FF: Italian Ingenuity
It has been a while since my trip to Italy, so I'm living vicariously through a retired AHJ, who never forgets to send me photos of the marvels of creativity that he sees in his travels. :D
FF: Transom Bar
I saw this interesting Fixed-it Friday transom bar application posted by Jeremy Guthrie of Omega Door & Hardware...what do you think?
Closers for Arched Doors
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!
FF: Fixed Forever
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.
Decoded: Closers on Classroom Doors
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?
WW: How many more cycles?
Once a door and hardware professional starts looking at the hardware as they pass through a door opening, that habit is difficult (or impossible?) to break. I received today's Wordless Wednesday from my retired Allegion coworker, Chris Clark.
FF: One of these things is not like the others…
One of these things is not like the others...one of these things just doesn't belong. If are a Sesame Street fan, this song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Can you see the problem in today's Fixed-it Friday photos?
Accessibility Requirements for Operable Hardware and Door Control Devices
In this article for Door Security + Safety, I have used information from various sources to support interpretations of the intent of the accessibility standards. If you have anything to add, leave a comment asap!
FF: Anchors Aweigh!
Drywall anchors, that is! This is a 90-minute wood fire door, and someone tried to install the door closer (twice) with drywall screws and plastic anchors. I'm wordless! Happy Fixed-it Friday!
FF: Closer Edition
I saw Alexander Wright of Allegion in my code update class at UNC-Charlotte yesterday, which reminded me that he sent me these Fixed-it Friday photos of door closers in the wild! Keep 'em coming!
FF: High Security Hold-Open
My ooooold friend and coworker, Chuck Gulla of Allegion, sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo from a school in Vermont. Since it's not a fire door, it's not a code issue, but it's definitely a creative solution. I'm sure the school is trying to cut down on "mischief" in the restroom.
FF: Delayed Action Closer
For today's Fixed-it Friday photo, I am updating an old post from almost 10 years ago. This week I have received several questions about holding open and locking doors in schools. Could delayed action closers be a good solution?
Allegion 101: Control the Door – LCN
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about hardware. The video in today's post addresses the basics of door closers.
FF: I wonder how long this “fix” will last…
When Stan Hubbell posted these Fixed-it Friday photos in the "There's no crying in Hollow Metal" Facebook group, I knew I had to share them (with permission). How would you handle this installation properly?
Communicating Door Follow-Up
When I posted my updated Decoded article about communicating doors earlier this week, I remembered these photos. I think that looking at an issue in different ways can really help to get the point across, so here goes...
Christianshavn Preschool
It's hard to miss this preschool in my neighborhood (I'm temporarily working from Christianshavn, Copenhagen), but I'm guessing most people don't notice that this preschool has the same problem with elopement that is common in the U.S.
FF: Closer/Holder Fix
You may have to look closely at this Fixed-it Friday photo from Brian Lavallee of Doors by LAVA Inc. Have you ever seen this "creative" application in use?
Fire Door Assemblies: Control the Door
Earlier this year, a fatal fire in a Bronx apartment building demonstrated the importance of code-compliant fire door assemblies that are closed and latched when a fire occurs. Today's post addresses NFPA 80's three categories of fire door operation.
FF: Custom Concealed Closer
David Seeley of WESCO | Anixter sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo of a door closer he saw in a Cape Cod restaurant...what do you think? Was it worth the extra effort to partially conceal the closer?
Closer Covers on Fire Doors – Revisited
A while back, I posted a Quick Question about whether a missing closer cover on a fire door assembly should be noted as a deficiency during a fire door inspection. There is finally an official answer!
FF: Universal Closer
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo came from Lloyd Raforth of Allegion, who found this parallel arm closer with a "twist" mounted on a restaurant exit. Whatever it takes to get the job done!
WWYD? Opening Force
On behalf of an iDigHardware reader, I need help from someone with a really long memory or a better filing system than mine. Where did the limit of 30 pounds to set the door in motion and 15 pounds to open the door fully come from?
Security in 30 and a whole lot more!
Coming up this week: The next Security in 30 session for integrators, two more Webinar Wednesday classes covering electrified hardware, Door Drills on access control and the Von Duprin 98/99 series, and Allegion 101 on LCN - take your pick!
FF: Road Trip Part 3
I've been home from my road trip for a few weeks now, and I finally found time to go through all of the photos I took and put together this final Fixed-it Friday post. Don't forget to send me some photos from your holiday road trips!
Manufacturing Day 2021
If you're not familiar with Manufacturing Day, it's an annual series of events aimed at helping to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech and high-paying manufacturing jobs over the next decade. Check out our US facilities in this video!
