I passed through three different airports today during my 36-hour travel odyssey that involved at least 10 flight delays, a flat tire on the plane, an unplanned overnight in a hotel, several missed connections, and my traditional travel dinner of a bag of Fritos and a Twix bar. The good news is that I finally made it to my meeting. If you have a code question, keep working with your local ACE (Allegion Code Expert) because I’m on the road again this week. To find the list of ACEs, click the orange ball in the right sidebar. –>
Anyway, when I saw the doors in these photos again in one of the airports (I’ve noticed them many times), I was reminded of a question that I received last week. When a stop or holder is mounted on the floor, at what point does it become a tripping hazard? I have not found a specific reference in the model codes or referenced standards on the mounting location.
Have you run into this situation before? WWYD?
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Is that floor stop also a electric magnetic holder that releases because of an fire alarm?
Yes, it is a floor-mounted magnetic holder.
– Lori
That installation should never have been left that way. A vertical post and horizontal rail to the door frame to protect pedestrians from a potential trip hazard should have been included
My solution would be to remove the magnetic hold-open & door closer, and get an LCN 2310ME installed.
Excellent question! I was at a school recently that was sued after someone tripped on a floor mounted hold open. The hold opens haver since been removed, and the doors are no longer propped open (using a code compliant method). That being said, I have been working with the team at Allegion tech support (special thank you to Jason!) for options at a similar installation. We are looking at using an LCN 4040SE, or an LCN 4410ME. In other locations, SEH devices are an option.
For the hold open shown they could have placed them closer to the wall out of the path of opening approach so that it was not a trip hazard wand would hold the door open at around 120 degrees. A bigger issue I see with floor stops is when they are installed about 6″ to 1′ from the hinge edge of the door. This damages the door, frame and hinges because it causes binding, All floor stops should be located so that they make contact with the door at the last 1/3 of the door from the latch side, so no more than 12″ from the latch edge of the door on a 36″ door.
I think that sometimes the way we state a question – limits the response; “Trip-hazard” is not a defined term in the IBC.
Section 1003 deals with means of egress path to ensure it is maintained free of obstructions and logically free from tripping hazards, but Chapter 11 and Section 1003.3 Protruding objects does not address fixed objects below 27″ A.F.F.
The requirements found in IBC – like all of the code is a “minimum requirement” for safety. So, while the floor mounted hold opens feet away from a wall are arguably not encroaching upon the required width of the means of egress it clearly is a “tripping hazard” and people with a vision impairment often travel closely along walls which can put them at risk of a trip and fall. So, this might be considered as a “housekeeping” issue.
So the issue is likely complicated by enforcement mechanisms and jurisdiction. Also Building Code Officials may not be as familiar with all provisions of the Code which Incorporate By Reference (IBR) a library of standards and sometimes subsections of these depending local adoptions.
“Common sense” should serve as “compass” .
Thanks Michael –
I agree with the common sense aspect, but sometimes there are legal situations where it would be helpful to have a more specific definition.
– Lori
IBC / ANSI A117.1 – 303.2 and 303.3
2004 ADAAG 303.2 and 303.3
2023 CBC – 11B-303.3 and 11B-303.3
The above code references address abrupt change in level for floor and ground walking surfaces
If a door stop / hold open is not within an accessible route, the device is not a barrier. Placing a post, rail or other detectable barrier at the location of the device is permissible as a mitigation.
Craig Williams, CASP 005, ICC plans examiner /Inspector
Thanks Craig! I guess what I’m looking for is how to know whether a floor stop or holder is within the accessible route. For example, if it’s 6 inches from the wall, 12 inches, etc. Do you have any insight on that?
– Lori
Is this a newborn unit? what’s up with the maglock and no means of egress? They should have done a wall mag.
Hi Michael –
It is in an airport.
– Lori