Depending on where this door is located, this creative solution either creates a security breach, or indicates that the wrong lock function was specified. Thanks to Greg Koers of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies for sharing!
I don't usually post twice in one day, but I wanted to share today's stats (so far). Zombies are obviously a very popular topic!
Yesterday was the 98th anniversary of a tragic school fire that took the lives of 22 children between the ages of 7 and 17, who were burned or crushed to death while trying to escape. The 3-story brick and wood building was engulfed within 5 minutes, and it's miraculous that more of the almost 700 children and staff in the building were not killed. The fire began in the basement, and traveled through the building as the basement doors were left open. The oil finish used on the wood floors contributed to the toxicity of the smoke. The stairs were not enclosed, and did not discharge to the exterior. Almost all of the victims were found just inside the main entrance. As a result of this fire, Peabody became the first city to pass a law which required egress doors in public buildings and schools to swing in the direction of egress.
Every school is looking for affordable ways to lock their classroom doors in an intruder situation. A group of students at Benjamin Banneker High School in Washington, D.C. have designed the "DeadStop", a device that clamps onto the door closer arm to prevent the door from being opened.
This week, two teachers have been killed on school grounds, allegedly by students. Michael Landsberry, a teacher from Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nevada, and Colleen Ritzer, a teacher at Danvers High School in Danvers, Massachusetts, are remembered as wonderful teachers, beloved by their students and colleagues. Yesterday an 11-year-old boy brought several knives, a gun, and 400 rounds of ammunition to Frontier Middle School in Vancouver, Washington. Two weeks ago, an ROTC student in uniform brought a gun into Hickman Mills Junior High School in Kansas City, Missouri, even though the school was equipped with metal detectors. Thankfully, noone was injured in either of those cases.
Hotels seem to be notorious for fire door issues...here's a perfect example that was found by Chad Jenkins of the National Locksmithing Institute. Chad wrote:
After yesterday's tragedy at the Sparks Middle School in Nevada, some reports have stated that implementing physical security for schools is not enough. From a column in today's edition of USA Today...
A couple of weeks ago someone commented on one of my posts that he really liked the article but didn't know who the author was. Many of you have been part of the site's evolution, and some of you know me personally. When I write these posts I feel like I'm talking to you...either explaining a difficult code-related topic, or chuckling with you over a creative solution. So unless I state otherwise, the author is me! Same with the photos. I try to be very careful about giving proper photo credit, so if you don't see a mention of who sent me the photo, the photographer is usually me.
Thank you to everyone who left suggestions for the name of the new Friday series. I've settled on Fixed-it Friday! With all of the creative hardware "fixes" out there, I think this series could run until I retire (don't worry, that's not for about 20 years unless I win the lotto). If you see an FF in your travels, send me a photo!
This article was published in the October 2013 issue of the Locksmith Ledger:
This was found in a school, by A&L Doors & Specialties. I have no words, except "thank you." Maybe some of you have words...if you do, leave a comment.
Panic hardware, also known as an exit device (or fire exit hardware when used on fire doors), is designed to provide fast and easy egress to allow building occupants to exit safely in an emergency. Code publications define panic hardware as, "a door-latching assembly incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force in the direction of egress travel.” Panic hardware may also be used because of durability or ease of use, even when it is not required by code.
People always tell me how much they love Wordless Wednesday - the day I post photos that leave me wordless (speechless). I think the steady stream of creative applications I'm receiving would support a Friday series to help ease us into the weekends. I need some help with a catchy name for this category of posts (that doesn't contain any inappropriate language). So think about a name that goes with "Friday", and conjures up visions of creative, although sometimes misguided "solutions". If I use your idea, there's a $25 Amazon gift certificate with your name on it. Freaky Friday? Friday Funnies? Help?!
To all of the architects out there...this is what can happen if you forgo the hardware consultant and let the electrician work out the details on-site. Call us - we can help! ;)
It's time to clean out my inbox again! Here are some of the reader photos I've received. Thanks to all who sent them!
I know what you're thinking..."When is she going to stop talking about Nashville and get on to something interesting like gasketing or clear opening width?" :D
Sometimes it's hard to believe that this continues to happen, but I love to hear about people pushing for code-compliance and protection of building occupants. Sadly, I'm sure the locks were present for a long time before someone noticed or said something, but the good news is that they were removed before tragedy struck.
