Decoded: Stairwell Reentry
This is one of the code issues I receive the most questions about, so it's the topic of my next Decoded column. Let me know if I didn't answer all of your questions. :)
Decoded: Dwelling Unit & Sleeping Unit Entrance Doors
According to the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code, most doors in a means of egress are required to unlatch with one releasing operation. One exception to this rule is when a door leads to a residential dwelling unit or sleeping unit...
Decoded: Balconies, Terraces, and Courtyards (October 2016)
Many of today’s architectural designs incorporate outdoor spaces such as balconies, terraces, and courtyards, allowing building occupants access to natural light and fresh air. How do the model codes handle these areas?
Decoded: NFPA 80 Requirements for Hinges, Pivots, and Continuous Hinges
With the continued focus on fire door assemblies, it’s important to be familiar with the basic requirements as well as what has changed in the more recent codes and standards. This article focuses on hinge requirements for fire doors...
Decoded: Small Assembly Occupancies
It is not uncommon for a building classified as another occupancy type to include an area used for assembly. For example, a nursing home would typically have a dining room, an office building might have a large conference center, or an apartment complex could have a function room that can be used for parties...
Decoded: Changes to the Life Safety Code for Health Care Occupancies (July 2016)
In case you haven't noticed, there is an interesting conversation happening on my post from earlier in the week about classroom barricade devices. If you have something informative to add in response to the manufacturers of these products...
Decoded: Change to BHMA Standard for Exit Devices
BHMA is required by ANSI to update and review each of the product standards every 5 years, and an important change was made to ANSI/BHMA A156.3 when it was last revised in 2014. The standard now requires cycle tests for Grade 1 exit devices to include preloading...
Decoded: Safe Dispersal Area Within a Fence or Enclosed Court
If these criteria are met, the fence surrounding the building would not be required to have gates that allow free egress, as the building occupants can gather safely in the enclosed area and wait for emergency responders to arrive...
Decoded: Fire-Protection-Rated vs. Fire-Resistance-Rated Assemblies
Where can we continue to install fire-protection-rated openings (NFPA 252 or UL10C) and where do we need to install fire-resistance-rated openings (ASTM E119 or UL 263)? One clue can be found in NFPA 80. In the 2013 edition, Paragraph 6.3.3.3 states that transom frames and sidelight frames are permitted when a fire-protection rating of 3/4-hour or less is required...
Decoded: Communicating Doors Between Sleeping Rooms (February 2016)
A door opening between two adjoining hotel rooms is called a communicating door, and is created by installing two doors within one frame - each swinging in the opposite direction. The purpose of these doors is to allow convenience for family or friends sharing two hotel rooms, but the doors also provide security between the two rooms when occupied by separate parties...
Decoded: Code Requirements for UL 294 – Standard for Access Control System Units
The two common code questions that arise regarding UL 294 are - A) which electrified applications are subject to the listing requirements? and B) which components of a system are required to be listed?
Decoded: Delayed Egress vs. Controlled Egress
From the November issue of Doors & Hardware...the table below addresses the requirements for delayed egress and controlled egress, for both the IBC and NFPA 101. Do you know the difference?
Barricade Device Update (October 2015)
In the October issue of Doors & Hardware, I have an article on what took place in Ohio with regard to the state legislation on classroom barricade devices, and another article covering the myths and facts presented at the National Association of State Fire Marshals' annual conference (here's a video version of this information)...
Decoded: Screen Doors and Doors in a Series
Screen doors are sometimes used in commercial or institutional occupancies, where air transfer through the opening is desired. One example of this would be a door leading from a commercial kitchen to the exterior. In some areas of the country where the climate is temperate, this is a common application which consists of two doors in the same opening, one inswinging and one outswinging. It can be very difficult for people with certain disabilities...
Barricade Device? Think Twice! (May 2015)
I've edited this article and the downloadable PDF - feel free to share it!...There is a question currently under debate in several jurisdictions across the country – should barricade devices be used to secure classroom doors during an active-shooter incident?
Decoded: Electrified Hardware Refresher (April 2015)
There are 7 basic code categories for electrified hardware used to control access or egress, and this edition of Decoded provides a brief refresher on each as well as some recent code changes. Many of these code applications, but not all, fall into the category commonly called “special locking arrangements.”
