FF: It’s the little things…
There's (almost) nothing I love more than casually checking out fire door assemblies with someone from a fire test lab, and I recently had a chance to do just that! :D
QQ: Panic Hardware Dogging
An architect recently asked me today's Quick Question...How do the various dogging options for panic hardware operate? What are the pros and cons of the different types?
WW: Open Holes in Fire Doors
I saw the door in today's Wordless Wednesday photos during a recent hotel stay, and yes, it's definitely a fire door assembly, in an elevator lobby.
What is BHMA and why is it important?
Last week, I published a couple of posts while attending the BHMA meetings in Nashville. An iDigHardware reader asked me what the organization was all about and why I was part of it.
FF: Do Not Disturb – Reinvented
Maybe I've been living under a rock, but I don't think I've ever seen this system on one of my hotel room doors. How about you? Is this a new trend in hospitality?
Fire Door Label Location
I've noticed a few interesting door openings around the hotel where this week's BHMA meetings are being held, and these doors in particular illustrated something I hadn't really thought about before.
WW: “E” for Effort?
Brad Anderson of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken in a hotel. Someone made a good effort but I see a few problems. What do you think?
Von Duprin Resources
Yesterday an integrator contacted me with questions about the Von Duprin Chexit, delayed egress panic hardware. Luckily I could point him to all of the resources he needed in one location.
QQ: Crossbar Panic Hardware
Today's Quick Question came up again last week: Do current model codes prohibit the use of crossbar style panic hardware? What are you seeing in the field?
FF: I’m Wordless
I saw today's classic Fixed-it Friday photo on the Locksmith Nation Facebook page, and I asked Allen Medvin for permission to post it here. Allen is not responsible for this fix!
Webinar: Ensuring Safer Schools for Students of All Abilities
Don't miss the upcoming webinar presented by two of my favorite school security and safety professionals: Michele Gay of Safe and Sound Schools, and Paul Timm of Allegion.
WW: Classroom Exit
Joe Hendry of Navigate360 sent me today's WW photo, taken in a school classroom. Clearly, it is a marked exit that is blocked, but is this exit required? Tell me what you think.
ADA Webinar: Doors and Gates
Last week, the U.S. Access Board conducted a webinar on the accessibility requirements related to doors and gates, and the recording is now available. The link is in today's post.
QQ/WWYD? Self-Closing Doors on Individual Restrooms
I'm finally writing this post so I can find the answer quickly next time...today's Quick Question is this: Are doors serving single occupancy restrooms required to be self-closing?
FF: Fire Door Alteration
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo of a field alteration made to a fire door assembly left me Wordless. Thank you to Blaine Youngquist of The Cook and Boardman Group for the photo.
Door and Hardware Institute “School Safety” on Daytime
DHI was recently featured in an interview on DayTime addressing school security and highlighting the guidelines available from the Door Security & Safety Foundation. Check out the video in today's post.
WW: WWYD?
Although at first glance I was Wordless, I'm wondering...what would you do? On the other side of this door is an unoccupied roof, four feet down from the occupied space.
American School & University: Secure and Accessible
Tysen Gannon and Devin Bowman, of AD Systems and TGP, teamed up to address how multiple layers of security in a school create safer learning spaces for students and staff.
WW Follow Up
Last week I posted some WW photos of a propped open fire door, and one of my coworkers asked: What steps would need to be taken to solve the problem? This is a great question!
FF: Touchpad Koozies
I saw something similar to today's photos (although less elegant) at the Hoover Dam years ago, but being from New England I didn't know what problem the "fix" was addressing.
Podcast: The Changing Face of School Security 12
In the next episode of Paul Timm's podcast, he talks with Antoinette King of Regional Sales East, author of the Digital Citizens Guide to Cybersecurity and founder of Credo Cyber Consulting.
WW: Back-2-Basics
Sometimes it's important to go back to the basics, because there are always new people finding iDigHardware for the first time. And clearly, not everyone has gotten the message.
TGP: School Solutions Hub
I'm sharing a new resource in today's post - TGP's School Solutions Hub. Check it out for answers to your questions about creating safe learning environments in educational facilities.
QQ: Codes vs. Standards
Today's Quick Question: When a model code references a standard, and the two documents include different requirements, which publication takes precedence?
