I spent most of last week in Arizona at the BHMA meeting, and I found this great (terrible) Wordless Wednesday photo for you. If you’re new to this site, the problem with this exit is that it has been modified for use as display space in a souvenir shop at the Phoenix airport. Doors in the means of egress must be visible, with no decorations, mirrors, curtains, or stuffed monkeys.
Several of you have asked about BHMA, and why I attend these meetings. BHMA is the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, and I am a member of the BHMA Codes and Government Affairs Committee. The committee creates code change proposals, reviews proposals made by others, and sends representatives to the code development hearings to speak about the proposals as needed. But BHMA’s primary role is in ensuring the quality and performance of builders hardware. BHMA is the only organization accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop and maintain performance standards for architectural hardware.
Here is a short video from BHMA to explain product testing and the importance of BHMA certification:
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With the hinges showing as they do it looks like the door swings into the space, not out.
It was a fairly small store, so I think an inswinging door was acceptable.
Also it appears this door does not swing in the direction of egress as required.
It would only have to be outswinging if serving a load of 50 or more, so I think it was ok.
What?! But they are so cute! Maybe you can save the monkeys on the way out! 🙂
And most exit doors swing in the direction of travel (note hinge pins)
The occupant load was fairly small, so I think it was ok.
The door also swings in. (But I do not know what the occupancy load is there, so it may be ok)On a lighter note, that is a great deal on the Monkeys! 2 for $20! I hope you got a couple!
I think the occupancy load was low enough that an inswinging door was ok. Our family rule is that if I’ve been to a state before, I don’t bring a souvenir home for the kids, so no monkeys! They’d just end up laying around on the floor anyway.
This is a constant source of frustration for me at work. I’m reviewing and approving plans and then modifications like this happen after opening but fortunately our safety department can and does write citations for things like this.
I feel your frustration Wayne! Same here!
Owners should know better. In a college it’s even worse…students don’t know any better, and when you mention to them that having them all throw their book bags in front of the second lab exit, instead of using the wall-mounted rack system that is RIGHT NEXT TO THE DOOR, they look at you like you’re just being paranoid.
Then you add in the folks who see that GREAT open real estate under their safety shower…and in front of the junction boxes…
The Monkey Door is also inswinging.
It’s ok for it to be inswinging if it serves an occupant load of less than 50.
OK, quit monkeying around and expose this exit!