Today's Quick Question: If an electrical room is required to have outswinging doors with panic hardware, does this requirement apply to all of the doors that are part of the means of egress between the electrical room and the public way?
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," is a phrase that I live by - mostly because I don't have time to deal with anything that isn't crucial to my existence. And if something does break, I just might find a work-around. But this strategy should not be applied to access control credentials.
Drywall anchors, that is! This is a 90-minute wood fire door, and someone tried to install the door closer (twice) with drywall screws and plastic anchors. I'm wordless! Happy Fixed-it Friday!
Are deadbolts permitted by code in a means of egress? A surprising number of people would answer "no", but deadbolts are allowed under certain circumstances. I have updated this Decoded article based on the current codes.
I received this Wordless Wednesday photo from Paul Timm of Allegion, another example of a school district's efforts to implement a means of locking doors quickly in case of an active shooter situation. But what about other hazards?
Although hardware schedules look like Greek to most people, there is a specific order for the products listed there. Today's post addresses the sequence used in the U.S. as well as the European method.
In recent years, I've noticed that the way orders are taken and food delivered in some fast food chains has changed, and STANLEY Access Technologies has developed a new drive-thru window and door called the Dura-Glide DT. Read more in today's post.
Our local library has a small theater that holds just under 100 people. The space only had one code-compliant exit and the building is hundreds of years old and difficult to modify. TGIFixed-it Friday!
In the next Decoded article I have answered the following frequently asked question: When is it permissible for an egress door to have hardware that requires more than one releasing motion to unlatch the door?
I have known Charles Anderson, retired AHJ, for many years - long enough to know that one of his pet peeves is signage that deters the use of an exit. What do you think about the Wordless Wednesday photos he sent in? OK, or NO WAY?
My second monthly column in USGlass Magazine answers this question about double-cylinder deadbolts: Where can key-operated locks be used on doors in a means of egress? Do you know the answer?
I recently shared this resource on panic hardware, and there were several suggestions from readers of iDigHardware that resulted in some changes to the infographic. Thanks to all who weighed in - here's the updated version.
I'm wordless about today's Fixed-it Friday photo, which I saw posted on the "There's no crying in hollow metal" Facebook page. I asked Scott Foley of P&M Doors for permission to share it with all of you. Enjoy!
Tony Klagenberg of AMI sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, which looks like it was taken in a gas station or convenience store located in an area where crime is a concern. I'm wondering if someone thought this would give them extra security.
Today's Quick Question has come up several times lately with regard to the code requirements for hospitals, nursing homes, and similar types of facilities: What is the difference between a "corridor door" and a "smoke barrier door" in a health care occupancy?
If you specify or provide door hardware, work for a school district, or advise school administrators on their safety and security methods, the article in today's post is a valuable tool for understanding the various considerations and options.
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo was sent in by Shari Dial of Walsh Door & Security - the photo shows the rear exit serving a gas station in rural Illinois. If you see any interesting doors in your summer travels, you can submit photos using the photo submission link.
Do you ever wonder about some of the strange terminology we use for specific construction products, especially door hardware? This guest blog post, written by TJ Gottwalt of Allegion, answers some questions about the term "dogging."
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was sent by Ken Kuzman of Houston-Starr...although the memories of these snow banks are fading for most of us, they'll be returning to some areas in a matter of months!
I have mentioned this before...it's great when I receive photos or emails from "door people", but I absolutely LOVE when family members of iDigHardware readers start weighing in on door issues. :)
This enclosed exterior space adjacent to the hotel where I'm currently staying has an interesting egress situation. What do you think about this patio's egress routes? Would this situation keep you up at night?
I have shared Wordless Wednesday photos of antique store exits before, but this time I was the one on an antiquing expedition. As soon as we parked in front of the store I knew I would find some issues...
Yesterday in an airport I saw a bank of interlocks and an adjacent pair of doors with delayed egress locks. What do you think about this application? Do some AHJs require delayed egress doors where interlocks are installed? WWYD?
I'm on my way to the BHMA Spring Technical Committee Week, so today I'm sharing a helpful BHMA resource. Hardware Highlights are one-page summaries for each ANSI/BHMA A156 series standard - there are 42 in the series. Check out this post for the link!
