This is a tough one, so if you have any ideas at all, please leave them in the reply box. These sliding doors serve an office area at a university. Originally, the doors did not need to lock, but that has changed, and the architect is looking for a way to add code-compliant locks to the doors which have already been installed. The solution can be electrified or mechanical, but it should comply with the code requirements for egress and accessibility, and must be field retrofittable.
If you need more information, leave your questions in the reply box and I will ask the architect.
WWYD?
You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
Assuming that the architect wants to keep the original look and an epoxied surface lock affixed in the traditional location is out. A lock or bolt on the base or head rail that prevents the door from opening would secure the room. This does create a free egress issue. But if the lock is only used when the room is empty the AHJ may be OK with it. The placement of this lock may be an issue and may be difficult for some people to use. If you can’t put anything on the base or head rail due to ADA, you may be able to use a glass display cabinet lock to secure the doors. They are relatively small so it wouldn’t change the look of the doors, and can be completely removed when the room is in use giving the original appearance. They still have the same free egress issue however.
Thanks Fred!
– Lori
I know that Accurate Lock has some sliding door patch locks that may work. I’m in the hollow metal/wood door market so I’m not super sure if they’ll help the situation.
https://www.accuratelockandhardware.com/product-page/gs87-sliding-doors
Also Rockwood has some locking ladder pulls that might be applicable based on your if your frame manufacturer will approve the required holes drilled in the head or if not a concern for ADA locking into the floor. Depending on where you get the post mounts they could even fit in the existing holes and only need minor adjustment to the glass to make it work.
https://www.assaabloydooraccessories.us/en/products/architectural-pulls/locking-pulls/postmount-series/
Great ideas – thanks!
– Lori
The doors should be tempered glass, so no modification for adding a lock or changing hole positions for a locking door pull. Unless they want to replace the glass, the best option may be to use a magnetic lock with an armature glue applied to the sliding door. You’ll need all the auxiliary products required (sensor, push button, etc.).
Do it properly
Install new doors and framing that will work as they want, not as an after thought.
Nothing but problems and call backs retrofitting something like that.
if this door does not does not have a breakaway feature in the direction of egress,
it will probably not pass, regardless of the locking solution.
Hi Paul –
It should be ok without breakaway as long as the occupant load of the space is 10 people or less.
– Lori
ok
then i agree with gary huizen!
You have to cut the door or get a new door with the U prep then use this with a hook bolt.
http://www.crlaurence.com/crlapps/showline/offerpage.aspx?Productid=24884&GroupID=12739&History=39325:4939:12729:12730&ModelID=12739
PS I hate locking glass doors! Architects love the look.
You cannot cut these glass doors as they are tempered glass by code, the only way is to replace the glass in the sliding panel and install the lock as advised by an earlier commenter.
I’m coming at this from the glass door side…presuming that these are tempered doors, any type of hardware will have to be clamped on as tempered glass cannot be drilled for fastening holes.
Yes, if you try to drill into tempered glass, they have a really high chance of shattering due to the manufacturing process of the glass.
The comment about using the glass door clips like those used on display cabinets triggered a memory sort of off topic. Years ago, I started a new job at a hospital as their Director of Engineering. On my second day, the director of security came to my office and asked me if I knew who might have keys to the locking clips being used to secure a trophy cabinet glass doors, next to the cafeteria. Unhappily, I found that many keys were all in a heap on a desk, not cataloged or filed so finding who had the key was out. We went to the cafeteria where I learned the problem was big. The case had been cleared of trophies and all the gifts that the Hospital had purchased for the annual picnic displayed there had been stolen. I looked at the large sliding glass panels for a minute or two. There was a similar cabinet adjacent to the one broken into. I told the security director that no key was necessary, the cabinets were basically unsecured. Folks reading this will probably have similar experiences and are jumping ahead. The type of glass cabinet door restraint was a poor choice. It did not fold back so that all a person had to do was pull the glass panels apart of the adjacent cabinet and shove the lock through where it fell to the inside floor.
Hope pull locks can serve your purpose
CR Laurence also makes locking ladder pulls that should work well, if they want to keep the ladder pull look. http://www.crlaurence.com/crlapps/showline/default.aspx?GroupID=26882&History=39327:9307:54610:70419:54610&pom=0 Since you cannot drill new holes in a tempered glass door, as Andy noted above, the door itself will almost certainly have to be replaced no matter what solution they settle on.
