problem? (Hint: This is delayed egress panic hardware.)
FF: Unequal Pair?
Take a closer look at these Fixed-it Friday photos sent by Robin Greenberg of Perkins Eastman...I'm interested to hear your theories about the thought process behind this "fix."
FF: I’m wordless.
When I saw today's Fixed-it Friday photo posted by Darren Nash on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page, I knew I had to ask if I could share it here. Yikes!
FF: Wheelies
I'm sure someone thought this was an ingenious Fixed-it Friday "fix" to prevent the use of these doors, but blocking the egress route is never acceptable.
FF: Iglesia del Santo Niño de Portezuelo
Last week I visited this church that has been under construction for more than 20 years. The doors aren't in yet, but I'm sharing it anyway because they don't build them like this any more!
FF: Las Puertas Pintadas
I recently walked by some of my favorite doors in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, just as they were getting a new coat of paint. I'm sharing these doors in today's Fixed-it Friday post.
FF: Un-Dogging for Lockdown
A while back, I taught a class at a large university and was fortunate to have access to their fantastic training room. As with other doors on campus, they had a lockdown strategy.
FF: Mag Holders
Erich Russ of Jeske Hardware sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos and I'll admit, at first I thought this was just another pair of fire doors with kick-down stops. But take a closer look...
FF: There were signs.
It's hard to believe, but my third (and final) child is graduating from high school today - WOOHOO! I'll be playing hookey to enjoy the festivities, but first, here's today's Fixed-it Friday post.
FF: Parallel Arm Shoes
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Eyal Bedrik and Danny Estryk of Entry Systems Ltd., and I'm a bit Wordless. Have you seen any creative fixes lately?
FF: It’s the little things…
There's (almost) nothing I love more than casually checking out fire door assemblies with someone from a fire test lab, and I recently had a chance to do just that! :D
FF: Do Not Disturb – Reinvented
Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I don't think I've ever seen this system on one of my hotel room doors. How about you? Is this a new trend in hospitality?
FF: I’m Wordless
I saw today's classic Fixed-it Friday photo on the Locksmith Nation Facebook page, and I asked Allen Medvin for permission to post it here. Allen is not responsible for this fix!
FF: Fire Door Alteration
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo of a field alteration made to a fire door assembly left me Wordless. Thank you to Blaine Youngquist of The Cook and Boardman Group for the photo.
FF: Touchpad Koozies
I saw something similar to today's photos (although less elegant) at the Hoover Dam years ago, but being from New England I didn't know what problem the "fix" was addressing.
FF: Italian Ingenuity
It has been a while since my trip to Italy, so I'm living vicariously through a retired AHJ, who never forgets to send me photos of the marvels of creativity that he sees in his travels. :D
FF: What’s wrong with this picture?
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos...who can guess what led to this situation? (Not to mention what looks like an extra deadbolt!)
FF: Crossbar Cable
Marc Zolner of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and he asked what the codes say about having one pair locked with a cable, with four other pairs available for egress.
FF: Another Stage Door
Every time I go backstage in a school auditorium, I see issues with the egress doors. Any ideas about what could have been done differently with this door?
FF: In the Neighborhood
I love how one of the doors in today's post was designed as a stylized version of something that is very common here - old doors that have been repaired numerous times over the decades.
FF: Well, that’s one way to fix it!
Kevin Taylor of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo of an installation problem that has been "fixed" with instructional signage.
FF: Transom Bar
I saw this interesting Fixed-it Friday transom bar application posted by Jeremy Guthrie of Omega Door & Hardware...what do you think?
FF: Restroom Retrofit
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos came from a retired AHJ...continuous hinge retrofits can be a great way to address field problems, but this one needed to go (at least) one step further.
FF: Gym Exit Upgrade
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos are a great "before and after" example from a high school gymnasium. If you have photos you'd like to share, there's an upload link in today's post.
FF: Mullion Cylinder
Earlier this week I shared photos from a college visit with my youngest daughter. I also saw this mullion on campus with a key cylinder...is anyone familiar with the purpose of the cylinder?
FF: Hex Key Dogging
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Jim Elder of Secured Design, LLC - it was taken in an elementary/middle school. While this seems like a simple and common fix, it can severely impact security.
FF: Key-Operated Lock
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...
FF: Use What You’ve Got
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Peter B. Walker, of P.B. Walker & Associates. It's not a code violation, but there are definitely more attractive ways to handle this situation.
FF: Fixed Forever
Joe Phillips of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and I'd love to hear from iDigHardware readers - under what circumstances (if any) would you install a closer this way? The photo was taken in a high school.
FF: Band-Aids (Literally!)
At first glance, it looks like these Band-Aids could have been added to keep the lockset from latching, but I'm thinking maybe this is the doctor's office staff's version of the "Quiet Feature." What do you think?
FF: Finger Protection
Casey Cohorst of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, taken in a local kindergarten classroom. There are commercially-available products designed to solve this problem, but someone decided to get creative.
FF: Belts and Suspenders
...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!
FF: Unidentified Dogging Device
I saw this Fixed-it Friday dogging method recently, and I can't for the life of me figure out what the original purpose of this part was. It looks so familiar! Can someone help me out??