I recently taught an interactive code update class for an enthusiastic and competitive group of conference attendees, and I'm sharing some of the information from that session in this article, so everyone can benefit from what was covered in the presentation.
Since this is a travel weekend for many, I'm sharing door photos from my visit to Prison Island. A former prison and quarantine station, the island is now a tourist destination and home to dozens of Aldabra giant tortoises. Enjoy, and safe travels!
BHMA recently posted another edition of Codes in Context - this time focusing on changes to NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code. The summary report and the supporting focus documents can be downloaded from the site’s Codes in Context page.
In the seventh episode of Paul Timm's podcast - The Changing Face of School Security, he talks with James Marcella of Axis Communications about technology for school safety and security, and the value of K-12 advocacy in industry organizations.
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos illustrate another barricade device used to secure a classroom door. I don't recommend this method or any other device that impacts egress, is non-compliant with the ADA, and is untested for security.
A report on the tragic 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School has been released, and an update in Campus Safety Magazine discusses the use of barricade devices during the incident, while also explaining the challenges and unknown effects of the devices.
No...just no. This is not an effective way to lock a classroom door. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 locksets that have been tested and certified for strength and durability will provide the necessary level of security as well as code compliance.
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the requirements for locks that delay egress for 15 seconds, which have become common in retail facilities. Do you know what is required for code-compliant delayed egress hardware?
The bottom line here is that the need for automatic doors is growing, whether it is because they are required by code or because it's just the right thing to do in order to make buildings accessible for all. What does your state require?
Here is one more Fixed-it Friday airport photo (for now)...does anyone else think it's strange that a semi-permanent sign was printed about the broken lock, instead of repairing the broken lock?
When I was at the DHI conNextions Conference in Boston, I met Sushil Kumar, who has written some of the recent iDigHardware posts for our international audience. Today's post - the first in a series - addresses the BS EN classifications for hinges.
A couple of weeks ago I posted Wordless Wednesday and Fixed-it Friday photos from recent airport visits. This time it's our senior hollow metal engineer, Marilyn Latham of Allegion, who is sending me airport photos.
As a former specwriter, I can see a potential for problems if a plate that is required to be installed with screws is specified for a fire door that requires installation with adhesive. Is this an issue that arises in the field? WWYD?
In the sixth episode of Paul Timm's podcast - The Changing Face of School Security, he talks with Mo Canady of NASRO about the role of school resource officers - Beyond the Badge: NASRO's Mission to Enhance School Security.
I find it interesting to see how people adapt doors and hardware for their convenience - sometimes at the expense of security or code requirements. In today's Fixed-it Friday post is an example that I saw during the recent DHI conNextions conference.
This article from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) shares the experience of Lauren Reese, a survivor of the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School. Visit passk12.org to download the PASS Guidelines and other valuable resources.
Last week I spent an afternoon touring a hospital under renovation after a large electrical fire (more to come on that), and I saw this modification that left me wordless. What do you think?
It's hard to believe that it has been 6 YEARS since I last updated this post on zombie-resistant door openings, and 9 YEARS sine I wrote the original version. With the new model codes coming out soon it's time for another update, and what better day to post it than on Halloween??
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I answered a question about a common application for aluminum storefront doors: Are paddle latches (AKA push paddles) a code-compliant option for the main entrance of a business occupancy?
As most of you know, the codes require egress doors to be operable without special knowledge or effort. This door is on a something like a bus that moves people around the airport (except with "normal" doors), but what are these exit instructions trying to say?
As I mentioned last week, there were not a lot of doors to see during our trip to Tanzania, unless you count tent flaps. The exception was Stone Town in Zanzibar, where the beautiful old doors are absolutely amazing. Enjoy!
While traveling to and from Tanzania and Zanzibar, we visited 8 airports in 5 countries, and saw a few interesting airport applications. Check them out and let me know what you think!
When an attempted school shooting is resolved without violence, there is much that we can learn by studying the incident. In the fifth episode of Paul Timm's podcast, he talks with Molly Hudgens about her experience at Sycamore Middle School.
As I'm reviewing and updating these Decoded articles, I can't believe that some of them were originally written more than 12 years ago. Hopefully they will continue to be a valuable resource for another 12 years and beyond!
