QQ: Hardware Finish and Accessibility
This Quick Question hit my inbox last week, regarding the matte black finish: Do the accessibility standards include requirements related to the finish (color) of door hardware?
This Quick Question hit my inbox last week, regarding the matte black finish: Do the accessibility standards include requirements related to the finish (color) of door hardware?
I can hardly believe that my "4th baby" - iDigHardware - is 15 years old. During this milestone year, we will be making some changes to iDigHardware, and I need your help!
I saw this interesting Fixed-it Friday transom bar application posted by Jeremy Guthrie of Omega Door & Hardware...what do you think?
Are you familiar with the annual inspection criteria for fire door assemblies? Join us on Thursday, March 14th, for an AIA-approved webinar presented by Jeff Batick of Allegion.
I just love when I receive a photo that gives me the opportunity to explain something from a different angle, and today's WW photo from Marc Zolner of Allegion is a great example.
This month’s Decoded question is a common one related to classroom doors in educational facilities: Are classroom barricade devices allowed by the model codes and accessibility standards?
Questions continue to arise regarding fire-rated glass and framing, and TGP has recently updated a page on their site that answers a couple dozen of the FAQs.
Barricade devices that attach to the inside lever handle of the lockset rely on the connection between the lever and the lock. And I'm sure that's not even the weakest link in today's photos.
Paul Timm of Allegion sent me this photo, and it illustrates a really great question about doors in a means of egress. Is there something specific in the codes that would prevent this?
What can I say about today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken by an AHJ? I'm sure it's the result of a renovation, but I wonder how long it will stay this way.
Some states and local jurisdictions have already adopted requirements for classroom doors to be lockable. Should the model codes require locks on classroom doors? WWYD?
In the tenth episode of Paul Timm's podcast, he talks with John-Michael Keyes of I Love U Guys, a foundation dedicated to school safety, preparedness, reunification, and the joy of youth.
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos came from a retired AHJ...continuous hinge retrofits can be a great way to address field problems, but this one needed to go (at least) one step further.
Today's Quick Question was prompted by a recent post about a continuous hinge retrofit on a fire door: If a UL Listed product is modified in the field, does this void the listing?
I recently received a link from a New York City architect and public transportation commuter to a news article about a plan to use delayed egress locks on subway gates. Thoughts?
Today I have a follow-up question to yesterday's post about stairwell reentry. Neither of these questions is addressed in the codes, so I am looking for any insight from the field.
In some buildings, a stairwell may have more than one door serving a floor. In that case, are all of the doors required to allow reentry, or could one door be designated for this purpose?
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos are a great "before and after" example from a high school gymnasium. If you have photos you'd like to share, there's an upload link in today's post.
A recent article from David Vermeulen, North America Sales Director for Technical Glass Products (TGP) does some myth busting about fire-rated glass...check it out in today's post!
Last weekend I took my daughters and their friends to the movies, and that's where I saw today's Wordless Wednesday application on the theater exit.
When a controlled egress lock is installed in a health care unit where patients require containment for their safety or security, which release methods for egress are required by the model codes?
Earlier this week I shared photos from a college visit with my youngest daughter. I also saw this mullion on campus with a key cylinder...is anyone familiar with the purpose of the cylinder?
Today's Quick Question: On a fire door assembly where adhesive smoke gasketing is installed, is it acceptable to have open silencer holes under the gasketing?
Normally I'm extremely focused on door-related problems, but this one left me Wordless because the photo was taken in a fire department training facility.
I found the doors in today's photos on a recent trip to Indianapolis with my youngest daughter. Many of iDigHardware's long-time readers will remember her from the Olden Days.
Today's Quick Question: When a continuous hinge is installed on an existing fire door assembly, the labels on the fire door and frame are often covered by the hinge. How should this be handled?
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Jim Elder of Secured Design, LLC - it was taken in an elementary/middle school. While this seems like a simple and common fix, it can severely impact security.
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were taken in a packed high school gym during a competition. The non-code-compliant security devices that were in place at the time illustrate one of the reasons why egress doors should comply with the codes at all times.
This month’s question is a common one related to egress doors in memory care units. If you have a code question you’d like to see answered in my column, you can submit it by clicking the link in today's post.
Michael Conn of Allegion sent me today's thought-provoking Fixed-it Friday photo, of a restaurant's main entrance door that has been equipped with a key-operated lock (double cylinder deadbolt). "Thought-provoking?" Read on...
Today's Quick Question came up recently with regard to the materials of components used on fire door assemblies: Are all products installed as components of a fire door assembly required to be made of steel?
Assuming that the screws in this fire door assembly are steel, and considering that NFPA 80 doesn't limit the number of holes or screws, do you think this repair is compliant with the standard?
The doors on this hotel bridge could be lockable if they met the requirements of the new section of the I-Codes addressing egress doors serving exterior spaces. Does anyone want to take a guess on what would be mandated by that section?
During an ongoing organizational project in my house, I found an amazing original advertisement for Von Duprin, and coincidentally today I am on my way to the home of Von Duprin - Indianapolis - so I'm posting this here for you all to enjoy.
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Peter B. Walker, of P.B. Walker & Associates. It's not a code violation, but there are definitely more attractive ways to handle this situation.
Today's Quick Question: Is it acceptable by code to supply the dogging feature on panic hardware installed on a door or gate serving a swimming pool enclosure? What do you think?
I don't think the use of the door hardware in today's Wordless Wednesday photo is part of the cycle testing for durability - not to mention the stored materials blocking the exit!
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me a photo recently that reminded me about a past post addressing door closers for arched doors. I went back to find the post, and I can hardly believe that I wrote it in 2011!
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed electromagnetic locks released by a switch in the door-mounted hardware. Do you know the difference between the requirements for this application vs. sensor-release locks?
Joe Phillips of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and I'd love to hear from iDigHardware readers - under what circumstances (if any) would you install a closer this way? The photo was taken in a high school.
A Quick Question came up the other day about the door pulls used for sliding doors, including pocket doors: Where in the codes or standards does it specify the required amount of clearance around the surface-mounted pull handle?
Jon Payne sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of the secondary exit in a busy truck stop. This is why I firmly believe that AHJs should not allow non-code-compliant security measures "after hours"...those devices often end up installed 24/7.
I recently saw a photo in a door and hardware installer's group on social media, with a question about the purpose of the cylinder on the head of the panic hardware. Was it supposed to lock the latch? Or control the locked/unlocked indicator?
In the ninth episode of Paul Timm's podcast - The Changing Face of School Security, he talks with Dr. Melissa Reeves, Ph.D., NCSP, LCMHC about the mental health of students and the value of a behavioral threat assessment model.
At first glance, it looks like these Band-Aids could have been added to keep the lockset from latching, but I'm thinking maybe this is the doctor's office staff's version of the "Quiet Feature." What do you think?
This grocery store's manager stated that the justification for this closed exit was that people were walking out of these doors without paying for their merchandise. I have my own thoughts about this situation, but I'm wondering...WWYD?
I don't know what's on the other side of this door (is this a required exit from the area under construction?), but the idea of someone using this type of temporary hasp - possibly without evaluating the egress path, makes me nervous. How about you?
Happy New Year! Throughout 2024 I will continue to update my library of Decoded articles, in preparation for some upcoming changes. Let me know if you have suggested topics for my Decoded Q&A series, published monthly.
I've seen a lot of creative holiday decorations that impact the exits, but what do you think about today's Wordless Wednesday photos, sent by a retired fire marshal?
I have updated this Decoded article to include current requirements from the 2023 edition of NFPA 70, in addition to previous editions beginning with the 2002 National Electrical Code.