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos were taken at the main entrance of a function space that has an occupant load of 600 people. I was so fixated on the creative locking method that I didn't take a close-up of the closer fix, but the security fix has me wordless.
To help support our international readers, I will be sharing some posts from the Allegion team around the world. Today's post comes from Hamza Ali DHT and Sushil Kumar Dip GAI, both of Allegion.
Joe Hendry of Navigate360 sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken in an occupied school. This door serves the means of egress from the administrative office area. I'm wordless.
This Decoded article addresses the requirements of the International Building Code and ICC 500 for storm shelters, and I have updated the original article with current code references.
There isn't one lock function that works for every school - in some schools, only staff members with keys are able to lock the classroom doors, and in other schools anyone can lock the doors. WWYD?
I saw Alexander Wright of Allegion in my code update class at UNC-Charlotte yesterday, which reminded me that he sent me these Fixed-it Friday photos of door closers in the wild! Keep 'em coming!
A new educational resource for school security and safety is now available, which provides a combined overview of industry recommended best practices for door openings as recommended by security organizations, federal reports, and past incident reports.
During a 1:00 a.m. fire alarm, Denise Gorski took note of the damaged latchset on a hotel's stairwell fire door. If the door wasn't propped open with a wedge, the missing lever may have prevented hotel guests from exiting. Which is worse? The open door or the potential lack of egress??
Whether you’re designing a LEED certified building or not, every building created today includes sustainable features. Join us on May 25th for an AIA-approved webinar, presented by Aaron Owens, Sustainability Specialist for Allegion.
When testing a fire door to determine whether it is closing and latching properly, from what open position should the door be tested? I have updated this Decoded article about the closing cycle of fire doors for positive latching, to reflect the current codes.
I once wrote a hardware spec for the hotel chain where today's Fixed-it Friday photos were taken. Based on that experience and the architect's attention to detail on that project, I'm positive that this is not what they would expect to see on a return visit.
I recently started a new column in USGlass Magazine, and each month I will be answering a code question related to door openings. The question in the current post is one that many of you are familiar with: Where is panic hardware required?
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos of an obstructed means of egress in a liquor store (we called them "packies" in New England). I'm at a loss as to how to educate retail workers on the code requirements. Any ideas?
Last week I posted about some upcoming code training that I'll be conducting in the Southeast, and it turns out that there is some availability in my class at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on May 16th. There's more info in today's post.
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about doors and hardware. Feel free to share this post with anyone who could benefit from this introductory training.
My ooooold friend and coworker, Chuck Gulla of Allegion, sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo from a school in Vermont. Since it's not a fire door, it's not a code issue, but it's definitely a creative solution. I'm sure the school is trying to cut down on "mischief" in the restroom.
This was not the first (nor the last) time that I have seen a conflict between a chute door and a swinging fire door that provides a convenient way to hold the doors open. This has now been addressed in the International Building Code (IBC).
These Wordless Wednesday photos from Charles Anderson (retired AHJ) speak for themselves... Don't forget to send me photos of the interesting doors you see in your travels!
In a couple of weeks I will be conducting some code training in the Carolinas and Tennessee. There are a few spots available in the class in Clemson, South Carolina on Tuesday, May 9th, so if you are within driving distance, check out the training invitation here.
I am wearing my BHMA Marcom Chair hat today...if you are an architect or specifier, I would love to have 5 minutes of your time to take a short survey that will help guide some of the organizations' upcoming initiatives. Thanks in advance!
This is an amazingly beautiful church right on the main square in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. As you can imagine, there have been a few "fixes" in the last 300 years. TGIF-iF!
In yesterday's post I shared some Wordless Wednesday photos from my trip to Aguascalientes, Mexico, and I have some others prepared for Fixed-it Friday. There are more of my favorites here in today's post!
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I took my family for a short trip to Aguascalientes, Mexico last week. It's a beautiful city, and of course I took lots of photos of amazing doors!
Last week while I was on a short spring break trip with the kids, I was perusing the IBC, and I found a change that I forgot to write about; the change is related to escape rooms. The 2021 IBC now includes three options for egress from these rooms.
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about doors and hardware. Feel free to share this post with anyone who could benefit from this introductory training.
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Scott Tobias of arkaSpecs, and I definitely did a double-take. Then I found out that he's on vacation with his family, and this egress door serves a ride at a popular theme park. What do you think?
