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...
Schlage LM9200
A couple of weeks ago I was in our office in Carmel, and I noticed something about the conference room doors. Do you see what caught my eye?
FF: Stairs
I am often asked to provide "proof" that this type of repair is unacceptable. Often the most direct route to find that evidence is to ask...
DSSF: Opening the Door to School Safety
The Door Security and Safety Foundation has announced a video and public relations campaign which stresses the importance of securing classroom doors without compromising life safety...
WW: Good Luck
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo along with the following explanation..."On a service call to find out why doors will not lock and had to follow the wires to the inspirational message left by the last technician in header."
Dormitory Tragedy – Ankara, Turkey
Last week I was contacted by an architect from Istanbul, about a recent fire that occurred in a girls' dormitory there. There were 12 fatalities...
QQ: Does every component of a fire door assembly have to be listed/labeled?
At least once a week someone asks me whether each and every component of a fire door assembly has to be listed or labeled...
FF: Unhinged
From these photos it looks like the holes for the hinge screws were stripped, so the wrap was added - but that doesn't add a whole lot of strength to the installation.
FDAI in the News
I have several Google News alerts set, so every day I receive a few emails with lists of articles that might be interesting to the readers of iDigHardware. There was one on today's list about fire door inspection...
WW: Instructional Signage
This Wordless Wednesday photo came from Dustin Elam of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Dustin's not responsible for the instructional signage. :D
Decoded: Flush Bolts and Coordinators
A common question is whether an inactive leaf that is provided for convenience, aesthetics, or movement of equipment, and not required for egress is allowed to have manually-operated flush bolts...
Responsibility for Safety
Over the years I've had many people ask me, "If I'm the last person to work on this door, could I be held responsible for existing code problems with the opening?"
FF: Dogging Clamps
Not to name-drop, but when the executive leadership team starts noticing and sharing oddball hardware applications, it warms my heart. :D
Connections: Doors @ The Met
Although the museum projects sometimes made me want to find a new career or go into the hardware version of the Witness Protection Program...
WW: Airport Observations
I spent a lot of time in airports today, and here are a few Wordless Wednesday observations...
OSU: Surviving an Active Shooter
As soon as I heard the news, I remembered a video that was produced by Ohio State University, instructing people how to respond...
What’s Next?
This week I'm headed to our office in Carmel, Indiana, and one of the things I'm going to work on is the plan for 2017...
WW: Thankful
GR Zechman of Allegion sent me this photo, after trying to exit through this door and stopping to investigate why the door wouldn't open. As I told GR, this photo literally brought tears to my eyes...
Dangerous Door Locks
This news report highlights a security situation that most people don't think about. While key-operated locks (keyed on the egress side) are allowed in certain locations, there are strict guidelines for their use...
Fire Door Label Mismatch
Several of the comments on Friday's post mentioned this section of NFPA 101, as a reason that labeled doors must be maintained as fire door assemblies (even if not required) or that the labels must be removed...