WW: Invisible Latch
Imagine walking up to a pair of fire doors that are not closing and latching properly. You climb the ladder to check the closer, look down into the latch case cover and see...nothing.
Crossbar Panic Hardware
For many of my final projects as a hardware specwriter, I specified crossbar style panic hardware because most architects find it more aesthetically pleasing. Do you agree?
QQ/WWYD? Institutional Function Lockset
Today's Quick Question: Would an institutional function lockset (always locked on both sides) be permitted on a door between two single restrooms?
FF: Iron Pull
I took today's Fixed-it Friday photo of my neighbor's door, where they have repurposed an old iron and also modified the masonry for the lock. I love the functional creativity!
Decoded: Door Swing
As part of an ongoing project, I'm updating my Decoded articles - the previous version of this one, addressing the requirements for door swing, was first written in 2012! Here's the updated version.
WW: Still Scratching My Head
I saw today's Wordless Wednesday photo on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page, and I'm still wondering what is happening here. Any ideas?
BHMA Blog: Advancing Sustainability Through PCRs
Last month I shared an article on sustainability, and it's definitely a topic that we need to learn more about. This week I'm sharing more info on PCRs and EPDs. What are PCRs and EPDs? Read on!
FF: Screwed Up
Well, this is one way to solve the problem of an incorrect lock function (not recommended!). Thanks to Tim Weller of Allegion for today's Fixed-it Friday photo!
QQ: Door Guards and Privacy Latches
Today's Quick Question is a common one related to entry doors serving hotel rooms and apartments: Is a UL listing required for auxiliary items mounted on a 20-minute-rated fire door?
WW: Observations?
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo reminds me of the time that I wrote a specification for a hotel and the architect told me that the entry doors did not have to be lockable - ever.
Ohio State Modernization
I like to share case studies as a way to understand how certain products can help to fulfill design concepts, code requirements, or functional needs. Here's another great example.
Decoded: Separate Deadbolts on Classroom Doors
This month's Decoded article answers a common question: Is it acceptable by code to install a separate dead bolt along with a lockset or latchset on a classroom door?
FF: Full (and Half) Length Pulls
You just never know what's going to happen when a door is modified in the field. Today's Fixed-it Friday photo has an obvious "fix" but also...what's up with the old push plates?
Fire Door Inspections: What NFPA 80 Requires (video)
In this video from NFPA, Shawn Mahoney, P.E., Senior Technical Services Engineer at NFPA, provides a detailed overview of inspecting swinging fire doors with builders hardware.
WW: Readily Distinguishable?
I'm guessing this is how this folding partition and door were manufactured - unlike many door issues that happen in the field. What do you think? Is the door distinguishable enough to be code-compliant?
QQ/WWYD?: Closet Doors
Today's Quick Question came from one of our Allegion specwriters: "The architect for my project wants the closet doors to have no interior dummy trim. Is this acceptable by code?"
TGP Reflections: Secondary School
This video from Patrick Luther of TGP reminded me of my days as a distributor, and how important the support and flexibility of a manufacturer can be.
FF: LCN Senior Swing Auto Door Operator
This is a great Fixed-it Friday video about the LCN Senior Swing being used to address HVAC stack pressure on a problematic door, along with a bonus code application! Can you spot it?
LL: “Erasers are cheaper than bulldozers!”
Thank you to Larry Gallagher for sharing this "Lesson Learned"...for any of you who have learned tough lessons at the School of Hard Knocks (haven't we all?), send them along!
WW: Deadbolt Backup
Colin Watson of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of an application that he and Eddie Dobbins ran across in a public library...mag-locks with deadbolts as the mechanical back-up. YIKES!
Decoded: Fair Housing Act
I've received some questions lately regarding accessibility requirements for multifamily buildings, so here's an updated Decoded article on the topic.
WWYD? Time flies!
Every year when this date - February 23rd - rolls around, I think about the time that has passed since February 23rd, 2009. I have a few questions I hope you'll weigh in on!
FF: Terminated Stops in the Wild
It's not very often that I see terminated stops (AKA hospital stops), so I'm sharing these Fixed-it Friday photos from one of the many airports that I've passed through recently.
Podcast: The Changing Face of School Security 26
In this episode of Paul Timm's podcast - The Changing Face of School Security, he talks with Lori Alhadeff of Make Our Schools Safe about Alyssa’s Law.
WW: Door Not Operational
Scott Taylor posted today's Wordless Wednesday photos and tagged me (love that!) on the Big Door Facebook page. They were taken in the men's room of an all-boys high school gym...