Something like a Digital Glass Door Lock for Double Doors similar to this:
https://www.keylessaccesslocks.com/adams-rite-rt1050d-rite-touchtm-digital-glass-door-lock-for-single-or-double-doors.html
AD Systems (an Allegion company) has ADA-compliant lever-handle locks for sliding doors (single action to unlock and open). They may have a solution for mounting without cutting the glass.
Lori,
This may be one of those situations that the Architect would need to be told that it just won’t work for this door set-up.
Thanks everyone!
Unless a better solution presents itself, we’re going to proceeds with the following:
Each of the grad student offices (less than 10 occupants) actually has a tempered glass slider on each side of the room.
So on one side we’ll equip the door with a floor bolt lock like CRLs:
http://www.crlaurence.com/crlapps/showline/offerpage.aspx?Productid=38195&GroupID=61021&History=39325:4939:3465:60976&ModelID=61021
Understanding that lock is not ADA compliant, we will replace the second door with a new one cut to accommodate a half height rockwood dead bolt down pull:
https://content.assaabloyusa.com/doc/aadss1052531
AHJ: We also had to be cognizant of creating any condition where an occupant could be potentially locked in (even though it is a glass room) – which nixed several options.
Thanks again!
g.
My comment on all jobs with these doors is to have them supplied with Classroom locks and Dummy cylinders. That way when the space usage changes we can easily add a cylinder. Unfortunately future usage is not considered and most of these are supplied as passage doors. The underlying cause for these doors is added population in the space that used to have swinging doors. This has totally changed the typical office environment and how Locksmiths can assist their customers.
The Designers and Factories have fallen well behind and turned the hardware specification over to the Glazier’s that have never operated in this environment before. I have expressed this issue to my local Allegion Reps, but as a company they have not properly addressed this market leaving the Loyal Allegion supplier no Choice but to deal with Imports and the other AA brand.
Simple fix . Surface applied or wrap around patch fitting . Similar to a rim style locking device. ASSA ABLOY Adam’s rite make a device for this . As these doors are not rated and no exit signs are visible. Then standard locks can be used that offer operation from the inside. If they simply want to lock the door when in use . . I have modified many doors like this without the need to reinvent the wheel so to speak .. This is a classic example of the Architect gods without thinking of the end user .
My apologies G Meier . As a security hardware consultant . I often come upon this type of aftermarket retro fit . Usually when the original purpose of the room has been changed or modified from the original . And as I am Always cognizant of my customers money I usually look outside the box for innovative Solutions . There are quite a few aftermarket wrap around patch fittings that will work using standard commercial locks . I did not see the original pictures of this so mu previous solution was incorrect however the concept would be the same but. Dropbolt lock of often called a Jimmy proof lock would work with minor modification to the jamb or locking point and could be placed at a convenient height to meet ADA compliance .
Just another suggestion . I now take my foot out of my mouth .
Thanks for the advice Mr. Federico (not so much for the unnecessary jab). I’m just an architect who inherited an interesting problem and was looking for some friendly advice.
If you were referring to the Adams Rite 1050, that would certainly be a hood solution if the door were swinging but I cant see how it would work in a sliding door application. Actually, I couldn’t find any surface or wrap around rim style locks that were both surface mounted and provided a latch that could be used on a slider (meaning not just slide bolts but some retracting/ rotating-like latch device – please see detail 7 above where the glass door slides into a simple vertical receiver channel.)
Thanks again.
g.
We have a high school in our district that had a major renovation 20 years ago. At the time the Architect, with visions of
unimpeded access and lovely sight lines installed a similar frameless glass panel wall on the hall side of the office.
I know I am preaching to the choir here but the office staff found conditions so noisy with the wall open it has remained locked in place for the last 20 years. The only time it is opened it when furniture needs to be moved in or out. the bolts fitted in the bottom rails have very short bolts (1/2″ throw?) and there seems to have been some subsiding in the floor or shrinkage in the framing above so we have had to install metal strips under the panels to permit locking. It’s a maintenance headache.
Luckily one panel was specified as a swing door and this is the one that is used daily. Small mercies!
Just a note to all you cannot drill Tempered Glass unless you want to pick up pieces .
However specialty shops can with diamond bits or hole saws lots of lubrication, luck and no guarantees . Very few will depending on size thickness and age of glass sheet
FYI
Who is the door manufacturer?