WW: Vertical (Not Vertical Rod) Panics
I couldn't have said it better myself..."Mullion? Who needs a mullion when you can just turn the exit devices 90 degrees?" From Chris Steward of Steward Steel, by way of Jim Phillips of SBS Associates.
Curtain Door, Matharoo Associates
Mary Hinton of Mulhaupt's sent me a link to check out a one-of-a-kind door, and she was right - it's amazing! The door is on a single family home in India called "House with Wall of Light." It was designed by Matharoo Associates, for Dilip Sanghvi, a diamond merchant. The architectural firm won the Architectural Review's Emerging Architecture Award, when they submitted the door design.
Q&A: Mounting Height for Glass Lites
Question: Is there a requirement for the location of a glass lite in a door or sidelite?
WW: Zoo Exit
Whatcha think? Is this exit visible enough?
Garment Factory Fire – Karachi, Pakistan
Since this blog began, it has had visitors from 165 countries. I've been contacted by readers from outside of the United States, and have heard first-hand of door and hardware professionals in other countries using the site as a resource. That amazes me.
Hold-Opens on a Bank of Doors
Am I the only one bothered by this? Probably.
WW: Emergency Lighting
In case you're wondering, I do know that it's not Wednesday, but I'm never actually Wordless either.
Hate Hardware, Love Cookies?!?
I'm in sunny Phoenix this morning, getting ready to head over to the convention center for the CONSTRUCT show. I know that some of you are here too! Last week at our local CSI meeting, 5 different people came up to me and said, "I HATE HARDWARE!", usually with a theatrical grimace, a stomp of the foot, or a shaken fist (or all of the above) and a little smile. I'm happy to represent the industry that architectural specifiers love to hate because there are plenty of us who are here to help you.
It’s time to pay it forward.
It’s time. Today.
Recessed Doors
This used to be a very common application but I haven't seen it much lately. Do you know what the potential issue is?
WW: Hotel Doors
How is it possible that hotels almost always have fire and egress door issues? It seems like they would get it right once, then duplicate those good applications across the chain and make sure that they're maintained. Yet hotels have been a great source of Doors Gone Wrong.
More Big Doors
I just love when I ask a question and some of you actually answer me. Following up on yesterday's post about "The World's Heaviest Door", here are a few more big doors:
Is this still the World’s Heaviest Door?
Brenda Dove of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies spotted this door on the Energy.gov website, where they feature a new energy-related photo each week. In 1979, this was the world's heaviest door, weighing in at 97,000 pounds. I wonder if it still holds the record. Seen any big doors lately?
WW: Centsational Installation
Step 4: Invert the cylinder cam as shown.
Fire and Egress Doors in the News
Free Webinar: NFPA 80, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Swinging Fire Doors
WW: Measure Twice Drill 8 Times
I recently saw this closer prep on a brand-new fire door. Now what?
Where’s Waldo?
I'm going to be traveling a fair amount over the next couple of months, and if you'll be where I am I'd love to see you! This afternoon I am headed to our office in Carmel, Indiana, to continue training our newest batch of specwriter apprentices. The door and hardware industry seems to always have trouble attracting new people, and specwriters are usually created over a long career filling other roles in the industry. Well, Bill Lawliss and I have risen to the challenge and are working with some recent college graduates to teach them everything we know about doors and hardware. They've already learned a lot and this week we will continue with some more training on hardware applications. If you or anyone you know might be interested in participating in this training program in the future, let me know!
Filling Holes in Fire Doors
Whenever I teach a class on fire door inspection, questions always come up about holes in fire doors and how to fill them. I promised a class of 120 last fall at the Yankee Security Conference that I would write a blog post about it, but there was really no good solution, particularly for wood doors - until now.
Q&A: Testing Delayed Egress Locks
Question: Is there a code requirement for how often the delayed egress hardware in my facility must be tested?
UL Fire Doors <32" Wide
UPDATE: As of October 4, 2012, UL has reversed this directive. The bulletin can be downloaded here.
Worcester State Hospital
In addition to beautiful doors and interesting locks, I love old architecture and the amazing photography that captures the decay of these crumbling structures. I look forward to new photo essays posted on the Kingston Lounge site, and the most recent was especially exciting because it's very close to my town and an important part of Worcester, Massachusetts history.
No Special Knowledge or Effort
Here's a little something to enjoy with your morning coffee. Most of us are aware of the requirement for egress doors to be able to be unlocked/unlatched without a key, tool, or special knowledge or effort, but sometimes this requirement is overlooked, especially when hardware is retrofitted on an existing door.
Aurora Apartment Fire Follow-Up
Earlier in the week I published a post about a fire in Aurora, Colorado. Today I ran across this news report which shows an apartment where the door was open, vs. an apartment where the door was closed. The reporter states that the doors were 2-hour rated, which is not typical, but some good publicity for fire doors regardless.
WW: This Door is Not Ajar
Anybody see the problem here?
Aurora Apartment Fire
This morning I read about a fire in Aurora, Colorado, at a 4-story apartment building. The fire occurred Monday night, and it's possible that it is the result of arson. Sadly, there were two fatalities - a couple who had lived in the building since the 1970's.
WWYD? Double-Egress Pair
This is an actual problem on a current project, and I'm hoping some of you will have ideas to help out. The doors and a portion of the hardware have already been installed, and the remaining hardware is on-site. It's a double-egress pair in a health-care facility, and it is equipped with a system to prevent patients with Alzheimer's Disease or other conditions from "eloping". There is a sensor in the vicinity of the doors which detects an approaching occupant wearing a transmitter bracelet, and when an occupant is detected the system automatically arms the delayed egress locks, which prevent the patient from leaving the unit before staff members can arrive.
