It’s interesting how often things intersect in my inbox. Last week, I received the photos below from Mark Kuhn of Allegion. This is a “pod” in an airport, to be used by nursing moms.* I’ve seen them myself, but the one I looked at only had the keypad lock and did not have the separate deadbolt.
I think it’s really cool that you can download an app to get the keypad code, but I can see why someone would also want privacy. There are ways to accomplish this with an electrified lock, but it would be more complex than their current system. On the other hand, the deadbolt technically requires a second operation to unlatch the door, and the model codes do not include an exemption that would specifically allow two operations on this door. (It’s not one of the problems that keeps me up at night, but it’s an opportunity to talk about unlatching again.)
I also received these photos in my inbox, regarding a question unrelated to the airport pod:
This is a modification to a Falcon D271 deadbolt. It doesn’t prevent someone from entering, but it would at least alert someone that the pod is occupied. It doesn’t require a second operation to unlatch the door – turning the lever of the lockset would allow egress. The deadbolt indicator changes position when the door is opened.
This seems pretty clever and I wonder if any of you have experience with it. It’s called the CDS-PR1 and it is available from Building Material Specialties in Hillsboro, Oregon (503-640-1886).
What do you think about this deadbolt function?
*Personally, I don’t think nursing moms should feel like they need to go into a pod to nurse their babies, but using a breast pump in public could be a little awkward. That’s all I’m going to say on that topic.
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We have two Mamava pods.
The problem is with those using them for “other” purposes.
Since we have 7 or 8 lactations rooms for our staff only our visitors use them.
We have the indicator deadbolt on both.
Forgot to add that the entry code is printed on the instruction sheet attached to the outside.
No need to download the how-to instructions.
can you be more specific as to the type of facility ? is it open
to the public ? are vagrants (including drug users, whores, etc) at issue ?
Hi rr, we’re a large hospital. Staff gets the “Lactation Code” which will allow them to use all of the all-staff lactation rooms.
We have one lactation room which belongs to a large department with a boatload of females. This is the only main campus staff room restricted to a specific department. The room has two user spaces inside.
It has a DL3500. Personal codes are given to each woman with no restriction when and how long they may have their personal code.
We have one off-site lactation room which is owned by the staff there. That one is a 4100. This room is a single user and each woman has her own code.
I manage approximately 1000 Alarm Locks on the main campus and satellite offices.
The pods are managed by our Facilities department since the usual problems with them are broken things.
do you manage those with a laptop or that intervening module that transfers codes ?
Not to do a shameless plug, but I’ve been specifying the Alarm Lock DL4100 keypad lock with a privacy function. No problems so far and it eliminates the need for an indicator dead bolt.
We use 4100s on our stand-alone sleep rooms and shower rooms.
We have a few multiple user lactation rooms which cannot use 4100 due to the lockout feature.
Not an Allegion product, but the Alarm Lock Trilogy DL4100 keyless pushbutton lock offers a privacy pushbutton on the inside with a flashing LED inside and outside indicating when the room is occupied and also locks out keypad codes (programmable option). Would negate the necessity for a separate deadbolt, see pdf here:
https://www.napcosecurity.com/media/pdfs/ala473_al4100tw.pdf
Could they set the lock assembly up similar to a hotel room lockset where it would only need the one operation?
Hi Kevin –
There are definitely ways to do that…I’m not sure why a keypad lock with the privacy feature was not used.
– Lori
The keypad lock used in the picture was not intended to be used as a privacy lock. Schlage does offer a function similar to the Alarm Lock product in their CO-100 privacy function. It has a red LED that indicates occupied status.
https://us.allegion.com/content/dam/allegion-us-2/web-documents-2/DataSheet/Schlage_CO-100_Data_Sheet_104186.pdf
That is an interesting unit.
In our high schools we have single user “Gender Neutral” washrooms. When trying to come up with a hardware spec for this application we would have preferred a privacy bolt with emergency key access. Of course the standard Schlage B571 has the little emergency key but that isn’t strong enough for repeated use, and doesn’t stand a chance of unlocking if the person inside is holding the turnpiece.
We did find a company advertising an indicator adaptor kit for use with the B560 but were unable to get a response from them. In the end we settled on a standard B560. It is not interconnected with the leverset but was the best compromise.
They are keyed so that any staff key can be used in an emergency and the lever is keyed to the Inside Master Key crossed with our Maintenance key to lock the washroom off in the event of a plumbing issue or abuse.
We also have issues with unauthorised uses of these washrooms including vaping, and, ahem, multiple occupants.
Ideally we would have gone with L-series privacy with a mortise cylinder but new doors weren’t in the budget.
Thanks Rich – you always have great insight! I know that misuse of school restrooms is a huge issue. When I watched the animation of the school shooting in Parkland, I saw that some victims approached the bathroom doors but did not go in. The multi-stall toilets had been locked because of students vaping. I have seen other schools do this as well – one was on a project that I worked on at least 20 years ago.
– Lori
Lori – are you saying the entire restroom was locked? That is absurd. How is that even allowed? How/why do we continue to let a handful of bad people change the rules for the majority of good people? How hard can it be to setup a group of teachers to perform a bathroom patrol on a rotating shift to catch the kids that are vaping? Preventing ALL of the other students from using the restroom is ridiculous.
Yes – I don’t know how common this is, but in a high school that I worked on, the kids had to take the key (on a stick) from the classroom and use it to unlock the multi-stall bathroom door. Prior to that they had an adult sitting outside of the bathroom all day and the kids had to “sign in.” I think it would be very hard to catch a kid vaping in a bathroom stall.
– Lori
Don’t know if this would fit the bill
https://www.indicatordeadbolt.com/
Don’t know if this would fit the bill
https://www.indicatordeadbolt.com/
or this
https://vizilok.com/
and forgot to mention, yes, vagrants, seekers of solitude, and folks wanting a little “up close and personal” time alone or together.
Howard, That keyed indicator bold adaptor is the one we would have gone with.
I E-mailed the company more than once without a reply. I don’t know if they aren’t at the point of making sales yet,
or if it is an obsolete web page.
We have had a range of issues with washrooms. Vaping, smoking, smoking dope, sex, bullying, and worst of all Arson.
In one school we had two episodes of a student with issues lighting the paper towel dispenser on fire, and man, do those things go up. The sprinklers trigger causing huge water damage. At the time we installed accordian gates on the washrooms that were only unlocked during class breaks. Fortunately the perp was caught when he tried a third time. I have never seen a bigger smile on a Principal’s face than when the Police frog marched him out of the school.
In our latest school the Architect did away with metal toilet stalls in favor of gender neutral water closets with solid doors and L-Series privacy locks. The sinks are in a bank in the middle of the room. It will be interesting to see how that works out.
Lori – we are seeing a lot of the Falcon D271 in the Northwest. Mostly in the after-market when an owner has been cited for a code violation.
Hi Jim!
What’s the typical violation that you’re seeing?
– Lori
Unfortunately the inventor of the CDS-PR1 Indicator deadbolt has decided not to produce it anymore.
Thanks for letting us know, Karl!
– Lori