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.
Warning: Today's Wordless Wednesday post is not wordless. Check out the video and scroll down for the words.
I receive so many questions about fire doors vs. smoke doors; my article from the June issue of Construction Specifier answers many of them.
In the almost-5,000 schools that experience structure fires each year, what percentage of the buildings are equipped with sprinkler systems?
This is the door hardware equivalent of whodunnit...maybe I should start calling these "whydunnit."
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?
I wonder how long this temporary door will last. Any wagers?
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?
I'll be out of the office for the Memorial Day holiday. See you tomorrow!
Any theories about what happened in today's Fixed-it Friday photo?
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?
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.
When a pair of fire doors has manual flush bolts and no closer on the inactive leaf, is a coordinator required?
Does the vision light height requirement apply to automatic doors as well as manually-operated doors?
There are Fixed-it Friday applications everywhere...you just have to be on the lookout.
Have you visited your state capitol building to check out the doors and hardware? I'm adding locations to my bucket list!
Where do people get these ideas? #wordless
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.
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?
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.
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?
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…"
Quick Question: Is it a code requirement for non-fire-rated exterior doors to have door closers? The answer may surprise you.
When a shooting occurred at the University of North Carolina Charlotte last week, an electronic locking system was already in place that allowed the campus to be locked down in seconds.
When classroom doors are kept locked all the time, it can be inconvenient for teachers and for students trying to enter the classroom when the door is closed. This is one school district's solution.
When an exterior metal door binds on sunny days but works just fine at night, it's likely that the problem is caused by thermal bow.
Electric power transfers, thru-wire hinges, and door cords are used to transfer wires from the wall/frame to the door for electrified hardware. Or you can be creative and DIY.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this news story from ABC 15 in Arizona, about the fire and safety concerns associated with installing padlocks on prison cell doors.
It's only a matter of time before we see the unintended consequences of non-code-compliant, untested, unregulated security devices.
I received this photo from Audrey Weiser of DHI - she was looking for some code language that would clearly state that this application is not allowed. Unfortunately, there isn't anything specific (that I can think of) in the model codes.
Is your facility or community prepared for an active shooter / hostile event? NFPA has a great training opportunity coming up in June - learn more about NFPA 3000.
Yes, this is supposed to lead to an exit - an exterior stair from the second floor of a function space. #wordless
Thresholds and gasketing are simple in comparison to other types of hardware, but the code requirements can make them difficult to properly specify and supply.
Twenty years ago, I had no idea how the shooting at Columbine High School would affect our industry and my career. It was impossible to imagine that it was more than an isolated event. But here we are.
What in the world? How long could this Fixed-it Friday repair possible last?? I just love Crap Locksmithing's Facebook page!
This week marks 12 years since the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. Considering the lessons learned during that incident, it's surprising that the use of classroom barricade devices would be considered by state lawmakers.
I thought everyone in the world of hardware had already seen this video, but last night I ran across someone who hadn't, so here it is. I do feel bad for Alex, but LOCKS ROCK!
As the world mourns the fire damage to the Notre Dame Cathedral, it turns out that the doors of Notre Dame are not just ordinary doors; there is a legend that dates back hundreds of years, to the 13th century.
UL's Firefighter Safety Research Institute has created a number of videos to help dispel some of the myths about closed doors. Here are a few of my favorites...
I've heard it said that there are a thousand ways to screw up a door, and I think it's probably true. Here's just one of the many conflicts to watch out for.
These 3 perspectives showed up in my Google Alerts today - a school district using barricade devices, a man working in a school who wanted to use barricading when he committed a shooting, and the legal perspective. Powerful.
Jeff Rapp of Wilkus Architects sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos. I hope whatever this facility is trying to protect is worth the risk. :(
These news stories both happen to be from New York City, and both address topics that made me go hmmm... What do you think?
I've posted several photos and videos showing what happens when a bedroom door is kept closed during a fire. Check out this demonstration with the bedroom door open.
This isn't the best practice from a security standpoint, and would be an even bigger problem if this was a fire door, but it does qualify as Fixed-it Friday ingenuity.
Does painting or refinishing a fire door in the field void the label? The answer to today's Quick Question seems obvious, but can you prove it?
I have had requests for help specifying doors like this, but not on a marked exit! This door is serving a business occupancy. What do you think - OK, or NO WAY?
This is INSANITY! This is yet another example of seeking to remove the safety protocols of the adopted codes, in order to prioritize security at a perceived lower cost.
Fifty people died in the shootings at the two mosques in Christchurch. How many could have survived if the egress door had allowed immediate evacuation?
If our industry is so complex that the students' research didn't turn up existing products or a hardware advisor, we need to get more user-friendly.
