Steve Quinn of Flylock Security Solutions just sent me these photos, and they’re a great example of the little details that can affect a fire door. Can you see the problem (other than the obvious one!)?
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Lori,
Looks like the deadlatch pin is jammed which would keep the latch from working properly, thus not allowing the door to close and latch… Also, do I see two different styles of levers, indicating a possible field modification that might require further investigation??
Which is the obvious one? The propped door, or the mortise lockset?
The latch doesn’t match the label…
The label on the door says “fire door to be equipped with fire exit hardware” instead of specifying a minimum latch throw, but the door has a mortise latch.
Another random issue: the exit sign uses an arrow instead of a chevron. I don’t know if this is grandfathered or an improper installation.
Still another issue: the first photo shows a door in the background that says “Janitor’s Closet.” ADA requires signs designating rooms to have uppercase tactile characters accompanied by Braille, but that sign includes lots of lowercase characters (some of which are damaged). This sign is probably required by IFC 1032.5 because the janitor’s closet is adjacent to the exit door and constructed similarly.
I’m going to suppose we’re calling the “obvious” problem the large piece of what appears to be some kind of cinder block material propping this door open. (Curious how that block has a curved shape to it… not like a building brick but rather possibly some part of what once was the rounded base of a small stanchion or portable sign perhaps?)
This door appears to be equipped with the same kind of Corbin-Russwin handle set that other doors in the vicinity seem to have. The commercial deadlatch looks to be UL listed, but it’s operated by a standard lever-style handle set. (Not a lockable handle, despite the fact that this is a deadlatch and not a simple spring latch)
The two labels on this assembly are a bit confused and would appear to conflict with the hardware in use. The more modern Steelcraft sticker style label clearly indicates that this assembly calls for fire-egress hardware and in my mind that is speaking to the need for a panic-style touchbar, etc. (This also looks to be an egress path from a larger area, some kind of Group B or Group A occupancy, perhaps)
It’s the very old label on the door that is really puzzling to me, however. A very old UL stamped metal label appears to refer to a door frame, not a door. I am not certain what’s going on there.
Ah, I don’t know why I called the Steelcraft label a sticker. I clearly see the rivets on that one, as well, now.