Today’s Wordless Wednesday photo was sent to me by Daryl Benish of TMP Architecture. This is a great reminder that no matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to control what happens in the field.
If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, this is a pair of doors with a mullion designed to be temporarily removed to allow large equipment to pass through the opening. The mullion is missing, leaving the fire doors without the positive latching required by code.
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Come on, they kept the doors closed
Appears older doors
Hardware looks questionable,,, if it will work
Yes, they are older doors based on the type of locks.
– Lori
Lori,
What is the lock model on those doors?
Thanks.
Hi Reuben –
They are unit locks but I’m not sure of the exact model number.
– Lori
Apparently, the Users do follow instructions. Need an additional sign, “Reinstall removable mullion.”
Beside the mullion missing, the Corbin unit lock has been reassembled incorrectly. The screws should not be on the cylinder side, or at least use spanner or other tamper resistant screws. The one on the left is not functional either. I do get a kick out of the “Fire Door Keep Closed” stickers though.
Good eye, Sebastian! Yes, the stickers make it even more ironic!
– Lori
Oooo, glass mullions!
I’ll bet architects would love glass mullions! 😉
– Lori
I don’t think this was ever designed for a removable mullion. As you know, a removable mullion will act as a stop and would typically require only a 1/8” gap between the doors. (usually with rim devices). These old unit locks and the large 2” gap suggest to me that there was a mullion BETWEEN the doors–maybe a fixed mullion. In this case, the doors would have to be undersized–ex. 35″, or the frame would have to be oversized-ex. 74” (of course, I could be wrong)
Hi Terry –
I think it was a hollow metal removable mullion vs. the mullions that are part of the hardware. The hollow metal ones are not very common these days, but then again, neither are unit locks. 🙂
https://idighardware.com/2022/08/wwyd-hollow-metal-removable-mullion/
– Lori
WOW!!! Just……. WOW!!!
Ah, the old “Virtual Mullion” trick, gets’em every time.
It’s magic! 🙂
– Lori
Something “Something doesn’t look right on those unit locks. The only ones I worked on were Corbin/Russwin and Yale (discounting residential) but these appear unbalanced. The knobs are not centered on the “escutcheons” and I don’t think it’s just the angle at which the picture was taken. Or it could be old eyes.
As far as the screws not being on the inside, they could be double cylinder locksets. For example: Key in inside knob locks/unlocks outside knob; key in outside knob retracts latch.
They look a little odd to me too, Bill, but I have not had a lot of experience with unit locks during my career. They were popular a little before my time. 🙂
– Lori