It's hard to believe, but this week was my 19th anniversary with Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. I started out with the independent manufacturers' rep, MPS Sales, representing several of the IR product lines, and in 2001 we all joined the company as direct employees.
Here's a tough one...
In a brand-spanking-new huge and beautiful convention center, these attracted a lot of attention and MANY people mentioned them to me last week. The panics have hex-key dogging, so I have no idea why they've resorted to wide-scale use of velcro. Speaking of dogging...last night I went to an evening meeting at a school, and the teacher used her key to let us in the main exterior door. Once inside, she turned to face the door opening and said, "Ok - there's a trick...where is it?" Then she spied the small end of an allen wrench sticking out of a hole in the frame about 6 feet up, pulled it out, dogged the panic, and stuck the wrench back in the hole. Very high-tech. The funny thing is...the other leaf of the pair has an electric latch retraction device; all they need is a switch at the door to dog it.
A hodge-podge of the doors I saw while I was in Nashville for CONSTRUCT last week...
A few years ago I posted some reader photos and information about the replica of the Parthenon, in Nashville. Since I'm here this week for CONSTRUCT, I went over early this morning to see it for myself. I have one more day at CONSTRUCT, starting with the Bloggers' Panel in room 205C of the Music City Center. Come on over if you have any questions for the panel of bloggers - Dave Stutzman (SpecWords), Elizabeth O'Sullivan (Comments from a Specwriter), Charles Hendricks (Design Matters), Eric Lussier (Eric D. Lussier), and me!
I'm in Nashville this week for the CONSTRUCT show, and I've been scoping out some of the beautiful doors in town. My 1 vs. 100 Fire/Life-Safety class went well today...nobody fell asleep or faked an injury so they could leave early. Tomorrow I have 1 vs. 100 Electrified Hardware at 2:45, so if you're here at CONSTRUCT, head over to the Learning Pavilion. I decided today that the only thing worse than speaking to a large crowd is speaking to nobody, but luckily I had a pretty full class. Tomorrow will be the same "game show" format but with a different topic, so come back if you attended today! On Friday morning at 9:30 (room 205C), I'm participating in the CONSTRUCT Bloggers Panel, so if you've ever thought about starting a blog, have any questions about blogging, or just want to meet some bloggers, come on down!
Although this isn't a code violation since the doors are not fire rated, I firmly believe that failing to limit the ability to lock / unlock doors can severely impact security and the safety of building occupants. What say you?
When a hardware consultant writes a specification, it’s common practice to sit down and discuss the project with the architect, at least for the more complicated jobs. The topic of lock functions seems to arise at almost all of those meetings – usually someone in the room needs a refresher on how the basic functions work. In fact, when I was teaching our specwriter apprentices a few weeks ago I said, “Don’t ask the architect if he or she wants a storeroom function lock, ask if the door should always require a key to enter.” A manufacturer’s catalog may show 50 different lock functions (or more!) and it’s difficult or impossible to remember how each function works.
This post was printed in the November 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Cory Yamaguchi of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me this photo of an egress door he saw on an outing to the local dairy farm with his family. I'm picturing a farm that hosts lots of visitors, not the type where the cow:human ratio is 100:1. In addition to the creative application of pull handles, there are loops up at the top (one looks like it's missing) if they need a little extra security. If you're just tuning in, this is not code-compliant.
BM TRADA will be streaming a live fire door test over the internet on 17 September, offering viewers an opportunity to see for themselves the crucial role played by fire doors in saving lives and property.
When we apply the building codes and accessibility standards, it's important to remember that codes establish the minimum acceptable level of safety / accessibility. The video below is a candid illustration of a door that is code-compliant, but still doesn't provide access for all (if you have trouble with the embedded video, click here to go to the article and video on KOIN.com).
On September 24th I'll be heading down to Nashville for the CONSTRUCT show, and I need some help with a decision! We had planned to offer 2 different classes Wednesday and Thursday of that week, but the schedule was printed with the same topic (codes!) for both sessions. So help me decide...would you prefer 2 code classes as the schedule shows, or should we stick with 1 on codes, 1 on access control and advertise the schedule change on-site?
I'm sorry it's been a quiet week on iDigHardware so far, but I'm teaching a class for our amazing specwriter apprentices! We're working on electrified hardware this week, and I'm so impressed with what they've learned so far. I will need your help with something tomorrow, so please check back and cast your vote.
