When Mark Kuhn and I were with our specwriter apprentices and the members of our sales development program last week, we went on a field trip to a really cool school building that was previously part of a university. We saw some interesting applications that would not typically be found in a high school, including the pair of doors that I shared in yesterday’s post.
This pair illustrates an unusual application that I have included in past specifications, on openings where a wall- or floor-mounted magnetic holder could not be used. The track above the door on the pull side is the holder that releases upon fire alarm activation – it’s an LCN 4040 SEH. Because every door needs a stop, and a wall stop or floor stop would not be ideal, a closer with an integral “CUSH” stop is used. It’s important to use a stop arm with a set point instead of a spring-loaded “S-CUSH” stop, to coordinate with the hold open.
What do you think of this solution?
There’s (almost) nothing I love more than seeing our Early Careers cohort checking out doors!
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This does provide a clean, uncluttered look, compared to other similar door hardware.
However, height dimensions are not provided so this a FWIW / YMMV depending on the specific application kind of comment… Some AHJ’s will cite lack of clear height for door hardware, most commonly mag locks or closer arms, that intrude on the minimum clear height requirement for a door opening so that is another spec writing detail that needs to be considered.
Hi Larry –
Yes, we do need to consider projections into the clear opening height, but closer arms, overhead stops, etc., are allowed to project down to 78 inches above the floor. Some additional hardware items, including mag-locks, were added in the 2021 IBC.
– Lori
Lori, thanks for sharing, I like this application but it wouldn’t be possible on a hollow metal frame, correct?
Hi Brian –
I can’t think of a reason why it wouldn’t work on a hollow metal frame. What am I missing?
– Lori
Hi Lori,
the wide stop (soffit) on a hollow metal frame VS the narrow stop on aluminum frames
Wonder why hold open in the first place??
Crowd flow?
Yes, I think the doors get a fair amount of traffic and it saves wear and tear and makes them more convenient if they are held open.
– Lori
Cannot say anything more on this except ‘perfect’, utmost detailed spec done (the drop plate of closer, the spacer at parallel arm), and immaculate install.
Hi Khozema –
There were a lot of great examples in the building, and the Allegion specwriter for the project is now in charge of the training program for these new employees! 😀
– Lori