Today’s my birthday and I’ve got a Wordless Wednesday present for you. Look closely at this grocery store exit…any theories about what is happening here, or how it operates in an emergency? Is this exit alarm/two-point latch an actual product?
UPDATE: Thanks to those of you who are familiar with this set-up…I had never seen it before. Operating the exit alarm actually releases the top and bottom bolts!
Thank you to Blake Nelson for the photos!
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The Detex vertical rod does look familiar. The main unit bolt holds the rods in the extended position. When the bolt is released, the T-handle rotates by a coil spring and releases the rods. To reset, turn the T-handle and throw the deadbolt. It’s hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like there are solid plates bridging the gap between the doors. That’s the part that’s bugging me. They must stop just short of the rod latches and acting like an astragal type stop for the active door. If the inactive door is secured with auto flush bolts, then both doors would open in an emergency.
¡ feliz cumpleaños !
It looks like the rod holders are attached to the other door plates too and bottom
So if you hit the paddle at least one door will open
Right side.
This is an old DETEX device, you hit the red paddle to retract the rods and exit; you then use a key and turn the knob of the right hand door to re-lock. We actually have one installed on a fire exit at our library, not very user friendly.
Happy Birthday Lori!!
Happy Birthday! Do something fun today!!
if you can have a 2 point push bar, why not a 2 point delayed exit
Looks like someone tried to copy a Securitech MP4900 multipoint exit lock, but the picture is not their device
This?
http://www.detex.com/Products/Life-Safety-Security-Door-Hardware/Exit-Control-Locks/VRA-143
Happy Birthday Lori , may you have many more .
This is a detex product. I just sold this exact assembly two weeks ago.
It actually is. DETEX model no. ECL-230D-VRA-143. You can find it here on the DETEX.com website. http://www.detex.com/Products/Life-Safety-Security-Door-Hardware/Exit-Control-Locks/VRA-143
My guess, perhaps being unduly optimistic, is that the box on the right is spring-loaded to retract the upper and lower rods, but will extend the rods against spring tension when the knob is turned, and then “cock” in that state as long as a plunger is inserted from the left. Releasing the plunger would allow the top and bottom rods to retract so the door could open. The two safety flaws I see with the device would then be the insufficient length of the paddle which should extend further to the right (not left!), and the presence of an extraneous and confusing knob on the vertical mechanism (a better design would perhaps have a lever that would be pushed flush with the surface when the mechanism was locked).
A slightly-less-optimistic guess would be similar to the above, but without the spring loading, thus requiring two steps to unlock the door (first push the alarm, and then turn the knob). That would violate the single-operation requirement, but in practice I doubt it would take very long for most people to figure it out.
There is nothing wrong with the product EXCEPT it was installed incorrectly. All the locking hardware including the vertical rods were installed on the active door . It looks like the inactive door could be affixed to the active door preventing both from operating .. I wonder if anyone read the instructions. Lol
Bob is the “man” must be an old dog.
Still knows of the old ways.
I have been collecting “old” hardware catalogues for years just to find unique older styles.
Lori, yours is the fun kind of work I sought years ago. Stay with us for a long time.
Awww…I will stay with you until I get put out to pasture! 🙂
– Lori
Feliz Cumpleaños lori!!