Top 10 – Flush Bottom Rail
If you're wondering whether you need to read this article, ask yourself this question: Are the doors in the photo compliant with the flush bottom rail requirement?
Arrivederci!
In honor of the 10th anniversary of this site (and to celebrate my oldest daughter's graduation), I have escaped to Italy. Do not panic...
FF: Gas Transfer Modification
This Fixed-it Friday modification must be against the law in the US, but just about anything goes in Mexico.
Allegion Code Reference Guide
The day has finally arrived. The updated Allegion Code Reference Guide is ready - 40 pages of code information that you can download for free!
WW: Temporary Locking Devices
Do you see what I see? THIS is why temporary locking devices should not be approved for doors serving a means of egress. They often become permanent locking devices!
Classroom Lockdown Modification
Will this screen door latch keep out a school shooter? Or maybe two would be sufficient? Hopefully we'll never have to find out.
Now Available – LifeDoor!
We know we should close the bedroom door before we go to sleep ("Close Before You Doze"), but it doesn't always happen.
July 4th – Independence Day
I'm off for the holiday weekend and I hope you are too! Next week I'll have a long-awaited gift for you all! Be safe, and Close Before You Doze!
WW: Fire Door Smoke Test
Much of the work to replace deficient fire doors in London residential blocks has not been completed, so one man decided to take matters into his own hands to prove a point. Don't do this.
BGSU: Active-Shooter Response
This video from Bowling Green State University gives some good background on the ALICE program and on the university's emergency response protocols. Check it out and let me know what you think.
UHO (Unidentified Hardware Object)
'Enquiring' minds want to know...what was this used for? It's in the closet of an apartment building built in 1919, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
FF: Lift Bar to Exit
This is an egress door serving a stadium. Someone "fixed-it" from a security standpoint, but what about egress? This requires a key AND special knowledge and effort!
QQ: Fire Test Standard for Sliding Doors
An architect is interested in specifying a sliding fire door assembly for a project, but I see that the product is listed to UL 10B. I thought fire doors were required to be listed to UL 10C?
WW: House Bill H3871
This is not a typical Wordless Wednesday post. In fact, there are a lot of words, but this is an important topic. If this can happen in Massachusetts, it can happen anywhere.
WWYD? Is a 15-second delay too long?
Should the model codes be modified to require immediate egress through doors with delayed egress locks during emergencies other than fires?
Decoded: Update on Roof Doors
A change to the 2018 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Fire Code (IFC) helps to establish the intent of these codes with regard to roof doors.
FF: Make it Work
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo is from Nolan Thrope of Allegion. What's the old saying..."necessity is the mother of invention"?
WWYD? Standby Power for Auto Operators
How do you provide the required standby power for an automatic operator if there isn't building-wide backup power? WWYD?
WW: WOW!
This is a different kind of Wordless Wednesday photo - what a cool door! WOW!
PBS New Hour: Securing the Classroom
If a school is equipped with security cameras and access control on the main entrance, it's just one more step to allow law enforcement to remotely unlock the doors for emergency response.
PASS Guidelines Recognized by State, Federal School Safety Commissions
In recent months, the PASS guidelines have been recognized by several state and federal organizations aiming to improve school safety and security. Read more about it in today's post.
FF: Panic Privacy
This door - yes, with panic hardware - is on a restroom in Italy. The non-code-compliant hook modification solves the privacy problem. :|
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Chaaaanges
My man-behind-the-curtain (web guy - Robert Drake from Creekside) told me recently that iDigHardware is the "old lady" among his clients. It's time for the old lady to get a facelift!
WW: The pen is not mightier than the wedge.
I guess someone needs to get out their Sharpie and add another note prohibiting wood wedges. Happy Wordless Wednesday!
Wireless access control on university campuses
I graduated from college more than 30 years ago, and based on my experience with my soon-to-be college freshman, times have changed!
QQ: Closer Covers on Fire Doors
If a door closer on a fire door is missing the cover, is that a deficiency that should be noted on a fire door inspection report?
FF: Just wrench it open.
Got any old locksets, deadbolts, panic hardware or electrified hardware laying around? It would be a great help for firefighter training! Oh - and it's also Fixed-it Friday!
Key Boxes – Crucial Life Safety and Security Equipment
Media outlets have reported that locked electronic doors hindered law enforcement response in the recent Virginia Beach shooting. Authorized access should be addressed in each facility's emergency plan.
WW: Push Button to Exit
Warning: Today's Wordless Wednesday post is not wordless. Check out the video and scroll down for the words.
Construction Specifier: Smoke Doors vs. Fire Doors – What’s the Difference?
I receive so many questions about fire doors vs. smoke doors; my article from the June issue of Construction Specifier answers many of them.
Sprinklers in Schools
In the almost-5,000 schools that experience structure fires each year, what percentage of the buildings are equipped with sprinkler systems?
FF: Why ask why?
This is the door hardware equivalent of whodunnit...maybe I should start calling these "whydunnit."
WWYD? Indicating the Active Leaf
Calling all architects...we need your help with this one! Do you indicate on the drawings which leaf of a pair should be active and which is inactive?
WW: (Very) Temporary Door
I wonder how long this temporary door will last. Any wagers?
Door Security + Safety – May Issue
The May issue of Door Security + Safety Magazine is available for members and non-members to read online! Will you become a Lock Don't Block Ambassador?
Have a safe Memorial Day
I'll be out of the office for the Memorial Day holiday. See you tomorrow!
FF: Low Light
Any theories about what happened in today's Fixed-it Friday photo?
WWYD? Tenants Sue for Physical Keys – and Win
I can definitely see how a lock that is only controlled by a phone could be a problem, and the court agreed - the tenants now have keys. WWYD?
WW: Making a Case for Mullions
Back in 1993, Bill Elliott told me to always specify rim panic hardware with a removable mullion on exterior pairs that require panics. It was good advice.
QQ: Coordinators on Fire Doors
When a pair of fire doors has manual flush bolts and no closer on the inactive leaf, is a coordinator required?
QQ: Vision Lights in Automatic Doors
Does the vision light height requirement apply to automatic doors as well as manually-operated doors?
FF: State House
There are Fixed-it Friday applications everywhere...you just have to be on the lookout.
Colorado State Capitol Building – Denver
Have you visited your state capitol building to check out the doors and hardware? I'm adding locations to my bucket list!
WW: I think I’ll call it a night.
Where do people get these ideas? #wordless
A Little Help?
One of the things that I love most about iDigHardware is the readers' willingness to help each other. I hope you have some insight to share on these two questions.
WWYD? Delayed Egress Pull Station
This application was found in an airport, and requires building occupants to use a pull station to initiate a delayed egress lock. Is it code-compliant?
FF: Wheelie
I have a theory about what happened here...what's yours? This "fix" shows the importance of making sure the correct hardware is specified from the get-go.
Decoded: Locks Used Only for Security Purposes
The IBC exempts locks used only for security purposes from the mounting height requirement. The accessibility standards exempt locks operated only by security personnel. What's the difference?
WW: Action News
When I mentioned that people must be getting tired of hearing me talk about school safety, the response was, "If people can die without our voices, we kind of need to keep talking…"
QQ: Door Closers on Exterior Doors
Quick Question: Is it a code requirement for non-fire-rated exterior doors to have door closers? The answer may surprise you.