Decoded: Egress Terminology
As I mentioned in my previous column, there are other factors that affect the quantity and location of egress doors, beyond the general requirements for 2, 3, or 4 exits depending on the occupant load. For example, doors used for egress need to be located remotely...
Decoded: Calculating the Egress Width of Door Openings
A common question when replacing doors and hardware during a renovation is whether one leaf of a pair can be “fixed” in place, or whether an opening can be eliminated completely. It’s very risky to make this decision without consulting the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), but it is helpful to understand some of the factors that could affect the location, size, and quantity of required exits before preparing your request for the AHJ...
Decoded: Test Your Knowledge (January 2015)
You may have already noticed...I've been taking a little time off between the holidays, but here's something to keep you busy until I'm back in action next Monday...
6 Accessibility Changes to Watch Out For (November 2014)
The 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design went into effect in March of 2012, but there are several requirements that continue to surprise architects and specifiers as well as door and hardware suppliers. These issues can be costly to resolve if they’re discovered after the doors and hardware are on-site, so it’s important to stay current on the requirements...
Decoded: Fair Housing Act
A common misconception is that the Fair Housing Act applies only to federally-funded housing projects, but according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, “The Fair Housing Act requires all ‘covered multifamily dwellings’ designed and constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 to be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Covered multifamily dwellings are all dwelling units in buildings containing four or more units with one or more elevators, and all ground floor units in buildings containing four or more units, without an elevator.”
Decoded: Calculating the Occupant Load
Many code requirements are dependent upon the occupant load of the room or space in question. For example, the International Building Code (IBC) requires panic hardware for doors equipped with a lock or latch, which serve Assembly or Educational occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more (the occupant load limit for NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code is 100 or more)...
The Effect of Oversized Clearances on Fire Door Tests
Rectifying clearance problems can be difficult and costly, so it may be tempting to leave non-compliant doors in place and assume that a little extra clearance won’t affect the performance of the fire door assembly; I can now say from first-hand experience that this is not true...
Decoded: Key-Operated Locks
I need some help from you...a nice clear photo of a door with the signage described below, as well as the indicator lock. If you have seen one of these in your local area, I'd really appreciate some help with these photos...
Decoded: Operable Force for Door Hardware (Updated December 2017)
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, effective in March of 2012, included an unexpected change regarding the maximum allowable force to operate door hardware...
Decoded: Terminated Stops and Door Bottom Seals (March 2014)
This post was printed in the March 2014 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Panic Hardware on Electrical Rooms (November 2013)
This post was printed in the November 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Elevator Lobby Egress
This post was printed in the October 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Actuators for Low Energy Operators
This post was printed in the September 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: NFPA 80 – 2013 FDAI Changes (August 2013)
This post was printed in the August 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
The Palladium – Carmel, Indiana (July 2013)
This article was printed in the July 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Tactile Warning
This post was printed in the June 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Breaking Tradition
This post was printed in the May 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Fusible Links and Smoke-Activated Hold-Opens
I’m asked quite often if fusible link arms are still allowed to be used on fire doors. The logical place to start is NFPA 80 – Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives...
Q&A: Permits for Access Control (March 2013)
This post was printed in the March 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: What do you know? (February 2013)
This post was printed in the February 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Door Swing and Encroachment
This post was printed in the January 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
Doors of Morocco (November 2012)
This post was printed in the November 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Doors with Access Control (October 2012)
This post was printed in the October 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Mounting Heights for Door Hardware
This post was printed in the July 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Electric Strikes on Fire Doors
This post was printed in the June 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Opening Force and Closing Speed
This post was printed in the May 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: IBC – Electromagnetically Locked Egress Doors (March 2012)
This post was printed in the March 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Smoke Door Requirements of the 2009 International Building Code (February 2012)
UPDATE: A new version of this article, based on the 2015 IBC, is located here.
Decoded: Delayed Egress Hardware – Code Comparison (January 2012)
This post was printed in the January 2012 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Roof Access and Egress
This post was printed in the November 2011 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Luminous Egress Path Markings
This post was printed in the October 2011 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Auto Operators – Stand-By Power
This post was printed in the August 2011 issue of Doors & Hardware
Decoded: Opening Protectives (June 2011)
This post was printed in the June 2011 issue of Doors and Hardware
Decoded: New Occupant Load Requirements for Panic Hardware (May 2011)
This post was printed in the May 2011 issue of Doors and Hardware