I’ve spent several phone calls this week discussing “dogging” with one of my favorite clients.  I guess it is kind of hard to keep straight if you’re not a hardware person.  The term “dogging” refers to holding the latch(es) of a panic device retracted to create a push/pull function.  When the panic device is dogged, it is unlocked/unlatched and you can just pull on the door to open it.  When the panic device is not dogged, it is latched and you need an active trim (like a lever) or a key to retract the latch(es) and open the door.  In either case, free egress is achieved at any time by pushing on the touchpad or crossbar of the panic device.

The dogging feature is not available on fire-rated doors because fire doors need to be self-latching, meaning that every time the door closes, it latches.  If a panic device was dogged, it would not latch and therefore, fire exit hardware must be used on fire doors.  Fire exit hardware can’t be dogged unless it’s dogged electrically, with the latch(es) projected by the fire alarm system.

My friend and fellow code nut, Paul Goldense of Goldense Building Products, sent me the photos below (Thanks Paul!).  This is clearly a set of fire rated panel doors…actually there were 4 sets and they don’t give those away.  The architect wanted to use door pulls instead of lever handles on the pull side of the doors, so the only way to open the doors from the pull side is with the thumbturn on the TL trim.  Definitely not intuitive and probably not accessible, so someone found the perfect solution.  At least until the fire marshal shows up with his snippers.

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