Coming Soon! Image Search
I am frequently asked if I have a photo of a particular application. There are almost 2,500 images on this site, so it's likely that I do have the photo someone is looking for, but finding it is not easy. As the number of images grows, it will get worse.
Locks Make Great Gifts
No, really! They do!
Moroccan Lock Shopping
Here are some of the lock shops I visited while shopping for the locks in this post.
WWYD? Theater Security
As I read about the terrible movie theater tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, I thought about things from a door hardware consultant's perspective. Could future tragedies be prevented by changing the way we think about the hardware on movie theater exits? Because the suspect allegedly propped open the exit door so he could return during the movie with guns, explosive chemicals, and a protective vest, would monitoring or alarming the emergency exit have thwarted his attack?
Q&A: Panic Hardware vs. Fire Exit Hardware
Question: What's the difference between panic hardware and fire exit hardware? And what's an exit device?
Decoded: Doors with Access Control (October 2012)
This post was printed in the October 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Glaoui Kasbah, Telouet Morocco
I know what you're thinking..."Another day, another kasbah." :-) I sincerely appreciate the chance to enjoy my vacation while still keeping up with my blog, email, etc., so thanks for bearing with me!
Glaoui Kasbah Part II
I've had a request for photos of Morocco besides just the beautiful doors, so here are some from the Glaoui Kasbah:
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca Morocco
I mentioned these gigantic doors in an earlier post, but I went back to see them again since we're in the neighborhood. The mosque wasn't open for tours when we were there (the only way non-Muslims can go into a mosque), but I sent my husband in with a camera and he came back with photos of panic hardware. He's learning! :-)
Bahia Palace, Marrakech Morocco
I hope you're not getting tired of posts about beautiful Moroccan doors because I know I'm not tired of seeing them. There are amazing doors EVERYWHERE in Morocco - adorned bronze, carved wood, hand-painted...absolutely gorgeous. Yesterday I dragged the family to Bahia Palace in the 100-degree heat. They were good sports about it and I think they actually like roaming around old architectural marvels with me. Once we finally find them in the depths of the medina, that is. It's not easy to get around in the old city, or the ville nouvelle for that matter.
King Mohammed V Mausoleum, Rabat Morocco
Here are some photos of the beautiful sliding bronze doors at the tomb of King Mohammed V. It was built in 1971, adjacent to La Tour (Tower) Hassan. The minaret stands amidst support columns which were once part of a huge mosque destroyed in an earthquake.
Medersa Abu al-Hassan, Salé Morocco
As many of you know, I am in Morocco for some vacation time combined with some work, and also working on some family issues with my mother-in-law's estate. We have made the most of each day, and I have seen (and photographed) lots of amazing doors. I hope you don't get sick of seeing them..."Darn! Not another beautiful door!!" I have also had requests for non-door photos so I will show you some of this beautiful country too.
Reader Photos
I'll be posting some Moroccan door photos soon, but here are some reader photos to tide you over.
St. James Cathedral, Seattle
Last week I was a panelist for the BOMA Every Building Conference and Expo in Seattle. It was a pretty busy couple of days but I was able to sneak out each day to see a little of the city, or visit the guy who was LockedInAHouse. I LOVED the Pike Place Market...I was there early in the morning as the vendors were bringing in their flowers, seafood, vegetables, etc. for the day, and it was a sensory feast! I wish I could start each day that way.
Decoded: Fail Safe vs. Fail Secure – When and Where?
This post was printed in the August 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
WW: 15 Minutes to Freedom
If you don't know why this sign leaves me wordless, read this post.
Q&A: Electric Latch Retraction on Fire Doors
Question: I was told that I couldn't use dogging on panic hardware installed on fire doors. Is it acceptable to use electric dogging?
@LockedInAHouse
Just before I flew to Seattle for the Every Building Conference & Expo this morning, I read about a very unusual challenge being run by Schlage, coincidentally also in Seattle. With his consent, they locked a guy named Joshua in a tiny house (174 square feet), and it's up to the locals to follow clues, find the key, and set Joshua free. The first person to find the key and let Joshua out wins $5,000! There are prizes for the 10 runners up as well. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go see this crazy guy Joshua, so it was my first stop upon arrival.
Reader Photos
Danny Estryk of Entry Systems Ltd. sent me these photos of some very early offset pivots. The wood doors and the other portion of the pivots that were attached to them are long gone, but the stone portion remains. This opening is at the Belvoir Fortress in the Jordan Valley of Israel, built by the crusaders beginning in 1168.
WW: Raceway
I received this photo from Nancy Bailey of Girtman & Associates, a division of Bass Security Services. I'm guessing that the slack in the wire is so that it can be run around the outside of the glass kit. If this was a fire-rated door, would this method be acceptable?
Retail Store Entrance – Fire Doors?
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that our annual Fathers Day tradition is to go to Ogunquit, Maine, walk along the Marginal Way, do some shopping, have lunch, and then play on the beach (here are some photos from last year).
Let’s look at the world a little differently…
I love this video. And if you were getting ready to say it's "off topic," the first word in the first frame is Security, and I saw several doors while watching it. :D AND...I'm pretty sure I spotted some footage from Morocco, which coincidentally is where I'm headed on this year's summer road trip with my family. Yes, Morocco, and no, I haven't finally lost the rest of my mind. I've mentioned before that my husband is originally from Morocco, and that my mother-in-law passed away last year. We'll be spending some time there this summer to get her estate squared away, and of course, look for some interesting doors. Maybe I'll even see if I can hunt down a Moroccan locksmith or hardware supplier. That would be pretty cool, right?
Cafeteria Door – Follow Up
Remember this door from my trip to the science museum last week? I asked what was wrong with it and several of you had good ideas.