Thank you to everyone who has sent me photos of doors they've seen in their travels (or while laying on the couch). Kelly Chimilar from Allmar Inc. noticed these doors with an obvious egress problem while watching Thursday Night Football. If you don't know what the problem is, I will hold a special online study session for you after work tonight. ;)
Assuming this is the back door of a restaurant, what's wrong with these pictures sent in by Eric Miles of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies (other than the fact that the door is filthy!)?
A couple of months ago I wrote an article for Doors & Hardware, which appears in the September issue. As always, I triple-checked my sources, and confirmed that 2007 was the most current edition of A156.19 - American National Standard For Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors. Well, today a notification regarding the brand new 2013 edition showed up in my inbox! Luckily, there are not a lot of changes that would impact the article.
Twelve years ago I was new to the town where I currently live, and I knew almost nobody. It was hard to meet people back then - I had no kids and my husband and I both worked in other towns. My family and a bunch of my friends were still back in Vermont, where I started my career with a door and hardware distributor. My coworkers at Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies (yes, I have worked at IR for almost 19 years!!) were wonderful, but they were busy with their families (I used to babysit their kids and take care of their pets). I remember signing up for classes just to try to find some friends - cooking, roller blading, line dancing...you name it. Are you getting the picture? I was desperate to connect with someone I had something in common with.
When I'm teaching about the code-compliant ways to hold open a fire door, I always say that my preference is to use a wall-mounted magnetic holder because there are no moving parts, and not much can go wrong if it's installed correctly. But if there's no power to the magnetic holder, it won't hold the door open. And if the door won't stay open, someone will always come along with a creative solution.
It's one of my favorite times of the year..."Back to School!", and school security is all over the news. How do we keep our kids safe at school?
The most ornate pair of doors that I saw in San Miguel was the entrance to la Casa del Mayorazgo de Canal. The historic home was once owned by the de la Canal family, one of the richest families in New Spain. This building is now occupied by a bank, as well as la Casa de Cultura de Banamex (Banamex Cultural Center) which houses a collection of historic paintings and hosts special art exhibitions.
Georgia school shooting: A hero emerges - Christian Science Monitor
I received today's photo from Brenda Dove of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. I wonder if that glass is impact-resistant...
Do you know who Carl Prinzler was? Does the name ring a bell? Carl worked in the door hardware industry back in the early 20th century, and was instrumental in developing the first exit device along with his employer, Vonnegut Hardware Company and his neighbor, Henry DuPont. Recently Peter Wilson of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies came across a poem by Misha Burnett called The Ballad of Carl Prinzler, and sent me the link. I couldn't imagine who (besides me) would write a poem about Carl Prinzler, so I emailed Misha. He is a university locksmith and while taking a poetry class he also attended a Von Duprin training class and learned about the invention of the first panic hardware after the tragic fire at the Iroquois Theater, which inspired him to write the Ballad of Carl Prinzler.
For some of you, this story will confirm my nerdiness. I'm ok with that. My trip to San Miguel de Allende is almost over - we're flying home on Saturday. I have hundreds of door photos to sort through, and I will post some in the coming weeks. But there was one pair of doors that I had not been able to photograph properly - the doors of La Parroquia, the beautiful church on the south side of el Jardin, which is the garden at the heart of San Miguel. I have visited the church MANY times during my stay, at all times of the day and night, hoping to find the doors closed. I've asked several people what time the doors open in the morning, but so far, no luck. I couldn't go home without photographing the doors of the unofficial symbol of SMA, right?
As I mentioned a few days ago, I'm in Mexico taking in all of the lovely doors of San Miguel de Allende. I haven't seen much evidence of building / life safety codes, but we did go to a popular museum in Guanajuato and I saw this exit stair...I guess you could call it a form of delayed egress.
This post was printed in the October 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
This post was printed in the September 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
This post was printed in the August 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
When I began planning a trip to San Miguel de Allende, I had no idea that the city was known for its beautiful doors...there's even a book about them! I have a lot more door photos to post (and even an egress problem!), but for now, here's a sneak peek...
From Vince Black of Black Hawk Doors, a restaurant owner's solution to a closer arm stripped off the shaft, with the arm screw broken off in the closer body:
