I'm having a hard time making the connection between the NEC classifications for hazardous locations and the requirements for access control used in those areas. Are you an electrical expert?? I'd love some help with this!
At first glance this may look like just another creative Fixed-it Friday alteration, but upon deeper investigation it's a cringe-worthy Wordless Wednesday application. How will this opening protective perform during a fire? Who knows??
I have written specs for several projects with SCIF doors, but I learned more about the federal specifications and design requirements while writing my next Decoded article for Door Security + Safety's military and government issue...
Even if e-learning is not your preferred training method, there is valuable information offered in online classes and they allow much greater access and convenience. Here's what's on the schedule for this week...
When the automatic operator stops working, today's Fixed-it Friday photo illustrates one way to fix it without bringing in an auto operator expert or waiting for replacement components.
Today's Quick Question: When does a door opening need a coordinator - and what IS a coordinator, anyway?? Can you help with some images or video to help illustrate this tough-to-explain concept?
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo is shared with permission from Vince Davis, who posted it on the Fire and Life Safety Inspectors Facebook page. If this is a fire door it's got some other issues, but the egress problem is clear.
In 2020, iDigHardware readers visited the site more than half a million times and spent thousands of hours reading my posts and articles. These are the most popular posts of 2020...did you miss any?
It's a new year, and the online training opportunities continue! Here's what's available this week in both the Allegion 101 series and the Webinar Wednesday series. Feel free to share this information with others in your office.
Sometimes when you have a change in level of more than 1/4-inch, you just have to wing it and solve the problem using what you've got on hand! I wonder how long this gasketing extrusion could survive as a threshold substitution.
I have not commonly seen automatic-closing devices on fire door assemblies released by the sound of the fire alarm system vs. the detection of smoke, but maybe it's a viable option for the US market? WWYD?
I received these photos from a code official. This pair of doors serves a large assembly space, and as you can see, the doors get a fair amount of use. The original "fix" on the LHR leaf is not all that unusual, but the extension has me scratching my head.
Blaming fire victims for leaving the door open as they escape is not the answer. And why wait for a tragedy to occur before enacting laws that require existing apartment doors to be self-closing?
We are now beginning a new code development cycle for the International Building Code, and NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code will follow soon. This gives us an opportunity to propose changes to the codes that affect door openings the most...
A digital "Best of 2020" edition of Door Security + Safety has just been published, and it includes one of my feature articles as well as one of my Decoded columns, along with other informative articles, columns, and videos. I'll be back on January 4th!
What problems can you see in today's Wordless Wednesday photo? I've been posting these photos weekly for almost 10 YEARS and they just keep coming!
Is a foot-operated lever release something the door hardware industry needs? How can a retrofittable pedal be made compliant with the 10-inch flush bottom requirement? What are your thoughts on this application?
I have a question about elevator emergency access doors and I could use some help from an elevator expert. Do you have experience with ASME A17.1 and the requirements for blind hoistways?
Normally, a pneumatic power transfer would be used to supply air to the pneumatic auto operator. This would have been concealed in the edge of the door and the frame rabbet, protecting it from damage. Unfortunately, the installer had other ideas...
There are plenty of issues with the restroom shown in today's Wordless Wednesday photo, so I'll just leave this right here and let y'all check it out while I sit here SMH. Thanks to Mark Kuhn of Allegion!
Today's Quick Question: Do revolving doors require the breakaway feature and/or adjacent swinging doors in order to facilitate egress? I don't do much with revolving doors, but I looked up the answer and learned a few things.
If you are new to the hardware industry (or you know someone who is), the Allegion 101 series offers an introduction to our products and their applications. Feel free to share these sessions with anyone who could benefit!
I saw this video posted on the BANG Forcible Entry Facebook page and I thought of y'all. I'm sure you'll quickly spot the problem with this training video on how to defeat a door with panic hardware. :D
BHMA A156.41 is the Standard for Door Hardware Single Motion to Egress. It describes the requirements for doors and door hardware to comply with building code and fire code requirements that mandate a single releasing motion...
This lock was installed on a retail store, protecting an area with high-value merchandise. YES, those are bullet holes, and NO, the wanna-be robbers did not defeat the lock and/or gain access. #stopemwithaSCHLAGE
Today's Quick Question: In an office building with an occupant load of 400 people, is a paddle latch code compliant for the main entrance door? Or is panic hardware required?
If you are new to the hardware industry (or you know someone who is), the Allegion 101 series offers an introduction to our products and their applications. Feel free to share these sessions with anyone who could benefit!
...Another propped-open fire door. When are people going to learn?? If you don't know why this is a problem, click the link to watch a video that will teach you all about fire door assemblies.
Glenn Younger of Grah Safe & Lock sent me this photo of a gate serving an area where elopement of small children is a concern. I think this is a great application - I'm wondering what you all think.
Although I've heard people say that no pricetag is too high when protecting our most precious assets, there are checks and balances to consider. What do you think about school security methods like this one?
As 2020 (finally) draws to a close, we have year-end projects to finish and hopefully some down-time with our families. But there's still time to learn, and our training team has plenty of options available.
Having the proper clearance around a door helps the door to close and latch correctly, affecting function, security, egress, accessibility, and fire protection, so knowing how to shim a door can come in really handy.
Although the rules on projections into the clear opening height are changing, giant Pilgrim cat heads are not one of the allowable projections. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yesterday's post about bottom rails on all-glass doors raised a Quick Question: Do glass doors with patch fittings meet the requirements for a flush bottom rail?
Last week, an AHJ asked me if I knew of a source for plates or other products that could be used to increase the height of the bottom rail of a door. WWYD?
In the category of "Repairs My Husband Would Make", here's today's Fixed-it Friday photo which was posted on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page by Randy Lahey.
Once the investment is made in an access control system, it seems like padlocks and hasps should become obsolete. Especially since this is probably a fire door.
You may already know all about this topic, but I guarantee you have some friends and family members who do not. Share this message to help keep them safe.
As many of you know, I have a webinar scheduled for this Thursday, which covers the detailed requirements for delayed egress and controlled egress locking systems...
Anyone else see the problem with this Fixed-it Friday photo? Note: The photo was sent to me by an AHJ, and the situation has since been corrected.
With permission from the author, Hal Kelton of DoorData Solutions, along with Door Security + Safety Magazine, I'm excited to share this article.
Remember when you were a kid and couldn't go on the roller coaster because you weren't as tall as the line on the sign? Well, here's the egress version...
Today's Quick Question: Can a bedroom door within a suite in a dormitory have a separate deadbolt in addition to the latching hardware? What do you think?
My coworkers and I have provided dozens of remote learning opportunities this year, and we have many more sessions planned. Next up on the schedule of online classes...
The facility's request was to automate this 4-foot x 9-foot sliding door, but I think that's a "fix" that may not be feasible. What do you think?
Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions sent me this photo of a pair of doors in health care facility, and it made me wonder...how would you handle the hardware for this pair?
Imagine that you're in an antique store, shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. You're on the second floor when the fire alarm sounds...
We MUST continue to educate people on the importance of keeping their fire door assemblies performing properly. An annual fire door inspection could have saved lives in this fire.
What do you want to learn about? Whether you're new to the industry or you want to get into the nitty-gritty of delayed egress and controlled egress locks, you have options!
Maybe I should go into door forensics in my retirement years (someday). I think it's so interesting to look at a door opening and try to figure out what happened.