OOPS! Correction!
Oh well, nobody's perfect! I made a typo in my current article for Door Security + Safety Magazine, and Dave Jenosky of Jenosky Associates noticed...at least I know someone is paying attention!
TGP: Advancing Sustainability With Architectural Glass
Aaron Owens, Product Sustainability Specialist at Allegion collaborated on a recent article with Devin Bowman of TGP...learn more about how glass contributes to sustainability in today's post.
FF: Card Readers Coming Soon
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos remind me of a problem that I had on a project years ago, and a good question to ask during a project meeting...when will the access control system go live?
WW: Mag(Lock) Holder
I have occasionally seen mag-locks used to hold doors open, but not typically on the floor where they become a major tripping hazard!
Decoded: Smoke Door Requirements of the International Building Code
By request, I have updated this article on smoke doors to include the requirements of the 2024 IBC. When you have a question about a smoke door, just decide which of the 5 types it is and refer to the section for that type.
DoorCheck: Safe & Sound at Maplewood Elementary
DoorCheck recently created a children's book about school safety and security, and they allowed me to share it here. Read more from JB de la Garza, one of DoorCheck's founders...
FF/WWYD? Stop for an Arched Door
Jim Hooker of DH Pace sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, looking for advice on how to add stops to these existing chapel doors. WWYD? Any ideas?
BHMA A156.42 – Acoustic Performance Rating for Operational Noise of Architectural Hardware
In 2025, BHMA published a new standard to establish methods for defining levels of acoustic performance of door hardware. The article linked in today's post goes into more detail...
WW: Dead End?
If one set of doors was lockable and the other was always unlocked (not lockable), I think this could be considered a dead end corridor. How would you have specified the hardware for these doors?
Decoded: Fire Protection System Requirements for Special Locking Arrangements
In this Decoded article, I took a closer look at the requirements related to fire protection systems for doors with electrified hardware.
TGP: Eric Hamber Secondary School
I was recently reading a case study from TGP about a new secondary school project in Vancouver, BC, and it got me thinking about the buildings where I attended junior high and high school.
FF: BRRR
I spent this week in Indianapolis, where I felt temperatures unlike any that I can remember experiencing in at least 25 years. Check out some of the doors I found on my trip in today's post.
Coming in 2027: Two Releasing Motions for Bedroom Doors
Here's Part 2 of my post from Tuesday, addressing changes to the 2027 edition of the IBC permitting a second releasing motion for egress in certain types of rooms.
WW: That’s one way to handle it.
While today's Wordless Wednesday modification solved a fire door issue, it created a tripping hazard. I would have specified this a little differently...how about you?
Coming in 2027: Two Releasing Motions for Individual Restroom Doors
While this upcoming change does not apply until the 2027 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) is adopted in a project's jurisdiction, it's a good one to be aware of.
FDAI: Fire Door Assembly Inspection
Today's post is the final wrap-up for our series on the fire door assembly inspection criteria. If you missed any posts or you want to learn more, here's where you'll find that info!
FF: Spoons
I saw these creative Fixed-it Friday "door pulls" recently on a door in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Sometimes you just have to work with what you've got on hand!
WW: At the Mall
Even though this room (likely a storage or mechanical room) may not normally be occupied, this locking method would not comply with the US model codes. #wordless
Decoded: Signage Limitations on Fire Door Assemblies
In today’s Decoded article and 13th fire door inspection criteria post, I addressed some recent changes to the NFPA 80 requirements applicable to signage mounted on fire door assemblies.
FF: Museo Nacional
I saw today's Fixed-it Friday example on the main entrance of a museum in Mexico City. The band goes around both pulls when the museum is closed. Effective?
Le Constellation, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Most of you have probably already read about the nightclub fire that occurred recently in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Early investigations show similarities with other past tragedies.
WW: Wrong Way
I saw today's Wordless Wednesday photos posted by Barret Baker on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page, and I knew I had to share them here!
Decoded: Which doors need panic hardware?
In this Decoded article for the next issue of Door Security + Safety Magazine, I answered some frequently asked questions about which doors require panic hardware.
FDAI: Inspection Criteria 12
In today's post in the series on fire door assembly inspection criteria, I addressed a product that's very simple, but still causes confusion - meeting stile and perimeter gasketing.
FF: Frankenstein Fix
I have worked on so many projects as a specwriter where the main concern seemed to be aesthetics...after the construction phase is over you never know what will happen!