In the News…
A code inspector in Schenectady, New York has been indicted along with the building manager, in connection with a 2015 apartment fire that resulted in 4 fatalities...
FF: Custom Mag-Holder Bracket
Frankly, I'm surprised this magnetic holder has enough strength to keep the door open, considering that the armature is mounted right at the closer instead of near the door edge...
WWYD? Panic Hardware Corrosion
An architect recently sent me a question and I could use some suggestions from y'all. I know what I would do, but I'd like to hear other ideas...
WW: Less Bottom Bolt
I have no words, except "thank you" to Fred Phillips of Interior Supply for this Wordless Wednesday photo...
QQ: Holding Force for Automatic-Closing Doors
I've received this question a couple of times lately...What is the maximum holding force allowed for an electromagnetic holder (or other automatic-closing device)?
Chardon High School Shooting – 5 years later
It's hard to believe that today is the 5th anniversary of the shooting at Chardon High School, where 3 students were killed and 3 others were wounded...
FF: Over the Railing, or Under?
Before any of you point out that we don't know whether this is a fire door - that is true. But it opens from a stairwell, so there is a high probability that it is a fire door assembly. And maybe the door is still in use...
Fire Door Inspection App
About 5 years ago I was in a large hospital that had just spent thousands of dollars (probably tens of thousands) to have a "pre-Joint-Commission inspection" done...
WW: Retail Exit Pair
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me this Wordless Wednesday photo. I have nothing to say about it. I'm just going to cry now.
LetsFixConstruction.com
Each of us has experienced the difficulties that often arise in construction, whether it's specification issues, product problems, or confusion about materials or methods...
Nightclub Tragedies Remembered
When a tragedy occurs, there is often an immediate response - a call for solutions to avoid similar incidents in the future...
FF: Duct Tape
Am I the only one who is curious about whether the tape is to keep the bolt projected for security, or retracted for safety? (I have my suspicions.)
Decoded: School Security Update (March 2017)
In case you haven't been following the classroom barricade device issue closely, here's an update. Within the last few years, products have begun to appear on the market which were advertised as a secure way to lock a classroom door...
WW: STOP! And I really mean it!
Thank you to David R. Defilippo AIA for today's Wordless Wednesday photo...
Man-Traps in Schools
This morning I found an article in my news alerts: Roxbury Eyes Spending $580K on "Man Traps" for Schools. My first thought..."Oh. No."
WWYD? Patient Room Door
Today's WWYD question is a tough one, and I'm hoping someone has an idea. The hospital is in Qatar, and the patient room doors are currently equipped with long pulls on both sides, and a deadbolt...
FF: 4 Door Lock Gadgets (video)
One of my fire marshal pals sent me this Fixed-it Friday video. Neither of us recommending the use of these gadgets, but the dogs are super-cute and I always like to see people's lock-related inventions...
Arson at Westlake Apartments
This fire was also mentioned in a report called Selected Published Incidents Involving Fire Doors, which was compiled for me by NFPA's One Stop Data Shop back in 2009...
WW: Double-Bar Security Device
Daniel Cannon of Allegion sent me these Wordless Wednesday photos of the back door of a restaurant. What say you?
DHI – Safely Securing the Built Environment through Building, Fire, and Life Safety Codes (video)
This is a good introductory video from the Door & Hardware Institute on how codes impact our industry. For additional training on codes...
WWYD? Too-high vision lights – frosted glass?
Some new fire doors were ordered and manufactured with 5-inch x 20-inch vision lights located with the bottom of the light about about 46 inches from the bottom of the door...
FF: Exit Sign Position
Sometimes when I ask people if the door they are asking about is a required means of egress, the response will be "No - there is no exit sign." Lots of required egress doors don't have exit signs...
WWYD? Getting IN
The model codes are clear about egress, but what about emergency access to a building? Some codes require a key box mounted outside of the entrance that contains the keys...
WW: Breaker
I found this photo on the Facebook page of Brendan Daley of Pasek Corp (who is not responsible for this "fix"). I am Wordless.
QQ: Do the accessibility standards require automatic operators?
Are automatic operators required by the ADA Standards and ICC A117.1 - the predominate accessibility standards used in the US?
Fire Door Inspection Training
I get calls every week about training on fire door inspections - how and where to learn more. I just read that NFPA and DSSF are teaming up to provide 1-day training sessions...