FF: Italian Ingenuity
It has been a while since my trip to Italy, so I'm living vicariously through a retired AHJ, who never forgets to send me photos of the marvels of creativity that he sees in his travels. :D
WW: Science Museum – OK? Or NO WAY?
We all know by now that doors in a means of egress are required to be readily distinguishable by building occupants. What do you think about today's Wordless Wednesday photo?
Codes in Context: Terminated Stops
I can't count the number of times iDigHardware readers have asked me to send them some "proof" to support the intent of a code requirement. Have you seen this resource from BHMA?
Rescue Hardware
Our commercial product support team has created dozens of how-to videos, and this one explains rescue hardware. What other hardware concepts would you like to see illustrated in a video?
FF: What’s wrong with this picture?
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos...who can guess what led to this situation? (Not to mention what looks like an extra deadbolt!)
BS EN Classification of Emergency Exit Hardware
Today's post on emergency exit hardware is the second in a series on the EN standards for hardware, and was written by Hamza Ali DHT and Sushil Kumar Dip GAI, both of Allegion.
WW: Entrata
I must have missed this amazing church entrance door when I was in Rome, but luckily a retired AHJ sent me some Wordless Wednesday photos. I guess I need to make a return trip!
BHMA: IBC Changes 2012 to 2024
A reader recently asked me where to find the BHMA comparison of the IBC requirements from 2012 to 2024. The document has been revised, and the new links are in today's post!
Creating Safer Spaces: A Deep Dive into Bullet-Resistant Glass
Do you have questions about bullet-resistant glass? A recent article by David Vermeulen, North America Sales Director, TGP addresses some of the considerations for these applications.
FF: Crossbar Cable
Marc Zolner of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and he asked what the codes say about having one pair locked with a cable, with four other pairs available for egress.
Decoded: Automatic Operators in Mixed-Use Facilities
This month’s Decoded question is related to a clarification made in the 2024 IBC, which applies to the requirements for automatic operators on accessible public entrances.
WW: In case of fire…
Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd. sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, of a standpipe cabinet that will need to be accessed quickly during a fire ("Now where did I put those keys???").
Stage Door Follow-Up
Last week I asked for ideas about what could have been done differently with the hardware on a stage door. Today's post is a follow-up with the solution that I would specify.
QQ: Electrified Locks and Accessibility
An interesting Quick Question showed up last week: Do the accessibility standards mandate an extended amount of unlock time for electronic locks, to accommodate people with disabilities?
FF: Another Stage Door
Every time I go backstage in a school auditorium, I see issues with the egress doors. Any ideas about what could have been done differently with this door?
WWYD? Padded Gym Doors
I've seen this application hundreds of times, gymnasium fire doors with applied padding. But is applied padding allowed when the doors are fire rated? WWYD?
WW: Emergency Door
Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of an "emergency door", and well... I'm wordless!
Podcast: The Changing Face of School Security 11
In the next episode of Paul Timm's podcast, he talks with Don Hough, Dept. Assoc. Director for the School Safety Task Force at the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security - CISA.
March 25th – Tragic Anniversary
Last weekend there was a large fire at a wedding venue in the city where I live...the shocking photos and videos spread quickly across social media, and everyone in town was talking about it.
FF: In the Neighborhood
I love how one of the doors in today's post was designed as a stylized version of something that is very common here - old doors that have been repaired numerous times over the decades.
WW: WOW!
Cesar Montalvo of Wesco sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken in the heavy equipment bay of a military facility. These doors are 18 feet tall!
I-Codes: Scan for Changes
When I went to the 2024 IBC to look for the section that requires egress doors to be readily distinguishable, I noticed something new...check it out in today's post!
QQ Follow-Up: Door/Hardware Contrast
Today's Quick Question: Do the model codes require a certain amount of contrast between the releasing hardware and the door, so the hardware is distinguishable for egress purposes?
FF: Well, that’s one way to fix it!
Kevin Taylor of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo of an installation problem that has been "fixed" with instructional signage.
TBT: Von Duprin 88
I'm sorting through some boxes of old papers and I found this ad from Architectural Record, dated May 1967! No, I was not collecting hardware memorabilia back then - I wasn't even born yet!
WW: Church Exit
While this may seem like "just another chained exit" (boooring...), I am reminded of the MANY times that locked or blocked exits have resulted in fatalities during an emergency.