FF: Fail Safe Failure
There is a lesson behind today's Fixed-it Friday photo. Upon first glance you see an exterior door locked with padlocks and a chain attached to the lever on an adjacent door. But why?
Decoded: Model Code Changes for Delayed Egress Locking Systems
The code requirements addressing delayed egress have evolved since they were first introduced in the 1981 edition of NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code, and that evolution continues with the 2018 editions of both NFPA 101 and the International Building Code (IBC).
WW: Security consultant recommendations violated fire codes
Watching this news report brought a little tear to my eye. FINALLY, someone in the media is talking about both sides of the equation - safety AND security.
WWYD? Bleacher Access/Egress
It seems like it must be a fairly common situation, so let me know if you have seen it before or have ideas about a solution that would be acceptable to the AHJ.
Fewer Doors –> Fewer School Shootings?
One headline that caught my eye was from the Washington Post: "Texas official says that fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. We had experts weigh in."
FF: Found Fasteners
No screw pack in the box? No problem!
Self-Closing Residential Doors Required by Law
A new package of fire safety laws has now been approved and is on the mayor's desk awaiting his signature...
WW: Exploded View
The last time I posted a photo of a closer that had exploded, some of the readers thought it was Photoshopped. Here's another one.
NFPA 3000 – Standard for an Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released a new standard - NFPA 3000 - which sets guidelines for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER).
Decoded: Upcoming Accessibility Changes
In 2017, the International Code Council (ICC) published a new edition of ICC A117.1; the previous edition was published in 2009. The 2017 edition includes some changes relative to door openings...
FF: Positive Latching
As hopefully most of you know by now, corridor doors in health care facilities are required by NFPA 101 to have positive-latching hardware. Lance Werner of Allegion sent me this photo of a pair of fire doors in a nursing home, leading to a linen storage room. A Schlage LM9200 would have been a much better solution.
Classroom Security Handout
I've had several CSI chapters ask if they can include this article in their newsletters or technical libraries, so I had it reformatted into a printable PDF.
WW: I have no words.
These Wordless Wednesday photos also qualify for Fixed-it Friday but I couldn't wait two more days to post them.
QQ: Protection Plate Size
How wide should a protection plate be?
WWYD? IBC Proposal: Control Vestibules / Interlocks
BHMA has proposed a change to the 2021 IBC, to create some guidelines for interlocks - called "control vestibules" in the proposed code language. We need your help to get this right!
FF: Why I’m opposed.
Someone suggested to me recently that I might be opposed to classroom barricade devices because I work for a lock manufacturer. I'd like to clear that up right now.
WW: Fixed Forever
We've all seen the back-of-house doors in shopping malls...they're often good examples of what-not-to-do.
Special-Purpose Doors for Compartmentalization
What do you think about using a special-purpose door for security compartmentalization?
I-Team: Faulty Fire Doors Persist Even After Bronx Inferno Killed 13
This is what I've been saying all along. Why has it taken so many deaths and injuries to get people to pay attention?
FF: 172 Degrees
This is not the first time I've seen this problem, but this is a pretty labor-intensive solution. Hopefully this wall is not a fire barrier.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission
The first meeting of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission was held this week, and information was shared which will help us to understand the role played by physical security and design features of the building.
WW: Break Out
I think these Wordless Wednesday photos may permanently affect my ability to speak.
School Security – Compartmentalization
While working on an upcoming article, I realized that I knew much more about more recent school shootings than I did about what happened at Columbine...
Amsterdam Free Library
What's the problem with this door? Any ideas?
FF: Foolproof Dogging
Before someone else says it...at least this isn't a fire door.
QQ: Delayed-Action Closers on Fire Doors
Can a delayed action closer be installed on a fire door?
WW: Hay! Let’s have a party!
#Wordless, from the Champaign Illinois Fire Department's Facebook page...
News: Locking classrooms becomes latest safety measure in schools
Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I have thought a lot about lock functions for classroom doors; the news reports and the testimony from Parkland teacher Stacey Lippel added some new perspective.
Short-Term Rentals
So let's say that I'm thinking about renting out my college-bound daughter's bedroom on Airbnb to help offset the cost of her books and fees. Does her bedroom door need to be a fire door? Is my house now a small hotel?
FF: Definitely Not an Exit
#Wordless Friday from Gregory Kelly of Allegion...
Fire department uses aftermath of recent fire as teaching tool for safety
This video from a recent fire in a dormitory at Idaho State University really shows the difference that a closed door can make.
WW: Electrical Room Pair
I'm not an expert on the electrical codes, but this just seems wrong to me.
WWYD? How should these doors be hung?
This is a good one! What would you use to hang these doors, and what type of door closer could be used?
Overtur: Our journey to simplify door hardware
This website exists in part because of the complexity of doors and hardware - if it was easy, it would be called "easyware," right?
FF: Threat Extinguisher
This product isn't door-related, but I'm curious what y'all think...
WWYD? Panic Hardware, No Closer?
Have you ever run across this application in the field or been asked to specify or install panic hardware on a door with no closer? What is your response to this request?
WW: Blocked Exit
A fire station? REALLY?? This reminds me of a fire station I visited a while back...
Classroom Security Considerations (May 2018)
I'm hoping this piece sums up the concerns associated with classroom barricade devices and can be used as reference material when discussing options for school security.
FF: Double Bolts
I recently ran across a Facebook page that could supply us with Fixed-it Friday photos until the end of time (or until I retire).
WW: HOW TO GET UNSTUCK!
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos came from Colin Watson of Allegion, who saw this sign in a coffee shop. I guess this is one way to address a non-code-compliant door.
Siberian Mall Fire
In an emergency, the ability to quickly evacuate can be key to survival. Life safety is everyone's responsibility. If you see something, say something.
SFM issues policy on school security
Here is one state fire marshal's answer to the school security question. What do you think?
FF: Repurposed
It is just me, or does it seem like antique stores often have creative ways of deterring egress?
WWYD? Handing for Communicating Doors
How do you "hand" a communicating door? Are the doors LH/RH? Or LHR/RHR?
WW: Is this panic hardware?? (no)
This type of lock is not panic hardware. We need to be aware of these claims and prepared to address them when questions arise.
Is your garage door self-closing or automatic-closing?
I don't have an attached garage, but if I did, I would make sure that the door is self-closing or automatic-closing. Is this something you have considered for your own home?
QQ: Panic Hardware and Mag-Locks
The 2018 edition of the IBC includes an important clarification regarding doors with panic hardware and electromagnetic locks.
FF: Zip It
Colin Watson of Allegion sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of a surface bolt. Zip-tied for extra security. In a school. I guess they don't want anyone using that leaf.
QQ: Roof Doors
Is it acceptable to lock the roof access door on the roof side, to prevent access from the roof into the building?
WW: Ouverte (ou non)
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos are from a very large expo center. Although the creative slide bolt was unlocked when the photo was taken, it's scary to think about the potential for human error, or lack of egress for firefighters who might be in the building when it is otherwise unoccupied.