FF: Flipped
This is the outside of a door leading to a single restroom in a well-known sandwich shop chain. Anybody see the problem?
NFPA Journal: Classroom door locking against unwanted entry, By Ron Coté
As I've said before, with regard to classroom security code changes, NFPA 101 is on a slightly different schedule than the the ICC codes. Although changes to the 2018 editions of the IBC and IFC have already been approved...
WW: Wood Door Prep
This photo came from Billy Sanders of Chisholm Millwork. This is how the door arrived from the wood door manufacturer. #wordless
WWYD? Sensor Release
When I took the photo, the sensor did not unlock the electromagnetic lock until I actually touched the door and the movement of my hand triggered the sensor. It seems obvious that the sensor should not be positioned behind the exit sign (or any obstruction)...
When Simple is Safer: The Dangers of Door Barricades in Schools – John Woestman
This article was written by John Woestman of the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) and recently appeared in Locksmith Ledger...
FF: Scheduled Dogging?
I received this photo from Scott Aikenhead - Tech Support for Allegion Canada. I've never seen anything like this and all I can think of is that this contraption is dogging and undogging the panic hardware on a timer...
WWYD? Health Care Pair
The doors have some obvious damage caused by carts contacting the push side face, and carts hitting the door edge when it's open. So...WWYD?
WW: Prius
Yes, that was a Toyota Prius. And that door closer looks familiar. #Wordless
Reference Books & Resources
Because these books are long out of print they can be difficult to find, so imagine my excitement when an iDigHardware reader posted links to some of Adon's books in an online archive!
QQ: What is the minimum GWB penetration for a fire-rated frame?
This question has come up a few times lately...many of us have been taught that sheetrock/drywall/wallboard has to penetrate at least 1/2 inch behind the returns on a fire-rated frame, but where is that stated?
FF: Fire Door Signage
If you read my recent article on code requirements pertaining to signage, you'll be able to identify the problem with this creative Fixed-it Friday signage on a fire door assembly...
Quizlet: Use Groups – International Building Code (IBC)
Following up on Monday's post about NFPA 101 occupancy classifications, here are the study materials for the IBC use groups. The IBC further divides some of the use groups into sub-groups...
WW: Delayed Egress Mag-Lock
With the recent adoption of NFPA 101-2012 by CMS, the annual inspection of fire door assemblies has become a top priority for many health care facilities...
Architects’ Journal: Form Studio completes reworking of ‘cookie cutter’ nineties flat
Looking at the photos that accompany the article, the closing device is mounted in the door edge. Has anyone used this type of product?
Quizlet: Occupancy Classifications and Hazard of Contents – NFPA 101
I decided to try something new - a program called Quizlet, which allows me to create study materials and a test on whatever topic I want to teach about...
FF: Peace on Earth
Here's a little holiday leftover...Ed Shimpock of Seven Oaks Hardware sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of a pair of doors that were tied shut to prevent latecomers from entering during the holiday church service...
Decoded: Requirements for Door-Related Signage
Here's my next Decoded article...I had to do some research on this topic since it's not one that I typically address, so let me know if I missed anything!
WW: Extension Cord
I saw this at the local market - on the stairs leading to the main entrance, outside, and yes - it had started to rain...
Open Fire Door = Insurance Won’t Pay?
If insurance companies stop paying claims because of fire door assemblies that are not properly maintained, or because a fire door was not closed and latched when the fire occurred, fire doors are going to start getting a lot more attention...
WW: Shoe Storage
Today's Wordless Wednesday post is from Brian Rafferty, via the Fire and Life Safety Inspectors group on Facebook. I've got nothing to say about this one.
Fire Doors in the News
Happy New Year! There was lots of door-related news over the holidays...
FF: Storage Room Pair
I wish I had a nickel for every storage room door like this one I've seen. The flush bolts end up breaking through (as evidenced by the lovely repair to the bottom bolt area), and in this case the strike is gone too...
QQ: Can I remove the hardware from a fire door and permanently close it?
Yesterday I received a question from an AHJ, about a condominium complex. Each condo has a fire door as the main entrance...
Holiday Door Decorating
Now, before you call me Scroogette, I do love doors and holiday decorating, and I can understand the appeal. BUT, there are a few rules to keep in mind...