Monthly Archives: February 2015

FF: Missed Opportunity

This Fixed-it Friday news report about replacing entrance doors in multi-family homes makes a few good points, but misses out on the chance to educate people about how their fire doors should operate.  I noticed a few things that weren't 100% accurate or could have been more clear...like the statement that you don't need fire doors in your single-family home.  I would have mentioned the need for protection between the garage and the house - the International Residential Code requires a solid wood door, or a solid or honeycomb core steel door, or a 20-minute fire door:

By |2015-02-26T10:32:53-05:00February 27th, 2015|Fire Doors, Fixed-it Friday, News|6 Comments
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State board rules against classroom door blocking devices

The group ultimately raised over $30,000 and purchased the devices, but were then told that the devices did not comply with egress code requirements and a variance would be needed before the devices could be used. The variance hearing for the barricade devices to be used on the district's high school was held yesterday, and the variance request was denied...

By |2015-02-24T10:15:49-05:00February 24th, 2015|Means of Egress, School Security|6 Comments
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ALICE does not endorse any brand of barricading devices

When discussing code-compliant security with staff from schools and other types of facilities, I've heard one comment several times..."If ALICE training [the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, our local police department] advocates the barricading of doors with furniture, why can't we use the door barricade devices that are now on the market?"

By |2016-01-20T11:38:05-05:00February 17th, 2015|Means of Egress, School Security|0 Comments
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WW: Shattered security – Surviving Red Lake teacher calls for change

I've written several posts about glass used in schools, and many posts about traditional wired glass (refer to the Glass tab above).  A reader recently shared the video below and although it was recorded several years ago it includes very valid information for schools to consider when addressing security.  I can't embed the video, so click the graphic to visit the news site.

By |2015-02-11T21:53:57-05:00February 11th, 2015|Glass, School Security|4 Comments
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Close the Door Please, I’m Busy in Here – Kelly M. Byrne

What I like about the Rescue 2 Training post is that it gives the firefighter perspective on why a closed door can be so helpful during a fire. If every firefighter understood the value of fire doors (and other doors), imagine how much more attention the non-compliant doors would get...

By |2017-01-25T18:01:38-05:00February 9th, 2015|FDAI, Fire Doors|0 Comments
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Decoded: Electrified Hardware Refresher (April 2015)

There are 7 basic code categories for electrified hardware used to control access or egress, and this edition of Decoded provides a brief refresher on each as well as some recent code changes. Many of these code applications, but not all, fall into the category commonly called “special locking arrangements.”

By |2015-06-17T06:42:55-04:00February 5th, 2015|Articles, Electrified Hardware, Fire Doors, Means of Egress|5 Comments
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