Never Stop Learning!
"The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process, and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety." ~ Josh Waitzkin
WW: Wordless “Fix”
This could have been a Fixed-it Friday contender, but the "fix" left me Wordless. Thank you to Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd for today's Wordless Wednesday photos and video!
Let’s Play: 1 vs. 100!
If you will be at the DHI conNextions conference in New Orleans, I hope to see you in my class on Thursday, October 21st! And if you are a local architect/architectural specwriter or code official, you can attend my class for free!
Up Next…
Thanks to everyone who attended my webinars last week - the recording of the session will be on the webinars page of iDigHardware within the next few days. Here's what's coming up this week.
Last Call for the 2021 Model Code Update!
My webinar addressing the changes to the 2021 model codes is this Thursday, August 26th! If you need to know what's new (don't we all?), join me at 11am or 2pm Eastern. And we have other great classes this week to choose from!
FF: Out of Control
Pete Chappell of Cook and Boardman sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos of a "door closer" that definitely won't provide the level of control that a typical door closer would (it's cool though!).
Coming Up!
There's more online training available this week...whether you are new to the industry, responsible for maintaining a facility, or interested in one of this week's Webinar Wednesday topics, there are lots of classes to choose from!
Alphabet Soup! AIA, XP, AD-SUS, FDAI, GMK, ICC
There are so many online classes to choose from this week! Which one(s) will help you stay up to date on what's happening in the door and hardware industry?
FF: Green Door Closer (video)
Everyone and everything seems to be going green these days...check out this green door closer, sent to me by Eyal Bedrick of Entry Systems Ltd. (Watch the video.) And Happy Fixed-it Friday!
Coming Up! Door Drills and AIA CEUs
In the next two weeks, the Allegion training team is offering online education for architects, integrators, end users, installers, distributors, locksmiths - really anyone who has an interest in understanding doors and hardware - including a new series called Door Drills!
FF: Matching Finishes
Sometimes it can be tough to get hardware finishes to match correctly, given the varying base materials and finish processes. Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, showing a "fix" where someone was obviously paying attention to detail.
Take your pick! They’re free!!
Coming up this week...our next Security in 30 session, an Allegion 101 class on LCN closers, and 4 Webinar Wednesday classes including one on clear width and maneuvering clearance. Which class(es) will you be attending?
FF: Top Jamb Special
Geometry wasn't my favorite subject in high school, but I learned enough to know that this closer mounting is not optimal for reliable operation of the door. Thank you to Chuck Gulla of Allegion for today's Fixed-it Friday photo!
WWYD? Stairwell Pair with Access Control (video)
I'm wondering what you think about this door opening...it's kind of an interesting one as door openings go. I have never thought about using a combination of panic hardware and a lockset with an electric strike. WWYD?
WWYD? Tough Closer Mounting
I'm sure you can all see the problem with this apartment entrance...how would you mount a door closer on this side of the door?
Application of the PASS Guidelines (and more!)
There's more virtual training available this week, and an early notification of a session being hosted next week by DHI and DSSF. This webinar covers application of the 5th edition of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools Guidelines.
FF: New Closer Mounting Option
This is a creative closer mounting that you won't find in the catalog. The closer is installed on an exterior door of an apartment building...I wonder how well it's controlling the door.
FF: Auto Operator Fix
When the automatic operator stops working, today's Fixed-it Friday photo illustrates one way to fix it without bringing in an auto operator expert or waiting for replacement components.
This week’s learning opportunities
If you are new to the hardware industry (or you know someone who is), the Allegion 101 series offers an introduction to our products and their applications. Feel free to share these sessions with anyone who could benefit!
FF: Floor Closer
This door has an arched top so the standard closer mountings won't work, but there is an alternative - a special template from LCN!
More (and More) e-Learning
I think online learning is here to stay. Which doesn't mean that we'll never see each other in person again, but there's a lot we can learn in the meantime.
WWYD? Hotel Suite
How have you been specifying/supplying the hardware for hotel rooms that are sometimes used as a suite - with door closers on the individual doors, or without?
WW: Knockoff
At first glance, this might look like an LCN 4040 closer that has suffered an extreme failure, but it is actually a knockoff. Make sure you're getting the real deal!
FF: How to Build a Better Mousetrap
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Ken Sako of Lazzaro Companies, and I'm wordless. Maybe y'all can think of something to say.
WW: Middle School Closer
I know that some architects would rather not see thru-bolts for closers, but I think they should be standard for every school specification. Do you agree?