There’s a rumor going around that I am retiring.  I have to admit, there are days when I’m tempted to throw a big party and pretend to retire so I can go underground and get some work done, but my planned retirement date is still several years away.

I know how the rumor got started.  I have been working on a training program to widen and strengthen the ACE Network (ACE = Allegion Code Expert), as part of my long-term strategy to eventually make myself irrelevant.  iDigHardware really is like my 4th baby, and it’s going to take time to make sure she is left in good hands someday (but not yet).

In the short term, I need help from the local ACEs in each state to make sure readers can get state-specific answers quickly when I am on the road or buried in a project.  (Don’t worry – if the ACEs are not sure of an answer, I’m here to support them.)  This network was formalized more than 5 years ago, and it will quickly grow in width and depth with updated online classes and as much in-person training as I can handle.  You can find the ACE for your project’s jurisdiction by clicking the orange ball in the right sidebar.  –>

Last week was iDigHardware’s celebration of a pretty major milestone – 3,000 posts on the site.  But I didn’t want to have to choose just one of the submitted photos as THE ONE to be published on the big day.  Today is that day – this is post #3,000.

There is A LOT of information on iDigHardware.  In the last 13 years, I have basically taken everything I know about the codes related to doors and hardware and typed it into this site, where it is waiting for anyone who needs it.  There is more for me to write about, as the codes change, new technologies emerge, new threats need to be addressed, and just when I think I’ve written all there is to write – someone asks a question I’ve never thought about.

So I will continue to post daily, but the question of the day is…

What’s next?  What else is needed?

If you’re not familiar with the resources already available, here are a few:

Training:

  • Decoded Course – 4 introductory classes available on-demand
  • ShortCodes Classes – Almost 50 online classes designed to address individual topics in 15-20 minutes each
  • Webinars – Currently 7 webinar recordings are available on the Webinars page

Tools:

  • Code Reference Guide – 40-page booklet covering the code requirements related to openings
  • Decoded Articles – More than 100 in-depth articles from my monthly column
  • Code Links – Resources for accessing adopted codes and standards
  • Videos – Dozens of whiteboard animation videos on topics related to codes and applications
  • Fire Door Inspection Cards – Laminated cards addressing the fire door inspection requirements

Topics – individual pages focused on:

I have some projects in the works, but I’d love to hear any and all ideas you have for other tools and resources that would be helpful to have available on iDigHardware.  Please leave your suggestions in the comment box.  If I hear crickets, I will assume that my irrelevance strategy is in its advanced stages.  😉

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