Ken Cook of Allegion sent me today’s Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a hotel courtyard in Las Vegas. I saw something similar (although less elegant) at the Hoover Dam years ago, but being from New England I didn’t know what problem the “fix” was addressing.
What do you think? See any problem with this solution?
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Well, I’d guess in Vegas it might be related to how warm the hardware gets… The door handle Koozies that showed up on our building this winter are related to the cold door handles. I left them in place, those handles get pretty cold at -40! Biggest issue on the handles is cleanliness, they are pretty gross several months later.
I have an image I’d share but I can’t paste it in.
Does not appear they are dogged?
If not dogged, Than how much added force is required to operate the panic hardware???
The fix does not extend half the width of the door!!! Definite Violation!!!!!
Maybe placed there for catering or event carts hitting the hardware and messing it up?
What is it fixing? The heat from the sun?
I think I know what’s going on here, Las Vegas + desert + really hot summers and panic devices on outside of door leading back into the hotel, these koozies are to prevent surface burns due to the metal touchpads on panics in summer. It may not be allowed due to code requirements but nobody will be touching an extremely hot touchpad on a panic bar.
Super hot dark bronze hardware, possibly from glass building reflections is my guess?
I believe that this is because the direct heat from the sunlight would heat up the metal that the panic device is made of. I have seen it a lot in this climate. In the summer months, without that “Fix” people would get burned touching a metal panic device on that heat.
Based on the dark color and the panics being on the outside in the sun. I’m guessing they are to prevent uncomfortable burning when using.
I like the idea, myself. Would be interesting to set up a “trail cam” at this opening to see if people are confused or hesitant with the wrap-around set-up. Improvement might be to localize the insulating piece to just a touchbar attachment /replacement. And like Carl Westphal mentioned, extreme cold installations would benefit, too. Also, maybe instead of a textile piece we use something more durable and cleanable, e.g. nylon — Trimco, Hewi, Normbau, et al are in the nylon business.
Just thinkin’ out loud, here… There’s gotta be money in this for someone.