Today is the 3rd anniversary of iDigHardware (aka iHateHardware)! WOOHOOOO!!!
If you were wondering what to send as an anniversary gift, all I want is your experience and expertise. I have had several questions lately that I could use your help with. I am always amazed by your willingness to add your two cents to the conversation – so thank you in advance!
Single Restroom with Auto Operator
I’ve had several requests lately for a hardware set for a single restroom door with an automatic operator. There are many possibilities for providing privacy while allowing automatic operation of the door…but what’s the BEST way to do this?
Top Pivot Identification
This is the top pivot for a wood door and is part of an aluminum wall system. Who manufactures it?
Florida / Miami-Dade County Access Control
Having spent all of my life in the Northeast, I have a lot to learn about the wind-related requirements that are so prevalent in the South. For those of you who are more familiar with these requirements, what is the best way to provide access control on an exterior door that has to meet the Florida test protocols for impact, static load pressure and cyclical pressure, while also meeting the egress requirements?
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Happy Anniversary!!!
I’d check Dirtt out of Canada on the pivot.
Lori,
The way I handle single use restrooms w/either auto operators or card reader is with a L9496 privacy lock (or L9486 where the door needs to be locked all the time such as with a card reader) and an electric strike w/housing for the deadbolt (Von Duprin 6216). Both locks have ‘occupied indicators’ which display once the inside thumbturn is turned and the deadbolt projects into the strike. The electric strike will only release the latchbolt and not the deadbolt when the room is occupied (and the deadbolt is thrown). So, for automatic doors – aside from the signage which should deter someone from pressing the actuator, even if they do press the actuator button the door will not unlock. The drawback – the electric strike w/release & the operator will try to open the door, and may scare the occupant and cause wear and tear – so it’s not a perfect solution but it works when you encounter this challenging application. If the door doesn’t need to latch, I suppose a simple privacy deadlock w/occupied indicator would yield the same result as above, without requiring the electric strike.
Off topic, for the card reader doors – the operation is similar w/L9486 and 6216 ES. But, if it’s simply a card reader on a single use restroom, and the latchbolt doesn’t need to be released, then an AD300-40 (privacy) function would also work. Much simpler.
That’s all I have – swamped as usual, but wanted to give you my input.
-Liz
Hi, first time commenter here: I’m not as hardware-knowledgeable as y’all, but I do have a thought on this. Is there no strike available which could monitor the deadbolt status? That way, if it’s thrown, you could open the actuator button circuit, so it does nothing, either directly or via relay, depending on if it’s NO/NO, Form C, or what.
Ethan, I checked with Von Duprin tech support and although we make monitor switches to monitor the latchbolt, for this particular strike we do not make one to monitor the deadbolt. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it’s possible there is another manufacturer who does do this or possibly something that could be added aftermarket. Excellent point though, it would make total sense if the deadbolt would kill power to the outside actuator.
We’ve used Liz’s method also. Mortise lock or privacy with deadlock and an electric strike with dead bolt keeper. I haven’t looked into this yet, but maybe you can get a dead bolt monitor in either an electric strike or electrified lock that would deactivate the push button and solve that “wear and tear” problem. That made me lol Liz. Thanks.
Thank you Dritt was it…AWESOME
As for the bathroom I have done a few of these, and the strike you speak of is a SDC 55 series the 55-F works with the deadbolt Schlage and just add the DBM.
I have done other variations or items we have been added on the above but I will include my favorite.
I got a call from a middle school that they had a music teacher with MS and virtually everybody else had not been able to figure anything out to help him so I love a challenge.
Here is what I used
1) Power operator
2) The strike listed above
3) Electric privacy mortise lock
4) Wireless transmitter and wireless receiver
5) Wireless latching relay
6) Single gang LED
7) 2 button remote control with added Velcro to attached to wheelchair arm
Remote control button 1 energizes strike and opens door, remote control button 2 triggers latching relay disables outside button, energizes electric lock, and turns LED red inside and outside.
People without remote control can either use actuator to open door or open normally, then throw-deadbolt which de-actives remote controls and outside button and turns LED Red
Three years !!!! Wow do you remember the first day you brought the blog home????
I do! It was so tiny back then! 🙂
WOW!!! Am I late to the party! I was going to comment several times today at work and got sidetracked and then at 5:28 I chose to comment from home. Well, here it is at 9:05 and there are already several comments. Someday I be first. Happy Anniversary!!!
Anyway, here is a solution that I have used.(for a non rated opening)
Push and Pull, Deadbolt, Monitor Strike, Auto Operator, 2 Wall Switches.
The door is nornally closed and unlocked,
Auto Operated is activated by either wall switch,
When the occupant throws the deadbolt the monitor strike deactvaties the wall switches.
This provides privacy and preserves the life of the auto operator.
Of course, an opening that needs to be locked even when unoccupied or fire rated would require more thought and definately more hardware and switches.
No clue about the pivot and not up on FLA codes.
Happy Anniversary Lori. In regards to your single bathroom auto-operator scenario. We use a Sargent 8225 or Yale 8822 with an occupancy indicator for the lock, HES electric strike 1006-HD and a Gyro-Tech 710 auto-operator which has a standard “recyle” feature or you could specify a “Push N Go” option as well.
Lori, I was also going to suggest the HES 1006 electric strike with the H (or HD, HM, HT, or HTD option, depending on brand of lock used) which will not release when deadbolt is thrown. Over-cycling of operators doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue these days. Most people (teenage boys excluded) will quickly tire of trying to open a door automatically, so it may only attempt one or two cycles before the person gives up on pushing the button. This is where the occupancy indicator comes in handy, as it will discourage most people from even trying.
ASSA ABLOY has a whole line of hardware, including EAC, that meets the hurricane (and tornado) requirements, but I too am not that familiar as we don’t get hurricanes in Wisconsin.
Looks like a question for an EHC. Each of my comments should be preceded by, “I think.”
If you took Liz’s recommendation and add a safety sensor in the interior of the lav, it could sense an occupant’s presence and stop the opening cycle of the auto-operator from actuating (addressing wear-n-tear and scare issues). An infra-red “presence” sensor would probably be better than a ‘K’ band motion detector. Some safety sensors come with several preset patterns which could be selected to focus on the toilet and sink but avoid the area immediately in front of the door—thus permitting egress. It doesn’t have to be mounted at the door header either.
Push ‘N Go is a great function as it allows egress from the lav with one motion (for those able to operate the lever).
I’ll let you know what my EHC resource thinks when I hear back from them.
As always, way late to the party. I came up with a new twist using a magnetic lock.
When unoccupied, door stays closed and unlocked. Outside there is a wall switch for an automatic operator and a separate keyswitch to break the mag lock in the event that someone gets trapped inside or, even worse, passes out with mag lock engaged. This has happened! Then, inside, we have multiple switches: 1 for the person to “push to lock” which activates maglock and turns off the operator. Then, when the person is ready to leave, we have a “push to exit” button and a PIR. The wiring gets a little tricky but we have done a bunch of these.