On Wednesday I shared some photos from the island of Zanzibar, which is where I took today's Fixed-it Friday photos as well. This "fix" is a creative way to keep the door closed, and I like the composition of the photo too. :D
To mark America's Safe Schools Week, today's post includes some resources that have been developed by Allegion to help ensure that our security solutions align with the highest standards and effectively address the evolving challenges faced by educational institutions.
I have been planning a family trip to Tanzania for a couple of years, and the departure date finally arrived a few weeks ago. In addition to the safari (amazing!), we visited the island of Zanzibar, where I took today's Wordless Wednesday photos.
Next week I will be back in my old stomping ground to do some training on recent and upcoming changes to the I-Codes, NFPA Codes, and referenced standards related to swinging door openings. It's not too late to register!
Questions about door closers on classroom doors have been coming up frequently, so I have updated this Decoded article to reflect the current code requirements. What are you seeing in the field? Closers, or no closers?
This padlock and hasp have been added to the only exit serving a seating area for an indoor soccer facility. Thank you to Marc Bates of the University of Missouri - Kansas City for the photos, even though they made me cry a little.
I recently saw this Throwback Thursday photo and coincidentally, I had just looked at the requirements for panic hardware in the 1927 edition of the NFPA Building Exits Code. The word "PUSH" on this hardware rang a bell...
I have shared my concerns about classroom barricade devices dozens of times, but today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Mark Berger of Securitech have inspired me to review the issues once again.
Yesterday I shared an updated Decoded article on clear opening width and height, and this Quick Question was raised: Does the projection of a surface-mounted strike for rim panic hardware affect the clear width of a door opening?
This Decoded article on clear opening requirements was first published almost 10 years ago, and remains a frequently visited post on iDigHardware. It has now been updated with current code references.
Qasim Mousa from Allegion's office in Saudi Arabia, sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, taken at a new school. This is a great example of how so-called "value engineering" can negatively impact a project.
Automatic sliding doors have become very common in health care facilities and other types of buildings. In this post, I have answered some of the frequently asked code questions about these doors, with links to additional resources.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from Jake O'Keefe of Allegion, who was helping the locksmith for a large hospital with a problem at one of their exterior doors. The door was "stuck", but on the bright side, the problem was pretty easy to diagnose.
Today's Quick Question is one that comes up frequently with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs): When fail secure electrified hardware is installed on an exit door, how is egress accomplished during a power failure?
Because of some changes made in the 2024 editions of the I-Codes, I have updated this Decoded article addressing when to use fail secure vs. fail safe electrified hardware.
Shannon Tracey of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo from a project where she wrote the hardware specification. I can't even imagine how this happened or why someone thought it was a good idea. The good news is, it has since been fixed.
Although there is a section in the I-Codes dedicated to automatic doors, this section does not address the hardware used for security and egress. Locks for automatic sliding doors are covered in other sections of the model codes.
Allegion's Inside Sales Team received these photos and the authorization to share them. This Schlage BE Series deadbolt was installed on a home that was destroyed by a wildfire in San Antonio, Texas. The lock survived. #wordless!
Join us on October 4th for an AIA-approved webinar on sliding doors, presented by Tysen Gannon, West Region Business Development Manager, Allegion.
We're currently searching for the next cohort for our Sales Development and Specification Writer Apprentice Programs. Do you know someone who is graduating from college in May of 2024? Check out today's post for more information.
Lee Frazier of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos of doors found in a school. Luckily, this is not a fire door assembly. Maybe my retirement gig will be in door forensics...I have so many questions. :D
I will be teaching two classes during the DHI conNextions conference next month in Boston, and I hope to see a lot of familiar faces there! The classes are both code updates, but the focus is slightly different. Which one will you register for?
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photos from a retired AHJ - this is a 22,000 square foot sports facility used for batting practice and baseball training. What do you think of the "emergency exits"?
Last week I started a series of posts looking at the code requirements related to automatic sliding doors, and while I was reading up on the topic, I noticed something interesting in both the I-Codes and the NFPA codes.
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the topic of security vestibules in schools. Consider this question: What should be avoided when designing, specifying hardware or updating features in secured entry vestibules?
I'm wondering why these doors swing toward the soccer field, but it's hard to know the egress route without a floor plan. Regardless, someone has solved the problem of unauthorized access to the stands with today's non-code-compliant Fixed-it Friday modification.
